The house was built in 1880 as the rectory and choir school for St Andrews Church, situated on the High Street in front of the house. Originally, the church and school shared the same grounds but are now separated by new houses and a road. The church was designed to be the Cathedral for the Diocese of Argyll and the Isles, hence the need for a choir school to provide the cathedral choir. Both buildings were designed by architect Alexander Ross. However, it was then decided to locate the cathedral in Oban instead. The granite for the house was floated down the Caledonian Canal from Abriachan Quarry near Inverness. Much of the finances to build and maintain the school came from Mr. George Baynton Davey, an Englishman married to a local woman from Spean Bridge. An engineer who made his fortune in guano from South America, Mr. Davey paid the wages for the organist Mr. William Thompson from Bishop Wilberforce’s College at Culham, Berkshire, other teachers, and scholarships for four English choir boys. Mr. Davey died in 1907 and is buried in the church graveyard. With his passing, the burden of supporting the choir school became too heavy for the congregation. Despite a petition signed by most of its members, the Bishop and vestry were compelled to close the school when the Kilmallie school board could not provide a government grant. The building was divided into two dwelling houses and sold in 1915.
The East Side
The rectory side has had very few changes to its structure as it was built as a residence for the rector and servants’ quarters.
The tower housed the bell until 1965 when it was removed to the church.
On the gable end of the house is a sandstone plaque inscribed with “St Andrews School 1880”. Above the front door is inscribed (not in Latin as one might expect but in Spanish) “Man proposes, God disposes.” Also faintly seen above the door is the name “St Andrews House”, which has been eroded by the west coast weather. The wood inside the house is pure, unbled pitch pine, which is no longer obtainable.
The West Side
This side was originally the school and had no staircase or first floor. The classrooms were open to the internal roof, which was supported by solid pitch pine beams. These beams can still be seen in some of the bedrooms. A solid stone fireplace has been restored to its original condition (it had been painted many times!) and bears the inscription “Gloria in Excelsis.” There is also an inscription above the front door from Ecclesiastes: “Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth.” The “classroom” is inscribed “I love them that love me.” The “classroom” windows are ornately decorated outside with carved sandstone and polished granite pillars.
The two stained glass rose windows at the front and rear of the house depict the Virgin and Child.
