Exploring an Abandoned Scottish Orphanage with Power 

Background to the Benedictine Convent, Dumfries [credit: Canmore org]: Corbelly Hill Convent was recorded on Tuesday 16 August [date unknown] as part of the Threatened Buildings Survey. On Tuesday 9 August 2022 a fire broke out affecting the northern part of this large building. The survey provides a record of the building after the fire, but before any structural alterations or demolitions are undertaken to make the building structurally safe. The dowager Marcia, Lady Herries funded the new convent for the nuns of the Perpetual Adoration on Corbelly Hill in Dumfries. The initial much larger scheme by Pugin and Pugin was exhibited at the Royal Academy and published in the _Building News_ 30 December 1881. A more modest scheme designed by Pugin and Pugin was built in 1881-4, presumably intended as the first phase of the grander published scheme. The initial building consisted of the chapel and an L-plan range of accommodation for the Convent. This was extended by James Barbour, not following the original plans, in 1890. He added the substantial block to the south to house the Convent school. The convent closed in 1988 and moved to Largs. Amongst other uses, It later housed a temporary Sheriff court. The building has been empty for some time and has been suffering from vandalism. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Teenager charged after massive fire at historic Corbelly Hill convent in Dumfries. The historic former convent on Corbelly Hill, near the town’s Maxwell Street, was engulfed in flames in the early hours of 9 August 2022. The property, which dates back to 1884, has been abandoned for a number of years and attempts to sell the property twice, in 2008 and 2020 failed. Police Scotland confirmed on Tuesday that a 19-year-old man had been charged in connection with the incident. A statement by the force read: 'Police in Dumfries can confirm that a 19-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with a fire at the Convent on Maxwell Street, which took place in the early hours of Tuesday 9 August 2022. 'A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal, and he is expected to appear at court at a later date.' [Credit: STV News]

Please refer to my update, above, s. Sad times. All the best. Rab

That's a very good point and precisely. You always have to hope that the CCTV isn't being monitored directly and is played back later, because, otherwise, there aren't many easier confirmations of trespassers to a security guard than live footage of a person inside.

Please refer to my update, above, n. Sad times. All the best. Rab

That's dreadful. Such an incredible building. I'm sad to know of its fate. 😢

I was just wondering why it is abandant...

@@rickacampbell-young17 abandant?

The Catholic Church never owned the building. It was built and owned by the Herries family. When the nuns moved to Largs it was sold to a business man from Northern Ireland who owned it for decades before selling it to a local firm.

The Church never owned this building, it was owned by the Herries family who, after the nuns moved to Largs, sold it to a Northern irish business man. He sold it to a local firm.

Hei, nuts ja .. Forsure, Herra Stein. 🤔🤣😂

St Benedict' convent Dunfries, Scotland.

Why? It's obviously plastic.

@@Perthshire OK

No, it was a Catholic convent and school.

given the chronic and systematic abuse that most certainly happened in that building a little bad language is not really what should be annoying you.

It's not the only video they have featured a holy place and used inappropriate language.

@@MolloyPolloy Well said!

@@MolloyPolloy No abuse took place in the building. Just ask any of the former pupils.