The broken building that must not be destroyed

St Peter's Seminary sits in woodland about an hour west of Glasgow, near a village called Cardross. If you like Brutalist architecture, then it's a beautiful ruin: if not, then perhaps your view isn't so kind. It's a historic, religious building: but it's also a money sink that can't be demolished.
My thanks to Ronnie Convery at the Archdiocese of Glasgow!
Edited by Michelle Martin, @mrsmmartin
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[@TomScottGo]

It is very strange to walk down a beautiful path through the Scottish countryside, turn a corner, and be confronted with something that looks at first glance like a 1970s car park. I'm not joking when I say I do like architecture like this - but I probably wouldn't want to live here.

[@dasbootyliciousness271]

rather fascinating

[@ArbnTyphoon]

You should go gliding again, Bruce Duncan still instructs for the Edinburgh uni at portmoak airfield near loch leven. Good at this time of year too

[@TwilightExplorer]

Week old comment on 5 minute old video? The laws of physics have been broken!

[@bbdawise]

Sorry, but what's actually historic about this building? Seems to me like this is the perfect example of bureaucracy at its absolute worst.

[@therealdave06]

@@TwilightExplorer Maybe it's been posted on private to test it out or something. Then it got removed and reposted on public I dont know

[@Dojan5]

I love how someone's climbed on top of that building and written "EXPENSIVE SHITE" on the wall.

[@adamkaris]

4:35 for anyone interested

[@godspeed7593]

I just noticed, ty

[@dreamworld6]

Aw no, blurred away! Haha

[@ev-0163]

Cant argue with facts

[@clarkycfc1]

Welcome to scotland 😂

[@robertturner4955]

This was designed by the guy who was professor of Architecture at the U of Edinburgh when I was an undergrad. All of his buildings were a bit brutalist, and quite a lot of them have been demolished.

[@user-tt5xj5ib1e]

We had the same, tutors who designed god awful buildings that were badly designed and should be torn down ……. 🤔🤣

[@the-based-jew6872]

Good riddance. Not very talented artistically. And this building shows it. This is why classical revival architects should be professors and not ditzy socialists :P

[@josedorsaith5261]

Good to hear they were demolished

[@catharperfect7036]

Your professor was about as cr@p as they get. A proud destroyer of the human soul.

[@franciscomoraes8464]

well, to be fair even without the graffiti, this place looked quite ugly

[@chardenner3147]

It would have been helpful to have shown images of what the building looked like before it went to ruin. It's difficult to imagine what it looked like.

[@Ikwigsjoyful]

There are a couple of old films up on the Internet Archive if you want to see what it was like when in use - lots of nice wood to mix with all of the Brutalist concrete.

[@cyberGEK]

That’s the beauty in Brutalist architecture, it looks the same before and after ruination😂

[@the-based-jew6872]

@@cyberGEK lmao funny because it's true 🤣 It ages HORRIBLY, in like 5 years it looks like it's been there for 55 years haha.

[@circleinforthecube5170]

@@the-based-jew6872 they need to powerwash em, only excuse is laziness,

[@lizjolly5454]

Glasgow Airport has the same concrete arches, although they are covered up now.

[@georgebailey8179]

This video could have done with some pictures of the building in its heyday. I've looked it up, and it was quite impressive back then.

[@mattgopack7395]

I agree - from looking through the comments, it's clear that a lot of people don't understand *what* makes it special enough to be protected, and that is a failing on the video's part.

[@FloppydriveMaestro]

but the reality is thats not what it looks like now though.

[@andrewyoung749]

was ugly then, is ugly now. just that now its an ugly building in a bad state as opposed to being an ugly building in a good state.

[@Carmenifold]

@@andrewyoung749 actually i think all buildings should be brutalist :] itd be fun

[@MaartenvanHeek]

@@Carmenifold I think the beauty of architecture is that it changes. There are tons of ugly 60s-80s buildings being torn down, but I hope that some of the good ones will remain. Just like in the 80s they tore down the then-considered ugly and obsolete 40s-50s brick buildings, which are now considered heritage...

[@nerowolf1234]

A building makes twice my wage just to exist. I want that buildings job

[@encycl07pedia-]

building's*

[@nerowolf1234]

@@encycl07pedia- buildings*

[@batkittii]

@@nerowolf1234 building’s

[@Ze_eT]

@@batkittii buildings

[@barryhomeowner9293]

Buildi'ngs*

[@vkillion]

Here's my thought, if the government wants to list it as a historical building and mandate that it is protected, then the government can help pay for it. It seems unreasonable for a government to mandate that a private entity spend that kind of money maintaining something that's fundamentally unmaintainable.

[@nuck-]

"the church couldnt afford it" - They're worth upwards of 50 BILLION dollars. Yes they could, they're just too busy taking money from the needy to care.

[@AlindBack]

@@nuck- You're saying the Archdiocese of Glasgow is worth upwards of 50 billion dollars? And what do you mean by worth? If 98% of that is tied up in real estate and historic churches, then that hardly seems like it should count, since those things can't be reasonably sold for what they're valued at, and they can't be transferred to the "needy" for any benefit. Also, how does not maintaining this specific building constitute "taking money from the needy?" Are you suggesting that the government should force them to pay for upkeep because they can afford it, and that that upkeep constitutes taking care of the needy?

[@nuck-]

@@AlindBack its linked to the catholic church directly. They take money from the poor even though they're FILTHY rich. Just how religion works, take from the poor and keep it.

[@nuck-]

@@dalkap The government is paying for this, not the church. The church quote "cant afford it". They're on track to be worth over 100 billion dollars by 2030. But they cant afford it.

[@ICCUWANSIUT]

@@AlindBack I'm sorry, I'm going to need a piece of your foundation your excellence. I need it to provide stability to my family. You're holiness, I require a few pounds of your chapels great dirt, I'm under rough times and providing my children with food is becoming harder to do. FATHER! PLEASE! I need you're help with a matter of great importance! My son is dieing because we haven't had water for days! Can I have you're holy water?!

