Hall of Clestrain: Ancillary Building, Orphir

Ancillary building (or Pavilion) to north-west of Hall of Clestrain. Single storey, 5-bay building constructed for ancillary and/ or agricultural use. The structure is rubble-built with paler, dressed stone quoins and window and door surrounds. Pitched slate roof with stone skews and ridge.

September 2008: External inspection finds the building disused. The roof is in a state of disrepair with many loose or missing slates and there are several holes in the roof as a result of this. The windows have been blocked up and the rubble masonry is in need of repointing.

March 2010: External inspection finds the building to be in a similar condition to that of the previous site visit. The roof has a significant hole where tiles have slipped or are missing. The walls are generally fair but need repointing. Windows and door have been blocked up.

9 September 2013: External inspection finds the building to remain in much the same condition as seen previously. It appears to be used for storage. The Friends of Orkney Boat Museum, who aimed to build a boat museum at the Hall of Clestrain, was wound-up during 2013 as the proposal was considered to no longer be achieveable. A proposal for a successor organisation, The John Rae Society, to continue to raise the profile of Rae, restoring the Hall as his birthplace, was noted as part of the Friends winding-up and thought to be in process.

13 September 2021: Listed building consent (20/2065/PP) being sought to upgrade an access, construct an access road, relocate a ditch and associated landscaping.

February 2024: The John Rae Society is pursuing the creation of an Artic centre at the Hall of Clestrain.