Old St Andrew's Manse, Tankerness

2-storey and attic, 3-bay rectangular-plan, near-classical crowstep-gabled former manse with slightly advanced central bay. Single storey cottage abutting W gable to form L-plan. Harl-pointed roughly coursed rubble with concrete margins to openings. Single storey outbuilding to N.S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: square-plan piended-roofed entrance porch with window (blocked) at ground in bay to centre; doorway in right return; window at each floor above; gablehead stack above. Window at ground in bay to right; tripartite window at 1st floor above. Window at ground in bay to left; window at 1st floor above. N (REAR) ELEVATION: doorway at ground din bay to centre; tall stair window above. Window at ground in bay to left. Large, square-headed opening at ground in bay to right; piended-roofed attic doorway, breaking eaves above.E (SIDE) ELEVATION: doorway (blocked) at ground in bay to left. Window at 1st floor in bay to right; attic window to right of gablehead above.Windows blocked or boarded. Graded stone tiled roof; stone ridge; remnants of cast-iron rainwater goods. INTERIOR: shell remains with evidence of floor divisions; timber tie beams at ceiling; fireplaces extant at each floor in E and W walls; evidence of low segmental-arched fireplace at ground to N wall.COTTAGE FORMING W RANGE: 4-bay crowstep-gabled cottage, grouped 2-2 with lower 2-bay addition to left (N). W (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: rectangular-plan flat-roofed glazed entrance porch/sun room spanning bay to centre; boarded door to right return. Window in bay to outer right. Small window in bay to left. Window in bay to outer left. E (REAR) ELEVATION: evenly disposed window in each of 2 bays.ANCILLARY BUILDING: single storey, 7-bay store sited to N of house. S (PRINCIPAL) ELEVATION: large, boarded sliding door in bay to centre. deep-set boarded door with window in each bay flanking in each 3-bay group flanking. Stone tiled roof; stone ridge; coped skews.BOUNDARY WALL: coursed rubble wall with rubble cope to S of house, bordering road; small, square-plan, flat-roofed store with boarded door incorporated into wall.

Formerly an impressive manse to the North Church, around 1km to the SW. Superseded by a new manse sited close to S. (Historic Scotland)

November 1990: Inspection reveals the manse to be gutted and derelict. SCT understands it was bought some years ago with the intention to restore, but no works have as yet commenced. The owner is reported to sometimes inhabit a small wing of the house. 1999: No change reported. July 2004: External inspection reveals the manse and its garden to be very overgrown. Although part of a wing may be occupied, the entire building appears at risk.

September 2008: Orkney Council forward recent images of the building and advise there has been roof damage to the south elevation caused by close growing trees; cracks are evident of the east gable which could be signs of wall movement; there is significant foliage growth within gutters.

August 2009: External inspection confirm local planner‘s report from 2008 of the building‘s continued deterioration.

12 September 2013: External inspection finds deterioration in the roof and walls, caused in part by the close proximity of trees, has increased. Although still roofed, the building now has a semi-ruinous appearance.

5 March 2024: Desk-based assessment suggest building remains At-Risk.