[@dolebiscuit]

It looks like the perfect location for a villain's lair. Imagine the movie sequences you could film in a place like this. It's so dystopian, I absolutely love it.

[@citetez]

In reality, it was just such a lair. The ruins should be left to fester as a reminder of the evil, self-righteous hypocrites that used it. It is a perfect symbol of the rot and dysfunction that pervades religious minds.

[@Fektthis]

lazy movie locations for 100 Alex. Why do we accept lazy film writers showing us a dystopian future by using buildings that were clearly crapholes in the present. Seriously, world comes to an end but spray paint still seems to be easily obtainable so all the crumbling buildings are covered in decades worth of graffiti? You're one of a handful of survivors. The world as we know it is over. Only a few thousand humans survive world wide. You have you choice of literally EVERYWHERE. Hey, lets go hang out at the old cement plant they closed 50 years ago.. OR, hey, I know where there's a nice, intact log cabin mansion away from all the decaying chemical plants...

[@None-Trick_Pony]

​@@citetez Hoo boy, talk about hyprocritic self-righteousness! Have you looked in a mirror? No one would make such baseless and sweeping denounciations with that level of utter vitriol if they weren't a little self-righteous themselves, my friend.

[@garrettk7166]

'It's inaccessible and dangerous" Looks perfect for Parkour, exploration, or even drone racing..

[@Stadtpark90]

Garrett K what is drone racing?

[@CosmicEpiphany]

@@Stadtpark90 The racing of drones?

[@islaymassive1530]

Mabybe Paintball aswell

[@civiere]

@@islaymassive1530 having owned a paintball track i can tell you that is going to be a nightmare m8.

[@darkmann12]

exactly what i was thinking :p

[@EatAtJoes]

I've never seen a priest so clearly praying for an Act of God...

[@liviawannavibe]

Praying, more like paying, for education... right lads?

[@Cmdrrnvr1]

He's not a priest but a layperson, a Director of Communications - just saying!

[@MKTheGreat]

@@Cmdrrnvr1 so are all priests. Priests don't have horns, they are lay men as well.

[@Harbourmaster68]

"Deus ex machina?"

[@hobosapiens404]

“It’s unrealistic to expect some sort of deus ex machina...” -a Catholic church official

[@Dracoberg]

I simply cannot believe that this building ever looked nice of was worth preserving

[@Gojiro7]

you know your in a messed up situation when your hoping and praying that meteor falls from the sky and decimates your sacred building so you can be free of its financial burden

[@markchapman6800]

I worked in a Brutalist building for many years which was a collection of ideas that looked great on paper but were a nightmare in practice, like rooftop gardens that leaked into the building, and water features that choked with pond scum unless constantly cleaned. For some reason the original doors (and hoo boy there were a lot of doors) were heavy and clumsy to open. A few wings have been retained for historical "value", but I didn't cry when the rest was knocked down.

[@marshmelows]

Happy ending.

[@iankemp1131]

Classic description of the problem with these buildings.

[@Snnoy]

Looks like a perfect place to have some sort of apocalypse themed airsoft LARP

[@stevenh8174]

Count me in

[@emmaemma8171]

Same

[@silicah]

or a rave

[@dylandarnell3657]

Bet LCC would love it.

[@stevenh8174]

@@dylandarnell3657 what is LCC?

[@jamesanderson2176]

I love that a group can put a building on a list, add all sorts of requirements and restrictions, make ridiculous demands, and yet take no legal or financial responsibility for it. If the people who make the list value the building so much, show us the money!

[@rickhobson3211]

Brilliant for making people aware of this. Tom! Love your videos!

[@harveyholmes9533]

“Well I’m gonna knock my house down and build something else” Gov: “you can’t do that, we like your house so we’ve put it on a list” Me: “okay we’ll do you want my house then?” Gov: “no”

[@Yuti640]

“Your house is a deadly laser” It really does sound like a Wurtz thing though

[@raydunakin]

Yep, this place is a monument to both government overreach AND irrationality.

[@frogdeity]

The government is a joke.

[@blackdragoncyrus]

well

[@christophera556]

The best thing the Scottish government could do is de list the old dump then bring in a demolition team and demolish the old dump stop wasting money on these old dumps that most people don't care about anymore.

[@truthsmiles]

The three most important factors in determining the value of real estate: 1) Location 2) Location 3) Location

[@Crosshill]

location can only be ignored when appealing to eccentric artists and the like

[@jic1]

I think the building being an ugly, shoddy piece of crap that nobody wants is a bigger issue.

[@jamesmccomb9525]

Is that programme popular outside of Britain?

[@anjoliebarrios8906]

@@jic1 that's the joke. Location is often used by slimy sellers to pawn off awful properties at exorbitant prices. Not to mention the price of a building has more to do with where it is than the actual quality of the building.

[@roguishpaladin]

@@anjoliebarrios8906 I don't think that's the joke. The location is awful, too. Literally the only feasible use for this building and location was "remote seminary".

[@fasdaVT]

The building has great value to exactly 1 group of people, Architectual enthusiasts. It has moderate value to everyone else and if it wasn't so restricted it wouldn't be in such a terrible state because they could fix its many problems. It takes money away from other projects of buildings people actually want to keep around.

[@leoduncan8216]

I’m from Scotland, I have lived in the same village for all my 16 years of life I love this country but I’ve never once heard or seen anything about this building until this video

[@leoduncan8216]

@tR02 ?

[@leoduncan8216]

@tR02 no I do not

[@michaelexman5474]

sounds like someone who knew the system and had a grudge against the church played the joke of the century.

[@SprocketWatchclock]

That's what it sounds like to me too. They should just pressure the government to de-list it and let them tear it down. I'm sure nobody would refuse to sign that petition. What an eyesore.

[@72Yonatan]

More like liberal political influence decided that seminarians could no longer be trained in remote places. Stupid decision, and a waste of resources.

