Nicolson Institute, Goathill Road, Stornoway, Lewis

Italianate campanile tower dated 1871 (relict of the original Nicholson Institute) which was "erected and endowed under the will of Alexander Morison Nicolson" (inscription); tower - which was originally free-standing - was an adornment gifted by the original benefactor's brothers, and is now incorporated as part of a modern building. Composed of 3 stages, battered at ground with doorway, bipartite to each elevation above, louvred tripartites at top, all openings round-headed; also clock to each elevation; imported stone, brown rubble, contrasting yellow ashlar dressings including hood-moulds and strings; original glazing at 1st floor level, shallow-pitched pyramidal slate roof with tall and decorative wrought-iron finial. On modern building adjoining, 3 memorial tablets re-set;

a. a white marble "This institution has been erected and endowed under the will of Alexander Morison Nicolson, son of the deceased Roderick Nicolson, shipowner, Stornoway. Born in Stornoway 1832. Died at Shanghai, 1865. And further endowed by Sir James Matheson Bart. proprietor of the Lews and Lord Lieutenant of Ross-shire. With a free site and playground &c and an annual grant of thirty five pounds stg in perpetuity. 1871."

b. Red granite tablet "To Alexander Morison Nicolson, engineer, Shangai, who founded this institution in his native town "in the hope that I may thus benefit the children of some of my early school companions"/This token is placed here in affectionate remembrance of his brother Roderick, late Chaplain in the Brigade of Guards, London." c. War memorial bronze by C Henshaw, Edinburgh; mural panel with Seaforth antlers and inscribed "Scotland Forever"; "1914-1919 Erected by the Seaforth Highlanders to the undying memory of 8432 comrades belonging to the ten battalions of the regiment who gave their lives for their country in the Great War."