Historic Environment Recovery Fund Grants Awarded
Over £1.9 million has been distributed to help support the recovery of Scotland’s historic environment sector from the impacts of COVID-19.
Article Source: Historic Environment Scotland
Last Updated: 26 January 2021 12:32
Historic Environment Recovery Funding will support organisations and help to support the recovery of Scotland’s historic environment sector from the impacts of COVID-19
A working steam railway museum in Spey Valley, a historic castle on the Isle of Mull and an A-listed lighthouse on Shetland are among those set to benefit from funding as part of the Historic Environment Recovery Fund.
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has announced funding of £1,916,238 to over 40 organisations across the country to help support the recovery of Scotland’s historic environment sector from the impacts of COVID-19.
The Historic Environment Recovery Fund was launched in October with two funding streams available.
The first stream - the Reopening Historic Buildings and Sites stream - offers support to help sites reopen to the public including repairs and PPE equipment and adaptions to facilitate social distancing. As part of this stream, £240,000 has been awarded to the A-listed Queen’s Hall in Edinburgh to assist with internal adaptions to facilitate social distancing and make the historic theatre safe for visitors when it is able to re-open.
£17,625 has also been awarded to Duart Castle Partnership to assist with works at the 13th century Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull as they start to plan for the next visitor season. As part of the works, a one-way system will be developed so that visitors can explore the castle safely.
Meanwhile, £73,743 has been awarded to Shetland Amenity Trust for works to the A-listed Sumburgh Head Lighthouse on Shetland. The funding will be used to address building maintenance as a result of winter storm damage, install COVID adaptions and develop a new business plan. The Trust will also deliver a community art project and video to promote the site and re-engage with the local community.
The A-listed Cockenzie House and Gardens in East Lothian has also been awarded £12,112 to cover repairs which will ensure continued public access to the building which is a vibrant community hub offering studios for small business and artists and delivers a range of heritage and community projects within the grounds.
The second stream – the Sector Resilience and Recovery stream – will help organisations to protect jobs or skills training posts, as well as assist with activities to help them adapt to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19. Organisations which HES is supporting under this stream include The Scottish Lime Centre, based in Fife. The Scottish Lime Centre is a key provider of advice, training and practical experience for the repair and conservation of Scotland’s traditional and historic buildings and £25,000 has been awarded to upgrade their website, improve their online presence and develop four training videos for traditional building skills, enabling them to continue to deliver valuable online training in a COVID-safe manner.
The Strathspey Railway Company, which runs a working steam railway museum offering passengers a 20-mile journey through Spey Valley in historic rail carriages pulled by historic locomotives, has been awarded £57,700. The funding will safeguard the development of traditional skills including three engineering apprenticeships as well as PPE equipment to allow the museum to safely re-open and allow visitors to enjoy the railway heritage of the Spey Valley once it is safe to do so.
In addition, £39,575 has been awarded to the Friends of Dundonald Castle – a charity that operates the 14th century castle and visitor centre in Ayrshire. The funding will enable the organisation to focus on increasing their resilience while adapting to COVID-19, develop recovery plans, increase their digital presence and produce online learning resources.
The Historic Environment Recovery Fund is administered by HES on behalf of the Scottish Government.
Alex Paterson, Chief Executive at HES, said: “From museums in the Highlands to historic venues and buildings in central Scotland and the Borders, we are pleased to support a diverse range of projects the length and breadth of Scotland as part of the Historic Environment Recovery Fund. By helping to protect jobs, reopen historic sites and maintaining investment in traditional skills training and apprenticeships, we hope to support the wider recovery of the sector and Scotland’s economy.
“While historic sites and visitor attractions have been impacted by the closure of sites throughout the 2020 visitor season and the loss of revenue, other organisations in the sector have also had to adapt the way in which they carry out their work, put crucial traditional skills training and educational activities on hold and look at new ways to generate income, and we hope that this funding will allow the recipients to prepare for the future.
“The historic environment sector provides countless benefits to local communities – including providing jobs and generating tourism spend - and it is vital that we support these organisations and ensure their important work can continue as we face the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and seek to harness opportunities ahead.”
Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Scotland is internationally renowned for the quality and diversity of its historic environment. Our historic environment plays a crucial role in defining who we are as a nation, supporting wellbeing and sustainability within communities and promoting a positive image of Scotland across the world.