[@saddenedwiseman810]

@@72Yonatan I mean the building itself is a liberal paradise. Frankly, I am inclined to think this is God expressing his vast disapproval of the modernist heresy.

[@user-sf4fy8bq1h]

@@72Yonatan that's certainly an unusual idea. I'd love to see you try to support it with factual evidence

[@zodrob7]

Hmm....not many people know the system. A grudge against the Catholic church on the other hand......

[@yuvalne]

"You can't just decide that it doesn't spark joy anymore" Did you... Did you just...

[@WangleLine]

Yes.

[@slickm7]

I'm confused explain pls

[@red00eye]

@@slickm7 The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo.

[@azum_]

the moment i heard the word 'spark joy' it reminded me of marie LMAO

[@TomTheSaintsGuy]

I'm sure it can be folded up nicely and compactly.

[@davidgillies620]

It looks more like a training academy for KGB assassins than priests.

[@chadwells7562]

Why not both? KGB was crafty

[@juancarloscuaocastellanos8813]

Opus Dei? 🤔

[@LOFIGSD]

Who would Kids be safer near?

[@juancarloscuaocastellanos8813]

@@LOFIGSD not priest.

[@OO-bq1ff]

@@chadwells7562 l thought it was a Russian building too

[@fsj197811]

That's messed up that the government can condemn someone to be stuck with a property forever and continue to pay for it.

[@DudeWatIsThis]

1. Appoint a terminally ill bishop to archbishop. 2. Make him demolish the building. 3. "Oh no, they're going to put our archbishop in jail- aaand he's dead." 4. Move on.

[@thorodin2367]

That's messed up that the Vatican can condemn some place to be stuck with a church forever and continue to pay for it.

[@CuriousKiddo]

"doesn't spark joy anymore", loving the Marie Kondo reference there ma boi

[@bipbipletucha]

Glad someone else caught that one

[@Noycey64]

This building is supposedly in the middle of nowhere yet covered in graffiti. “Build it and they will come”. 😂

[@Fawkes42]

The priests have to do something to pass the time

[@aarongaming100]

I mean Cardross is kinda an outlier, it’s surrounded by urban sprawl on both sides of the Carman hill

[@YourOwnDemize]

If RedBull were to build it ..an extreme sports park community...they would come..and I'd be with them 🌊

[@aeroarisen2367]

@@ibanezlaney Yes; aside from the highland areas that are miles away from the nearest village and hundreds of miles away from the nearest large town, which compromise most of Scotland.

[@deusexaethera]

If you're going to spray graffiti on a building, a building in the woods is the best place, because nobody will see you do it.

[@CoherentChimp]

This is typical of the stupidity of authority in Britain today. This building will never be used again. Comparatively few people will even know of it's existence, and fewer still, will care what happens to it. And yet authority has declared that it must be cared for, even in its ruined state, no matter the cost. Why do we put up with idiots

[@SamBrickell]

@@tyfon4429 The point is it doesn't need to be ANYTHING. It's not up to you or the government to decide, just let them tear it down, or sell it off or whatever is the best decision.

[@jacklovejoy5290]

@@tyfon4429 We have no SEAL or SWAT teams in the UK, also the UK has more than sufficient military training facilities in Wales

[@tobiaswilhelmi4819]

Maybe you should make it the National Monument of Brexit. It would fit in many metaphorical ways and in this way maybe it could generate tourism.

[@KairuHakubi]

the authority has taken away any power you might've had to oppose them

[@goldengaruda8935]

Because people are idiots

[@jadyn5062]

i love learning about things from this channel

[@nickolas474]

"A white elephant is a possession which its owner cannot dispose of and whose cost, particularly that of maintenance, is out of proportion to its usefulness. In modern usage, it is an object, building project, scheme, business venture, facility, etc., considered expensive but without use or value." -- Wikipedia, 'White elephant'

[@CallieMasters5000]

Just shoot it and put it out of its misery, just like a sick elephant.

[@Huntracony]

@@CallieMasters5000 I assume you mean the owner, 'cause the elephant is not in misery.

[@adamyoung6797]

@@CallieMasters5000 You can't. That's the whole point. If you get rid of the elephant, the pharaoh kills you. If you keep the elephant, you go into debt.

[@nickolas474]

@@adamyoung6797 Yep, damned if you do, damned if you don't

[@CaveSpiderRider]

This gives me a great idea! They could give the land to someone they don't like as a present, and just forget to mention the unusable structure they have to pay £60,000 to maintain. Then again, the church might say it's immoral...

[@Urbexy]

I visited this place last year and it truly is an incredible place to experience. From the outside, it looks almost industrial, yet inside with the right lighting, it's almost peaceful. A very unusual structure.

[@protorhinocerator142]

I'm sure it was, but so are forests. Only without the industrial exterior.

[@RobMacKendrick]

That's what architecture is all about, when it's done right.

[@begbie1888]

The arches sticking out like that remind me of the original Glasgow Airport building from around the same era!

[@grantrichards4950]

I'm still trying to figure out how a building built in the 1960's can be considered "Historic", especially when nothing particularly noteworthy happened there.

[@davek12]

And it was declared to be one when it was only about 20 years old.

[@jubbine]

It's because of the building itself - it is one of the foremost examples of the modernist architectural movement in Scotland that took place in the 1960's. There really is no other building quite like it. It's a shame that it has deteriorated to this point, if it was in better shape its importance might be more obvious. But! In July 2020 it was transferred to an educational trust who have plans to use it for some sort of educational purpose. Hopefully that means it will be getting restored in the near future.

