Callander Kirk Hall (Former Free Church School) Including Low Boundary Wall And Piers, South Church Street

Dated 1849, this is a symmetrical, rectangular, single-storey, seven-bay former school building. It has an advanced, gabled entrance bay at the centre. Later alterations were made to the rear (southeast) side, and a wing was added to the northeast side in 1991. The building holds local historical significance as the former Free Church School, later used as St. Bride’s Church Hall, and now serving as a community hall. It is architecturally interesting and forms a visually appealing group with the adjacent Callander Kirk, which is listed separately.

The principal (northwest) elevation features an imposing doorpiece with pilasters, cornicing, and a curved pediment featuring a date stone. A margined ventilation opening with painted timber louvers is placed above the door within the gablehead. Three evenly spaced windows are set back on each flanking side. A short, modern linking extension connects the building to the 1991 single-storey wing to the northeast.

The interior was refurbished during the construction of the modern wing, so no original fabric remains visible (as of 2004). The hall is now divided into two large rooms with additional rooms at the rear. 19th-century maps showed a T-shaped projection to the rear, but this has been filled in with 20th-century alterations, resulting in a rectangular extension.

The building is constructed of coursed rubble “pudding stone,” with a dressed face to the principal elevation. The window and quoin details are in sandstone ashlar, with raised margins supported by small brackets and lugged detailing above the windows and ventilation openings. The windows are predominantly timber sash and case with lying panes. The main entrance has a timber panelled, twin-leaf door with a geometric glazed letterbox fanlight. The roof is pitched with grey slate, with a timber, painted scalloped bargeboard and drop pendant to the gabled entrance bay. Exposed painted rafters with simple drop pendants are visible on the gable ends.

A low, coped, random rubble boundary wall runs along the principal elevation and extends to the northeast.