July 27 2020

The new owners of St Peter's Seminary, Cardross, have expressed renewed faith that a decade's long deadlock can be resolved by pursuing an education-led vision for the historic site.

Last week the Kilmahew Education Trust, a newly formed Bath-based charity, was bequeathed the estate by the Archdiocese of Glasgow, clearing the way for an education-led solution for the crumbling brutalist landmark which would preserve the structure for posterity.

Director Stuart Cotton said: "There is no doubting the beauty of the Kilmahew landscape nor the atmospheric presence that surrounds the seminary complex of St Peter’s. We simply need to develop a viable vision, with education at its core, and execute the plans that develop from that to the best of our abilities.

"In the build-up to the acquisition, our education trust has been busy putting together an internationally-renowned team to assist us. We are currently fine-tuning our plans to enhance Kilmahew and these will be made public in due course."

No details of the client team or specific proposals have been divulged at this stage. 

6 Comments

#1 Posted by erm on 27 Jul 2020 at 12:11 PM

"We simply need to develop a viable vision, with education at its core, and execute the plans that develop from that to the best of our abilities."

1. Acquire seriously dilapidated Grade A-listed building built for a very specific, now outdated purpose, with long history of failed re-use plans
2. ????
3. Profit!

#2 Posted by James Duncan on 17 Sep 2020 at 11:19 AM

The possible end of umpteen years of decay in this beautiful site near the banks of the Clyde Estuary are hugely to be welcomed. The building is a true Marmite one ~ some regard is as an outdated and ruined eyesore that should be demolished while others regard it as an architectural gem.

I live nearby and know about several previous attempts to get a viable future use of the whole site. Every one has so far failed, some for good reasons and some for the most trivial [disturbance to some bats and spoiling a view from the golf course!!]

At the moment, the "Trust" consists of a couple in Bath [400 miles away] that can offer no substance to their aims. I do hope I am not being cynical and look forward to some specific and costed proposals ~ I nearly said "concrete proposals". However the absence of anything other that a (private?) postal address in Bath is not a good sign.

I do hope my doubts are unfounded and look forward to hearing more.

#3 Posted by Whispering Andy on 21 Sep 2020 at 10:06 AM

Whisper it......but nothing is happening with this. The building will fall into further disrepair before being demolished.

#4 Posted by ConcreteDespair on 4 Aug 2021 at 20:36 PM

I suspect that nothing will happen but hope I’m proven wrong. It’s a fantastic building that should be embraced. At least an ‘accidental fire’ is unlikely at this point but the building needs done TLC as soon as possible.

#5 Posted by Neil C on 5 Aug 2021 at 08:48 AM

Cracking drawing!

#6 Posted by Agnes MacKenzie on 8 Jun 2022 at 08:37 AM

I was wondering whether the current owners, who said they simply had to develop a “viable vision” have made any progress. It has been 2 years since they were given this property.

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