[@oOSchmuseEngelOo]

Simply because THE CHURCH build it. If it has to do with religion, almost everything becomes holy and historical. Even some dudes foreskim is said to be held in some church 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

[@jubbine]

@@oOSchmuseEngelOo Well, no. In this case, the building is not a holy place nor of any specific merit to the church. If it was, they'd have been taking better care of it. I have plenty criticisms of the Catholic church, including how they get their money, but as an entity with a lot of money they have been known to fund culturally impactful works from time to time. The building is preserved because it is a historically significant example of an important art movement (modernist architectural design). Think of it this way - we preserve the works of historical painters in museums because we agree their art is important and modern artists can still learn from them. The Seminary is the same. The only difference is you can move the Mona Lisa, but a building must remain where it was built.

[@71507]

The Berlin Wall is from the 60s too, but I don't see anyone complaining about that being considered historic.

[@MrBlinky10101]

I love the graffiti that says "Expensive S***"

[@NoNameAtAll2]

Soup

[@feldspar1000]

Sand

[@tirex3673]

Ship

[@qwedge]

Song

[@ramanyelgandalkar7449]

Stuff

[@zero_anaphora]

"It's unrealistic to expect some kind of deus ex machina"-- a priest dude

[@A.Lifecraft]

Did you ever realize the bulletproof glas cabin on the papamobile? Go figure... :D

[@seriouscat2231]

@@A.Lifecraft, what's the problem there?

[@hannibalburgers477]

@@A.Lifecraft papamobile hahaha

[@marcelo497]

@@hannibalburgers477 That´s really the name of the Pope´s car dude

[@wbbartlett]

@@seriouscat2231 If someone shoots the pope then isn't that his god's will? why need the protection?

[@mulgerbill]

Seems that as of July '20 the church gave the building and estate to a charitable trust. I hope something comes from it as it's one of the least unattractive examples of Brutalism going IMO. I'm frankly shocked that no FPS game devs have featured this, it would make an awesome map!

[@kjj26k]

How many FPS go to rural Scotland?

[@IndigoIndustrial]

Another option is to get someone very, very old and frail with no heirs to buy it for £1. When they pass on it's not the church's problem.

[@EmperorSigismund]

@@kjj26k Hitman can always do with another brutalist industrial-punk nightclub level.

[@alexanderfretheim5720]

In my opinion, it's not Brutalism, it's Bauhaus.

[@butcherpete2182]

It would be perfect for Phasmophobia.

[@misad6308]

This looks like the prefect place for a recreational building. It could serve as a nice getaway in the countryside, a spot for hikers or for whoever manages the estate/woods around it or for a "nature school" kind of purpose - a place where students go to learn more about nature and/or bond with eachother. It could be a great place to treat people suffering from various kinds of anxiety, mainly social anxiety. So many ideas, but no money to realise them.

[@clickpause8732]

The title makes it sound like an SCP.

[@JimJamTheAdmin]

I was expecting an SCP analysis channel, since I watch a lot of that stuff. I'm not disappointed, just didn't meet my expectations.

[@trondordoesstuff]

@@JimJamTheAdmin "Didn't meet my expectations" is the definition of disappointed, but I get what you mean.

[@mariusdesu1633]

it might be one, but foundation would not let us know the truth, it's probably object class safe, so they do not bother to keep it as if it does not exist

[@TheHorseOutside]

ClickPause reminds me of the school with infinite rooms

[@scorp1on036]

Infinite ikea

[@whatevernamegoeshere3644]

Coming from eastern europe, a brutalist religious building feels like the biggest oxymoron I have heard in my life because of how things here worked but at the same time it makes sense

[@TomorrowWeLive]

The same communism that your church was suffering under in the East was being openly promoted and disseminating by the churches here in the West.

[@prkp7248]

@@TomorrowWeLive the church wasn't really suffering under communism, not in Poland at least. In Poland, in 40 years of communist goverment, catholic church builded more churches and chapels than in any other point in history.

[@lateve6243]

Québec was religious enough in the 50s and 60s to have a couple of brutalist churches. (And we abandonned religion in the 70s ans 80s)

[@phil1687]

@@TomorrowWeLive I don't remember any western churches promoting or disseminating communism.

[@allanrichardson9081]

@@phil1687 “Tomorrow” is one of those right wingers who redefine the word “communism” to mean “anything that goes against our idea of capitalism.” Like the teachings of Jesus.

[@yuniyonson]

My Grandson has just introduced me to your site...I thank him very much.

[@sazonada]

This video opened my eyes to realize I actually love brutalist architecture.

[@nesnibila4888]

Might make a good infectious diseases hospital: middle of nowhere, draughty, suddenly much needed, etc etc.

[@8-BitAdventurer]

Zombie apocalypse here we come.

[@JonatasAdoM]

I can hear the headlines: "Pandemic patients sent to the middle of nowhere never to be seen again."

[@bjboss1119]

Middle of nowhere is a bad thing, people like their views, bad Wi-Fi speed, etc etc

[@iankemp1131]

Or a high security prison? Would certainly be a punishment being sent there.

[@agusti92]

And with great ventilation!

[@Julian-cp3vp]

Dude that would be a sick place for illegal techno raves

[@simonj48]

Buckle up Jimmy, grab your Tomas the tank engine colouring book, we're off to the illegal techno rave!

[@tommihommi1]

devilman crybaby IRL

[@groundmasterc]

Except for it being in the middle of nowhere in Scotland.

[@Tensho_C]

@@tommihommi1 now we're talking

[@dairallan]

That's basically what the Art Project did. Light shows combined with music and middle class 30 somethings dancing away trying to relive their past as teenage rebels.

[@mysteriousmist7335]

I'm so addicted to watching your amazing science video . I've watched like 50+ video in two days. And soon I'll be in a predicament cause there'll be nothing new to watch

[@CaptainIsNasty]

This reminds me of the eye sore in Orlando, Florida its been a work in progress for like 15 or more years. Also, it has been traded and sold dozens of times

[@gonun69]

Guys, use it for drone races! It's perfect for that! You can put up gates everywhere in any orientation, have a central space with a line of sight to almost every place in the building and it's in the middle of nowhere so you're not going to disturb anyone.

