St Peter's Seminary - Cardross

On Sunday, 1st June 2025, we ventured into the derelict structure of St Peter's Seminary, Cardross; it's brutalist architecture, a style known for its use of exposed concrete and a stark, geometric aesthetic. The air was thick with a sense of adventure and the kaleidoscope of butterflies fluttered in my belly for the duration of our exploration. We were cautious as we navigated through areas where the concrete floors felt precariously unstable beneath our feet. The seminary, with its imposing yet decaying architecture, sparked endless conversation and curiosity, urging us to delve deeper into its past with Google being our constant ally. Each corner of the building seemed to tell stories of its brief yet interesting existence, leaving us to wonder what had transpired within its walls during its relatively short life. Despite its forlorn state, the adventure was exhilarating, a morning brimming with moments ripe for photography. Vivid graffiti adorned the walls, some of it displaying a level of artistry that was astonishingly professional, adding layers of colour and intrigue to the seminary’s sombre ambiance. The morning's adventure was complete as we ate our picnic lunches in the remains of the Seminary's neighbouring Kilmahew Castle.

History

After a fire in 1946 at St Peter's Seminary in Bearsden, a suburb of Glasgow, a new location was sought for the seminary. Talks began with the architectural firm Gillespie, Kidd & Coia in 1953, but it wasn't until 1961 that plans for a new college in the village of Cardross were finalised and construction began. Meanwhile, the seminary had relocated from Bearsden to temporary sites with philosophy students being moved to Darleith House, Cardross, and theology students to Kilmahew House.

The aim was to build a new facility to house all students at Kilmahew House, a baronial mansion located in the heart of the Kilmahew estate. This estate was an ornamental Victorian landscape designed by the Burns family in the late 1800s. Constructed between 1865 and 1868, the mansion initially served as a home for James Burns and his son John, later housing the Allan family from the early 20th century until shortly after the war, when the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Glasgow purchased the estate.

By the time it was completed in 1966, the growth of church congregations had stagnated, the number of candidates entering the priesthood had begun to decline, and the Second Vatican Council reforms moved much of their training into the parishes. As a result, the building never reached its full capacity of around 100 students. From the outset, the building was riddled with problems, including maintenance difficulties with such a unique structure and significant water entry;[8] the architects and owners each blamed the other for these problems.

The seminary closed in February 1980. The Archdiocese of Glasgow moved St Peter's College to Newlands in southern Glasgow. St Peter's College, Newlands, remained until November 1984 when it was closed and transferred its students to Chester's College in Bearsden, Glasgow. The Cardross site became a drug rehabilitation centre in 1983. Due to maintenance problems with the modern buildings, they were not used again after 1984, when the centre confined themselves to Kilmahew House, and vandalism began soon after. The drug rehabilitation centre closed in 1987.

Ref - Wikipedia

Original images of the building in use can be seen HERE

Gallery images dated 1st June 2025