“I am pleased that a wide range of projects will benefit from Scottish Government funding as part of the Historic Environment Recovery Fund. The support delivered through this fund will safeguard our shared heritage for future generations, protect jobs and help to strengthen Scotland’s wider economic recovery.”
The projects which have been awarded funding are:
• Archaeology Scotland - £72,000
• Ardnamurchan Lighthouse Trust Ltd - £27,171
• Bannockburn House Trust - £27,282
• Braemar Community Limited - £30,620
• Castle Roy Trust SCIO - £11,248
• Cawdor Castle Ltd - £100,528
• Clan Mackenzie Charitable Trust - £24,400
• Cockenzie House and Gardens - £12,112
• Collective - £47,988
• Dr Coralie Mills, Dendrochronicle - £14,998
• Duart Castle Partnership - £17,625
• Eden Court Highlands - £59,364
• Ferryhill Railway Heritage Trust - £19,815
• Fife Historic Buildings Trust - £83,914
• Finlaggan Trust - £8,347
• Friends of Dundonald Castle SCIO - £39,575
• Friends of Kilbride - £68,509
• Glasgow Women's Library - £30,000
• Govan Heritage Trust SCIO - £39,905
• Hopetoun House Preservation Trust - £71,355
• King's Theatre Kirkcaldy Limited - £87,000
• Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust - £18,985
• Northlight Heritage - £14,916
• Open Past - £12,575
• Out of the Blue Arts and Education Trust - £53,351
• Raasay House Community Company - £15,782
• Scottish Lime Centre Trust - £25,000
• Scottish Railway Preservation Society - £158,654
• Shetland Amenity Trust - £73,743
• Skaill House - £30,000
• Smart History - £12,500
• Stonehaven Recreation Grounds - £92,069
• The Abbotsford Trust - £48,730
• The John Rae Society - £17,107
• The Moray Society/Elgin Museum - £8,720
• The Queen's Hall (Edinburgh) Ltd - £240,000
• The Ridge SCIO - £24,418
• The Strathspey Railway Company - £57,700
• The Swan Trust - £17,800
• Traquair House Charitable Trust - £30,104
• Wanlockhead Museum Trust - £70,328
Image: Queen's Hall Edinburgh
Sponsored Links
Latest Glasgow News
Grow Your Own flowers, fruits, and veg at Dobbies Garden Centres
Dobbies Garden Centres is hosting a free Grow Your Own workshop this August, where attendees will learn top tips for growing fruit, vegetables and flowers at home.
READ MORE
Glastonbury Stars heading for Milngavie Street Party
Iconic drum and base duo Fabio and Grooverider, actor and DJ Craig Charles and Mercury Music Prize nominees Corto Alto will all be performing at the biggest Milngavie Street Party yet!
READ MORE
Bringing American southern soul to the Southside of Glasgow... Birds launches Brunch
'Brunch at Birds' will be available every Saturday and Sunday from 11am–3pm, bringing a dose of laid-back, American-style indulgence to the Southside.
READ MORE
Gnoss release stirring new single Emily ahead of international festival run
Acclaimed Scottish folk four-piece Gnoss are back with a brand-new single ‘Emily’ set for release on Friday 25th July!
READ MORE
Local treasures revealed ahead of Archaeology Day at the National Museum of Rural Life
Treasure Trove Scotland are inviting members of the public to bring their finds to be assessed as part of a family-friendly Archaeology Day at the National Museum of Rural Life.
READ MORE
Can you fling a piece oot a 20 storey flat... this Glasgow business wants to find out
To mark its 150th anniversary, Dunns Food and Drinks is launching The Great Dunns Piece Fling, a search for a high-rise flat to test the lyric 'ye cannae fling pieces oot a twenty-storey flat'!
READ MORE
Summer offers from the Kings and Theatre Royal Glasgow
ATG Entertainment launches their Summer Saver campaign with discounted tickets to over 100 shows including several at the King's Theatre and Theatre Royal in Glasgow!
READ MORE
Matthew Algie and Tinderbox launch limited edition menu in support of Beatson Cancer Charity
Tinderbox and Glasgow roaster Matthew Algie have teamed up with Beatson Cancer Charity for the second year running – and this time, the menu’s three times bigger.
READ MORE
Dinosaur Day at Dobbies
Children attending Dobbies Little Seedlings Club will get the chance to travel back hundreds of millions of years to learn about prehistoric plants and talk about their favourite dinosaurs!
