About

With extensive experience in hotels and catering, Frances Warnes has lived in Drymen for 25 years, having moved to her adopted home from London. Now, she couldn’t imagine living anywhere else. It is with a deep love of the area that she welcomes visitors to stay in this incredible building she has refurbished from top to bottom.

History

Before it was Kip in the Kirk, it was the Old Church Hall, and before that a church in its own right. Dating from 1819 as the United Secession Chapel, it has changed affiliations twice (in 1847 it was the United Presbyterian; in 1900, the United Free) before the Church of Scotland reclaimed it in 1929 as East Church Drymen. The building was unused from 1935 until being requisitioned by the government later in World War II, and finally made its transition to Church Hall in 1953 when the refurbished building was reopened. Since then, it has been an integral part of the community, having been used for Boys Brigade, Brownies, Guides, the Women’s Rural Institute, the annual flower show and a host of community events. Frances acquired the building in February 2008, and the bulk of the conversion was completed by August 2010.