1A, 1B and 1C William Street

This building, which now contains three houses, was built in 1853 as hall accommodation for St Fillan’s Free Church. St Fillan’s Church occupied the site immediately adjacent on the corner of King Street and William Street where new houses now stand. This church was built in 1843 following the Disruption, a controversy which had split the Church of Scotland. The first church was a temporary structure, and it was completely rebuilt in 1869. In this photo the old church gatepost is on the right. From early on the need for a hall was recognised, and the church hall here was much in demand.

Community Use

St Fillan’s Church and hall

Until the Blyth Hall was built in 1877 the Free Church hall was the only place in the village large enough to hold public meetings, and was used very frequently for such purposes. Most importantly, for almost 30 years until Newport School opened in Blyth Street in 1879, this hall was used as a village school. The Free Church library was also based here. This was not just for the benefit of church members, but for everyone in the village, with the annual subscription being just one shilling (5p).

View from Hillside Place

St Fillan’s Church and St Thomas’ Church were united in 1978, and St Fillan’s Church was demolished in 1979 but the hall was retained. The new united church continued to use this building as hall accommodation until a new hall was built next to the church in Blyth Street in 1992. The William Street hall was then sold and converted to housing.