[@bend7668]

Great for freestyle and is probably one of the only good abandoned buildings in the area

[@allanrichardson9081]

Drone Quidditch! Think of the irony for the Church which persecuted witches to hold Quidditch matches!

[@rightwingsafetysquad9872]

Not sure about in Scotland, but in Germany and France the Church tried to stop witch burnings because doctrine of the time declared witchcraft was impossible.

[@garhull11]

I don't think the problem is lack of ideas, is lack of one that allows enough cash flow to keep the place in one piece. As they point out taking over brings a lot of responsibilities, eventually involving stopping the damn thing from collapsing which won't be cheap. Knowing city councils they would probably won't gove a license for such event since it is an historic building and a drone might hit a wall and scratch the historic filth and ruin out of it

[@theunknowngamer5477]

That is the best idea....you should submit it. International competition at the site! The tourist and advertisement revenue, wow!

[@GrandHighGamer]

This along with those stories of people having to foot the bill before a SWAT team literally demolished their home with explosives really do make me angry. Can't sell it, can't give it away, can't demolish it, and can't just let the thing fall down. What an assinine situation.

[@KasparrTV]

Always wanted to own an old building like this.

[@ZSchrink]

Fascinating!

[@SolarMechanic]

3:43 "It's unrealistic to expect some sort of Deus Ex Machina" Somebody tell that guy he's in the wrong job.

[@1dayofmusic748]

Casual you either dont understand the joke or im just stupid

[@TS_Mind_Swept]

Cactusz - of course, there’s no reason it can’t be both

[@fennviktorvich]

Unexpected salvation

[@jonc8561]

Deus ex Machina implies a sudden and complete solution. Somebody stepping forward with interest and developing plans to take ownership and restore it after a period of negotiation doesn't fall under "Deus ex Machina", it's just a regular old solution. The choice of words is fine.

[@TezalTube]

@@jonc8561 I think he's talking about the guy believing in a god

[@SurreptitiousTingo]

When the Church says "This is bigger than us", you know you're in trouble

[@itisjustacomment]

They could afford it.

[@aformofmatter8913]

No, the only thing you know in that case is that they don't feel like paying for it anymore

[@DavidKnowles0]

The Catholic church could afford it, they just don't want to spend the wonga.

[@johnfowler7660]

@@DavidKnowles0 so?

[@secretbaguette]

I thought that was just Sunday.

[@beaker2257]

This is the same style as The Barbican Centre in London. I often walk through The Barbican on my way to and from work and am in awe at the bold design.

[@Yorkshiremadmick]

I worked on the construction of the Barbican Arts Centre in Central London. So many similarities but then one is thriving and one in total disrepair, neglected and unloved

[@iankemp1131]

A very apt comparison. The Barbican with its associated flats is in the right place and serves a continuing purpose, so it stays alive and well-kept. If St Peter's Seminary were in the Barbican's location it would probably be renovated (very expensively) and turned into apartments. Hopefully they could fix the key design flaws in the process.

[@markog1999]

I'm loving the priest who has absolutely no faith in a "Deus ex Machina"

[@blablabubles]

Do you expect a priest to think God will fix a building for him?

[@zacmumblethunder7466]

@@blablabubles I don't think we'd expect him to believe that God will turn up in person with a team of divine builders. But he's supposed to at least believe that God will provide the opportunity to find a solution, divine inspiration, that sort of thing. I make no criticism of his faith, just his choice of words.

[@supersonicgamerguru]

@@zacmumblethunder7466 Deus ex Machina implies a sudden and complete solution. Somebody stepping forward with interest and developing plans to take ownership and restore it after a period of negotiation doesn't fall under "Deus ex Machina", it's just a regular old solution. The choice of words is fine.

[@fennviktorvich]

Unexpected salvation

[@Nargleberry]

It's just not realistic.

[@dude157]

This week on The Grand Tour Richard Hammond, James May and Jeremy Clarkson each try to buy the cheapest Grade A listed building to turn into a Mario kart circuit.

[@FrankieProkop]

That would actually be one of the most hilarious episodes ever. I’m just worried about hamster (being his injury-prone self) getting seriously hurt while building.

[@strawgreenberry4442]

Then they get sued by Nintendo

[@liammcguire7292]

The power of one people is very strong. I would love to see it back to its full glory

[@promiscuous675]

Thank you.

[@csours]

There's something satisfyingly ironic about a member of the clergy talking about Deus Ex Machina

[@ThalassTKynn]

Especially saying it's unrealistic to expect it haha

[@Gunner77269]

omfg bro I started cracking up the moment I heard him say that XD

[@Soken50]

when the clergy says you can't wait for a miracle you know they're desperate ^^

[@IceMetalPunk]

I just posted this before reading. I'm so glad I wasn't the only one to see that irony :D

[@dhkatz_]

I don't see how it's ironic

[@killslay]

Would make an awesome airsoft/paintball arena

[@zatherz2498]

This would probably be the best idea to monetize it. The problem is I don't think the Catholic Church would approve turning an old seminary with a chapel into a battle arena.

[@ekhiw]

Or drone race maybe?

[@itaybron]

@@zatherz2498 just calling crusader training and they'll sign up.

[@korenn9381]

large parts of it look like it might be close to falling down. Which means opening it for paintball would mean even more millions in repair work.

[@korenn9381]

@@zatherz2498 the priest basically said they'll give it away for free to anyone who will have it. I don't think they have any strong opinions about it.

[@just_passing_through]

I’d love to know more about this building. What was it like in its prime? What are the silo like structures on the side? So much intrigue…

[@vincenta_2]

It was a Catholic seminary. That’s it.

[@ezrakirkpatrick5365]

I love brutalist architecture. Structures that feel like mountains in their imposing size and display of raw, practical surfaces. Vast common areas such as hallways, lobbies, and courtyards with massive, towering space for sky and sunlight. Buildings that look as though they would withstand all elements of nature and could be used and reused for every purpose throughout the tests of time, making you feel secure when you are within them.

