courtesy of Russell Paisley
Six landmark buildings from all corners of Scotland have been awarded a share of £1.9 million of funding by Historic Scotland.
Historic Scotland writes:
A derelict Peterhead warehouse being brought back into use for social housing and an iconic Glasgow clock tower to be spruced up in time for Glasgow 2014 are among the latest recipients of Historic Scotland’s Building Repair Grants.
These buildings are among six across Scotland that will share almost £1.9 million of funding announced today (20 March 2014) by Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs.
In Peterhead, the former Caley Fisheries Building will receive a £250,000 grant which will see the B-listed early 19th century warehouse converted from its derelict state into a mix of social housing and commercial use.
The landmark Gallery of Modern Art in Glasgow has been awarded £98,672 from the Building Repair Grant scheme. The funding will support essential masonry maintenance of the gallery’s clock tower. This conservation work on the iconic A-listed structure will be carried out ahead of the Commonwealth Games coming to the city this summer.
Inverness’s Town House has been awarded £500,000 towards a project to secure the building’s long term future ensuring it remains a vital community facility. The funding will be used to carry out essential repairs and reinstatement to the historic fabric of the city centre building which will address some of the 20th century alterations to the A-listed building.
The art deco Castlebrae Business Centre in Edinburgh is to receive £500,000 towards a major refurbishment of the 1930s school building to limit the ongoing decay of the historic exterior fabric. The building’s owners also intend to carry out considerable internal alterations to make the building more suitable for business use and encourage local business start-ups.These internal alternations will also conserve the existing historic interior features.
Aberdeen’s 19th century Tivoli Theatre which is undergoing major restoration work has secured £47,723. This will help fund conservation and strengthen of many of the internal features including the ornate plasterwork and frescos as well as a rare wooden fly floor used in theatrical productions. The A-listed theatre will become a multi-use venue on completion of the restoration.
The Russell Institute, regarded as one of Paisley’s finest buildings will receive £500,000 to support a repair and redevelopment of the building to make it more suitable as a modern workplace and secure its long term use. The Institute, which was built in 1925-6 by Agnes Russell as a memorial to her two brothers and operated as a child welfare clinic, will once again become an integral part of the town centre.
Fiona Hyslop said: ‘I am pleased to announce this latest round of funding which will deliver considerable improvements to several of Scotland’s important historic buildings. I am particularly pleased that this investment will see buildings that currently lie derelict or unused given a now lease of life and play an active role again in the communities in which they are located.
‘Scotland’s historic environment is so valuable to all parts of the country with its social, cultural and economic benefits impacting on every community. This investment demonstrates our continued commitment to supporting our historic buildings so they can be enjoyed now and in the future.’
Historic Scotland’s Building Repair Grant scheme makes financial help available to property owners to meet the cost of high-quality repairs using traditional materials and specialist craftsman to conserve original features in buildings of special architectural or historic interest. In return, owners must maintain the building and allow some access to visitors.