READ MORE
Elements announces the return of its signature 444 lunch and cocktail experience to celebrate its first birthday
Elements, the celebrated fine-dining restaurant in Bearsden, has announced the highly anticipated return of its signature 4/4/4 cocktail lunch offer, now featuring a brand-new selection of cocktails.
READ MORE
Gavin and Stacey star Mathew Horne joins the cast of The Battle at the Theatre Royal Glasgow
Horne will play the music industry executive who kicked off the race to No 1. between the two bands.
READ MORE
Summer long celebration of the 90s and britpop launched
PubLife, a UK-wide summer celebration of the '90s will take place in over 500 pubs, including 7 in Scotland.
READ MORE
Family days out just got better with free entry for kids at Scone Palace
This summer, as school holidays get underway, families are invited to enjoy a day out at Scone Palace with their Kids Go Free promotion.
READ MORE
Scone Palace International Horse Trials
The inaugural Scone Palace International Horse Trials will take place from 21st–24th August 2025 in the stunning grounds of Scone Palace and Perth Racecourse.
READ MORE
King Pins opens its doors in Glasgow
The state-of-the-art bowling and activity venue brings ten-pin & duck pin bowling, tech darts, ice-free curling, arcades and more to Glasgow's Silverburn!
READ MORE
Countdown begins: The AJ Bell Great Scottish Run returns to Glasgow in October
Scotland's greatest running event, the AJ Bell Great Scottish Run, will return to Glasgow on Sunday 5th October and they want everyone to 'Be Your Greatest'.
READ MORE
Glasgow retailer House Party relaunches with pop up at Pride Hub
Beloved Glasgow indie House Party is back with a new model and a Pride pop-up at The Social Hub from 14–20 July!
READ MORE
Citizens Theatre announces first productions for 2026
With doors set to reopen this August, the Citizens Theatre has announced its programme from January - June 2026 as part of its reopening year of productions.
READ MORE
BTS fans take the spotlight in latest K Pop documentary heading to Vue
BTS Army: Forever We Are Young, a brand-new documentary celebrating the fans that helped catapult 21st century pop icons BTS into global stardom comes to Vue.
READ MORE
Plenty of summer family fun at Vue venues across Scotland
Family favourites and animated adventures are heading to the big screen this summer holiday at Vue venues across Scotland.
READ MORE
CUPP launches brand new Boba Cafe Kiosk at Silverburn
CUPP, the cult-favourite boba tea brand known for its viral drinks and dedicated following, is opening an all-new Boba Café Kiosk in Silverburn.
READ MORE
Tenement Trail Festival Artist Announcement
Scotland’s multi-venue festival for music discovery, is back for 2025 with a first wave of 30+ unmissable artists including Manchester’s Pale Waves.
READ MORE
Topgolf launches exclusive experience inspired by The Fantastic Four: First Steps
The limited-time experience is the first-of-its-kind at Topgolf Glasgow in collaboration with Marvel Studios!
READ MORE
SAY Award opens submissions for eligible albums
Scotland’s national music prize – the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award – has opened submissions for 2025’s £20,000 prize.
READ MORE
Zander Murray to host Pride events in Glasgow
Scotland's first openly gay professional footballer is set to headline Pride events at The Social Hub Glasgow.
READ MORE
Glasgow Fort unveils 20th anniversary artwork created by local school pupils
Artwork to celebrate the centre's 20th anniversary was officially unveiled at Glasgow Fort last week.
READ MORE
Glaschu announces two further exclusive dinners with chef Brian Maule
Glaschu, one of Glasgow's most established fine dining restaurants, will join forces once again with acclaimed chef, Brian Maule for two nights in August.
READ MORE
Cineworld announces 1 pound Family Films all summer long
Cineworld has today announced £1 Family Films, running every week from July 25, so that families can be more childish together all summer long.
READ MORE
Great value summer holiday activities at Dobbies Garden Centres
This summer, gather the whole family and head to Dobbies Garden Centres for a day of fun-filled activities that will keep costs down.
READ MORE
The Big Sunday on Kelvin Way: A Brand New Street Festival for 2025
This Sunday sees the arrival of a brand-new community event for 2025: The Big Sunday on Kelvin Way!
READ MORESponsored Links
Sponsored Links