[@darkally1235]

This is one of the real disconnects with protected buildings - those who declare the building protected are not the ones responsible for the ongoing headaches and costs of preserving the building.

[@profwaldone]

nor should they be. could you imagine if building owners could just drop A listing because it is "inconvenient" or expensive? though in this case, I would say it warrants the dropping.

[@PiousMoltar]

I live in a listed building. Due to being listed, they're not allowed to install double glazed windows. Seems stupid to me. Yes it gets rather cold in the winter. Lets a fair amount of noise in too. And the current windows obviously aren't the original ones so I don't see what they're trying to achieve.

[@TiSapph]

@@PiousMoltar I don't get that either. We are preserving these buildings for the future so they can enjoy them like we enjoy historic building. However, a very interesting part of the history of these buildings is how they have changed throughout their time and why they were changed. So really if we do things like adding double glazing then that's just us contributing to that history. Or is that somehow flawed?

[@ptonpc]

@@PiousMoltar Sounds like you have a unsympathetic planning department.

[@PvblivsAelivs]

@@profwaldone "nor should they be. could you imagine if [the suckers stuck with the bill] could just drop A listing because it is 'inconvenient' or expensive?" This is the phenomenon of "other people's money."

[@aarondunn6759]

Nothing in the video convinced me of its' historical value or explained why it is a Grade A listed historical site that should be saved.

[@robotbjorn4952]

Done for spite. The church must continue to pay for its upkeep.

[@Magiktcup]

@@robotbjorn4952 good ha! But they have failed a on the upkeep. Especially considering the Catholic church is filthy rich. Letting it turn to ruin was a choice

[@milsy9635]

Magiktcup You are aware the Catholic Church has nothing to do with this right

[@ClarinoI]

@@milsy9635 Apart from owning it and having been responsible for having it built, you mean?

[@michaelrenper796]

It's mentioned in passing that it is a landmark example of brutalism (the architecture style). Look it up. Indeed as burtalist religious building go there are no others like this. Brutalism is not always pleasing to the eye today, but its architeture history now and some of its finer examples are certainly worth preserving and to be remembered.

[@JoeySchmidt74]

Just looked it up and it's between Helensburgh and Dumbarton. Never knew this kind of thing was this close to where I live.

[@JohnDoe-ef3wo]

Sad to see such a tough building stuck in such a confusing dichotomy!!

[@ArkadiBolschek]

Come for the brutalism, stay for the THICC Scottish accent.

[@r0bw00d]

*thick

[@dunc71]

His accent was fairly tame....

[@OOf-yi8ko]

Thicc layers

[@TainaElisabeth]

r0bw00d ur lame

[@timmccarthy872]

THECC

[@nekomatafuyu]

If the government decides that the building should be saved for future generations, it should fall on the government to pay the costs. If the government isn't willing to pay said costs, the church should be free to responsibly dispose of the building.

[@damientonkin]

I was going to say gift it to the nation. Which amounts to the same thing.

[@anthonyitaliano7316]

​@@damientonkin If this building was some pristine work of historical ingenuity (Colosseum, St.Pauls Cathedral, etc) then the government would GLADLY accept it as a gift because they could turn it into a tourist attraction and build up the local economy + generate more tax revenue. But because it's garbage they have no interest in it. They're 100% trolling the church.

[@hattrickster33]

But it's not free.

[@YAUUN]

The Catholic Church is perfectlly capable of maintaining it and not letting it turn into a ruin

[@karolkozik5918]

@Bruce Wayne What the heck? I'm seeing comments from a different video. KZbin machine broke.

[@peterxyz3541]

It is an awesome design!

[@lmaoroflcopter]

"oh no.. I appear to have accidentally bulldozed a building silly me!"

[@Lttlemoi]

If Scottish law regarding protected buildings is like similar laws, the justice system will go to great lengths to make sure someone pays for that "oopsie" in order to restore the building to the state it was in before the accident, especially if intent can be proven.

[@lmaoroflcopter]

@@Lttlemoi cost isn't an issue. At least the job would be done.

[@Lttlemoi]

@@lmaoroflcopter That's the point, it would get the job done and then you'll have to pay someone to put it back in the original state.

[@lmaoroflcopter]

@@Lttlemoi naaaah it would be irreparable.

[@hostergaard]

@@lmaoroflcopter Then you would have to pay for an entirely new building. Likely from jail which you would be spending a long time in after your little oopsie. Don't think others have not tried similar antics before, they usually regret it.

[@timothymclean]

"It's unrealistic to expect some sort of deus ex machina." When a priest says that, you should probably take them seriously.

[@HidekiShinichi]

I would say that it would make it less serious. They just are admiting that their whole life is a lie in a way that might be looked at as nothing but just saing.

[@DarkSideKyp]

@@HidekiShinichi Yes! I remember that Bible verse! "Thou shalt receive sudden and unexpected monetary gain every time you need it for expensive renovations for a large building that shouldn't have been built to begin with." But really, just because a Catholic priest says that they shouldn't expect a miracle for a particular building, that doesn't mean they are admitting "their life is a lie." Don't twist people's words or the meaning behind them.

[@Diggnuts]

When a priest says that, you should realize you should not have taken them seriously at all to begin with.

[@Ezullof]

@Hideki Shinichi Priests precisely don't believe in deus EX MACHINA (which is the part you appear to be ignoring).

[@Ezullof]

Only charlatans will sell you a belief that magically solve your problems. Not all religious people are charlatans.

[@docferringer]

So a 60 year old building in Scotland is considered so important, and of such high religious historical value, that the government assigned it the highest level of protection in the land. And that was 30 years ago. I just don't understand how europe determines which ruins are going to be saved or paved over...

