Description

Later to late 19th century with later additions and alterations. Single storey with attic, 5-bay, classically-detailed ballroom and restaurant with lower single storey with attic, 8-bay range adjoined to left. Principal block: coursed and stugged cream sandstone (rendered in part); ashlar dressings; rubble sides Base and eaves course; modillioned eaves; corniced parapet; pilastered bays. Lower range: lined render. Stepped base course; eaves course; tall, coped parapet; pilastered bays.

E (ENTRANCE) ELEVATION: principal block to right with consoled, pedimented doorpiece off-set to right of centre; deep-set timber panelled door within. Later shallow-pedimented opening at ground off-set to left of centre with 2-leaf boarded timber door. Blind in remaining bays at ground. 2 piended dormers set behind parapet off-set to left of centre. Later flat-roofed entrance corridor adjoined to outer right. Lower block: 3-bay gable end to outer left with steps to deep-set, 2-leaf timber panelled door at ground to right; bipartite window at ground to left; bipartite window centred in surmounting gablehead. 5-bay range to right with boarded timber door centred at ground; blind in remaining bays to left and right.

W (REAR) ELEVATION: not seen 1999.

Part-louvred dormer windows to ballroom; rooflights to side; plate glass timber sash and case windows to later block (opaque in part). Grey slate roofs throughout (piended roof to ballroom).

INTERIOR: rectangular-plan ballroom (slightly bowed to W) with boarded timber floor; boarded timber dado panelling; timber panelled doors. Moduled cornice; open boarded timber pitched roof with hammerbeam supports on moulded springers; various coats-of-arms set between. Tiered timber seating abutting walls. Timber balcony projecting at upper level in S wall with ball-finialled newels and cross-braced front; arched opening centred behind. Further room adjoined to S with square-plan timber columned arcade dividing room in 2. Timber panelled dado throughout with half-timbering above. Bar to W; boarded timber dance floor to E. Combed ceilings; timber panelled doors. Timber panelled vestibule to S. Restaurant to N (linked to ballroom) with boarded timber dado panelling; continuous upper balcony; plain cornices. Public bar in basement below.

Statement of Interest

Built to accommodate Oban's annual Gathering Ball and still in use as such 1999. Following the success of the Gathering's first Highland Games in 1873 and the subsequent ball (which took place in a tent), a committee was established to obtain plans, specifications and estimates for the erection of a more suitable building to house the event. By 1874 the committee had feued a site in Breadalbane Street for ?12 per annum and the members had raised ?1,215 towards the cost of the scheme. The existing building is thought to date from the later to late 19th century and either incorporated or replaced a slate-roofed, timber structure recorded as having been used by the Gathering for a meeting, and presumably the ball, in 1877.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77773750

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of History Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Listed Buildings: The Law and Practice of Historic Buildings, Ancient Monuments and Conservation Areas
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version