Tuesday May 5th 2026
Former St Peter's School
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
A former Galashiels school could be transformed into first class housing if an new application receives the blessing of Scottish Borders Council.
The old St Peter’s School on Abbotsford Road is a historic building constructed in 1859, designed to accommodate 265 pupils.
It closed in 2013 and the building was latterly used as office accommodation.
Aitken Turnbull Architects was commissioned by Maramar Holdings Ltd to draw up plans for its conversion into five residential units.
The application would see the building converted into four ground floor flats and one two storey property which was formerly the school masters house.
In 1972 the school was moved further east to Parsonage Road, and the site was reused as a Special Education Centre and then council offices in the mid 1980s.
St Peter’s represents a unique example of a Scottish Victorian parish school, before the 1872 Education Act and the nationalisation of schools.
Famous Scottish geologist Charles Lapworth was headmaster of the school from 1864-1875 and lived in the schoolhouse.
A report with the application, from Aitken Turnbull Architects, states: “The proposal detailed in this application would bring a significant, historically important local building back into use.
“The proposal prioritises preserving the heritage and character of the former school, while still providing modern and liveable residential spaces.
“The works proposed in this application aim to preserve and protect the unique historic of this Victorian school and schoolhouse.
“Measures such as new windows, lining the walls and ceilings with insulation, and replacing rooflights, all with bring the building back into modern use once again, and provide new homes for the community.
“We have been careful to do the most major alterations to the rear of the building, to preserve the most important historic elevations facing the street; meaning the building will look largely unchanged to passers-by.”
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