Chapel-of-Ease (Former), Stafford Street, Helmsdale

Large rubble and slate chapel with tall Saxon-style windows. The west gable is topped by a ball finial, with an 1857 bellcote added by William Fowler at the opposite end. A small gabled extension sits below. The church was repaired and enlarged in 1896.

November 1997: External inspection reveals the church to be disused and boarded-up. It was sold by the Church of Scotland in 1973. July 1998: External inspection reveals no change. May 2000: Local planners are unaware of any change. November 2002: Local planners report that the church may be used on an infrequent basis. December 2003: Local planners report that they have received enquiries concerning flat conversion. June 2006: LPA reports that planning permission has been granted to conversion into 4 dwellings.

19 June 2012: External inspection finds no indication of restoration work underway. There is a hole in the north roof pitch and a bush on the south. Other holes may develop due to slate loss. The windows in the south and west elevations have been removed. Consent for conversion to residential use was ammended in 2007 to allow for 5 dwellings ref: 07/00364/FULSU. Moved back to At Risk.

2 October 2013: External inspection finds the building remains in much the same condition as seen previously.

18 September 2018: External inspection finds the building in overall Fair condition. A new roof has been installed as well as new doors and windows. There are still some cracks in the stonework where the new doors have been installed. The current owner was on site and informed us that they are only making the building watertight and there are no plans to convert to residential use yet. Condition moved to Fair. Risk moved to Low. Move to Restoration in Progress.

22 February 2024: Desk-based assessment suggests the exterior works are continuing, the building remains disused.