[@shibolinemress8913]

German resident here. I work in a building that's been listed under Germany's own heritage protection act. (Well, at least I did until covid made us all able to work from home.) While the building has been kept up, there are very tight restrictions on how much we can modernise, so things like amenities for the disabled are almost non-existant. From the outside it looks like a 1950's concrete slab. I've never seen a historical plaque or anything telling why it's so special. In many ways, heritage protection in Germany has been both a blessing and a curse, if you ask me.

[@jacklovejoy5290]

This one was earmarked for preservation because it was a major innovation in architecture for the time period

[@fudgeweasel]

You have to love the irony of someone from the Archdiocese saying (@ 3:43 ) that "it's unrealistic to expect some sort of deus ex machina".

[@rgshearer]

If the government is going to declare it a Grade A national treasure, then it seems to me the government has some obligation to compensate the owner for the financial burden imposed, and/or provide government funds for its maintenance. Otherwise the designation is a government taking. The government has substantially reduced the value of the property in a perverse kind of taxation. In the USA these sorts of actions have led to lawsuits. Private property can be taken for public use (eminent domain), but the US Constitution requires just compensation to the owner when there is such a taking. Great vid, by the way. Love the very interesting topics you present to us!

[@hans7686]

I was thinking something similar. The government seems to be the problem here. If they would just let the owners, the Catholic Church, do what they want with the building that they made themselves then they could find some solution.

[@NFMorley]

Listing generally has to be applied for in Scotland unless a building is exceptionally old (with some exceptions) - most likely the Catholic Church or one of the groups looking to take over the building applied for it at some point, so they could get access to certain grants and or tax reliefs, and it's backfired after the process fell through.

[@seanyism]

Worth noting that often people apply for heritage listing, rather than the government applying it. This happened in a town near me where a literal 1960's carpark / bus station was recently listed despite being one of the most hideous buildings I've ever seen (I disagree with Tom, these buildings are horrid ;p ). Yet it was listed because the local council wanted to knock it down and build a modern one and a few locals didn't want them too, so they applied to have it listed. So the town is stuck having a horrible looking building right in its centre that has to be there. At least the building above is out of the way. (all subjective of course :p ) Not sure if this was the case with the above building.

[@merrymachiavelli2041]

+Rob Shearer In general, I support grade-listing. I worked in a planning department for a bit and I can tell you, the things developers sometimes want to do to old buildings... It's not only a matter of aesthetics or history, it's also that the traditional character of a place often contributes to property values - sticking a lump of brutalist architecture in the middle of a village full of thatched cottages is going to diminish the value of everyone else's property. Plus, I've not seen any stats on this, but I doubt grade listing generally diminishes property values? Grade listing is widely recognised in the UK and is generally good marketing as a sign of authenticity and historical value. That said, in this case it's a bit absurd. Unlike most listed buildings, this building just doesn't have that much economic potential. Normally, grade-listing a building isn't so bad because the building can still be used. Plus, you aren't dealing with the original owners - if you buy an 18th century cottage, you know what you are getting into. But in this case? It's just penalising the Church for being architecturally risky decades ago.

[@rgshearer]

If the owner of the building applied then that was a massive tactical mistake. And I understand the bureaucratic nightmare of trying to get de-listed. I'm a bit surprised that an application could be made for a building and a listing secured without the owner's agreement - though in the case of centuries-old structures, I guess I can see how that might happen. Worst thing you can ever hear, "I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you."

[@SlippyLegJones]

It's nutty to hear they spent millions on it already, yet it's in this state. Can't imagine the cost of complete re-creation.

[@melodymacken9788]

Spectacular.

[@vijfsnippervijf]

I learn far more from you then I do from school.

[@jonfox1919]

'I like modernist architecture like this' 'Those who lived there have nightmarish stories......' Yep.

[@whatever7338]

Feel like someone listed it as A level on purpose.

[@sorgothsorgoth3575]

Dude just described my life at the end.

[@hd-xc2lz]

Instance of the ruin-sublime.

[@lanspectre3417]

I'm aware of this building as I'm from Glasgow and it weirdly causes me to feel actual anger, it's just such a horrible structure that serves no purpose and has no future.

[@benry007]

Yes I think it should just have the protections removed and be bulldozed. It looks awful and its only from the 60s its newer then alot of people's houses.

[@ocirMZ]

That's not a nice way to talk about Glasgow

[@nick012000]

Apparently the Church has managed to give it away to a non-profit who are planning on using it as a school once they renovate it.

[@gwenivercall]

@@nick012000 seriously? as a teacher (not in Scotland though), that is a terrible, terrible idea. I mean, I thought my school was the worst in terms of architecture (freezing in winter, boiling in summer, stairs out of Escher) but this is something else.

[@kitszasz3971]

Good urbex spot tho

[@reubenschneider3921]

I'll buy it just before I die, leave my assets to the UK government in my will and all should be well

[@thelastcube.]

Perfect plan

[@keemstarkreamstar7069]

Reuben Schneider Bulletproof idea

[@ClarinoI]

Leave it to the Scottish government, the SNP hate when the English take their resources.

[@jackawalmsley]

@@oskarwinters1873 Lmao UK taxes would go up by 0.09 cents a person on average to pay for this

[@acoow]

Leaving something to a person, organization, or government does not require that the person, organization, or government accept it.

[@Darkplasmaray]

That building looks architecturally disgusting. Its ugly. It looks like a car park. Tear it down.

[@binder946]

It seems well built it might last for 500 years or more.

[@DudeWatIsThis]

It's concrete. It will be dust by 2200.

[@elizabetheve940]

"cant decide that it doesnt spark joy anymore" ha, Marie Kondo

[@sirocco2810]

All my homies hate Marie Kondo.

[@Spudtron98]

I don't think this thing _ever_ sparked joy.

[@lankyGigantic]

There's a building by me thats in a very similar situation. It's a Grade 2 listed building but it's a complete wreck. It had a very interesting history, Joseph Chamberlain, James Watt and even Charles Darwin's father were members of a society who met up regularly there. I walked around inside the building once, just picturing in its original splendor, with mosaics and paintings on the walls, high ceilings and the brightest minds of the time all gathered around and talking about things. It is really, really sad.

[@shugaku2461]

What's the building called?

[@jimtaylor294]

Now that sounds more noteworthy, unlike the dump in the video.

[@lankyGigantic]

@@shugaku2461 Great Barr Hall, also known as Nether House

[@liloldman5998]

This looks like a sick paintball arena

[@insertnamehere8723]

Hear me out...Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 🙌. It practically pays for itself, maybe set up a few concerts and bam. Profit.

[@hannibalburgers477]

I was just thinking about this, but sadly people say architecture is too shite to actually use it for anything. Personally I blame the architect. And as always, modern architecture.

[@insertnamehere8723]

@@hannibalburgers477 I'd say it's quite old by architectures standards, but of course there's always the case to be made as far as "if it ain't broken, then don't try to fix it" design philiosphy.

[@megaflux7144]

same thought "sick skate park!"

[@1nk_edd]

I could see this being the location of a yearly music festival much like Coachella but have at least a portion of the profits used for restoring and maintaining the property maybe clear out some of the nearby trees to build band stands and have the main building be a place for concessions or even as a main concert hall for the biggest bands

[@ZytrikX]

S T O N K S

[@user-fi6pw6ny1z]

you didn't really explain why it's classed as grade A, as in why the buliding is significant in the first place.

[@TheHitcher30]

it'll be because of the unique architecture, like many 1960s/70s buildings

[@uhhhhh262]

BHB2476 what a complete joke

[@Mottflyer]

It's classed as grade A because it has shitty architecture.

[@nicholasmccreaner4921]

@@Mottflyer shitty architecture? It looks good, unique.

[@nicholasmccreaner4921]

@@ballscrusher4 beauty is opinion I guess. I think it has character. I love buildings like these.

[@ButterflyBandit88]

They should turn it into a graffiti training area. Pay admission and allow people to free paint the walls. Famous painters can do lessons there, and could even set up a parkour course on the ground floor. Then any admission money can go towards making sure the roof doesn't cave in at least. No need to worry about enclosing the building then!

[@papucsallatka7527]

There is something in a priest saying: "It's unrealistic to expect some sort of deus ex machina."

[@lawrencebrown3582]

Irony.

[@thelastcube.]

Invite Bansky for an artwork, maybe then it'll come in the spotlight as a more famous place or just wait till a couple of centuries for the Scottish Govt to officially renovate/maintain

[@SapphFire]

Someone would probably try to cut out that part of the wall.

[@Keex11]

And two years down the road it'll shred itself..problem solved.

[@shirtymop6463]

The scottish government can barely afford the roads in Glasgow

[@userPrehistoricman]

Dirty Mop The Scottish government have other... far more important priorities.

[@BoabisXscopeS]

@@userPrehistoricman aye Edinburgh and a second indy ref instead of getting shite done

[@HarukaLPs]

"It's a national treasure and a complete mess. It is both." Wow, thanks for describing my life, dude

[@jamiemclaughlin6899]

I love it. I'd live there if I could afford it.

[@tataririka]

This is the perfect place for a battlerap video!

[@rezuredragon]

I feel like it would fit perfectly as a movie set for...action scenes like, I don't know, that last scene in Captain America Civil War where Tony and Steve fight? That's the vibes I imagine from it.

[@Jayden3649]

I think it would work better in a movie like inception and this is like the deepest crack of somebody's mind

[@dothmotherknowyouwearth]

Agreed.

[@colinprincipe6293]

Some kind of post-apocalyptic place - would have been a good set for something in The Hunger Games.

[@gamezoid1234]

Hey, Scotland needs to hurry up and finish it before someone else gets the wonder.

[@jliller]

Wololo.

[@nicolaim4275]

@@jliller You can't convert wonders unless it is king of the hill.

[@humblelad]

brutalism isnt much of a wonder

[@sneakysquirrl708]

It still has beauty in it

[@Ben-ex1kv]

Honestly I think living forever as a public ever changing graffiti gallery is a fine fate for buildings like this. Some of it looks really nice

[@Durrdalus]

Seems like a great place to store some old and unstable explosives.

[@JoshSweetvale]

You wanna Parthenon it?

[@Dave_Sisson]

Personally I think it would be a great place to TEST unstable explosives. Problem solved.

[@MrTumshie]

I doubt the people of Cardross would agree- the village is less than the mile Tom mentioned from the place.

[@TheHitcher30]

@@Dave_Sisson that's what he's implying, "unstable explosives"

[@Madhattersinjeans]

Good place to practice for sure. Could even just gift it to the military, I bet they'd love playing around inside an abandoned structure like that hurling grenades left and right.

[@simontuffen8243]

I fail to see the value of keeping a building like that if it's a ruin and cannot be repaired/restored. It's not like it's a medieval castle where there might still be things to learn or important history attached to it. Take a thousand photos of it, put the plans somewhere safe, then knock it down.

[@christopherrto]

Right? There's nothing beneficial left, and putting the burden on the Catholic church to maintain it instead of knocking it down seems to be an unfair and unrealistic burden.

[@derekheeps1244]

@@christopherrto The Catholic Church is one of the wealthiest institutions in the world , one has only to take the Vatican tour to see that . This is a drop in the ocean to them . It would be best converted for their own use into a sabbatical retreat where priests from all over the world could come to spend some time in peace and solitude , in that sense it would not be so far from its original purpose and the chapel could even be used for its designed purpose .

[@govsquid]

@@derekheeps1244 I encourage you to earmark your offerings to the Church to support this effort, and to encourage your fellow worshipers to do likewise. If you're not a member of the Catholic Church, perhaps you should consider joining so that you could have some legitimate basis by which you tell them how to spend their money.

[@brianlopez8855]

If you are a bureaucrat on a committee or a public salaried job, they do not see the problem they cause.

[@ATSaale]

@@govsquid why would I donate to an institution that is known to hide criminal rapists from the law?