12 June 2008

Two very different historic buildings have been given lifelines today as the Heritage Lottery Fund announced grants for Linlithgow Burgh Halls and Coldingham Priory. Both projects are set to breathe new life into the built heritage and put them back at the heart of their communities.

Commenting on the today’s grant announcements, Colin McLean, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said “I’m always heartened when new uses can be found for Scotland’s historic buildings. They give a community a sense of place, of history and of identity that cannot be replaced, yet without care and attention, they would eventually be lost.

“These projects show the relevance of heritage in today’s society. By helping to save them, children, young people, adults and community groups will all benefit, whether it’s learning new skills or just having fun.”

Linlithgow Burgh halls

The Heritage Lottery Fund has awarded West Lothian Council a grant of £772,500 to transform Linlithgow Burgh Halls into a thriving community, tourist and arts centre. The Burgh Halls sit within an Outstanding Conservation Area which takes in Linlithgow Palace, St Michael’s Kirk and the Masonic Hall, but with deteriorating stonework, poor access and inadequate facilities, it remains largely unoccupied and vastly underused.

Linlithgow Burgh Halls is made up of a two buildings – a 17th Century Town hall and a modest 19th Century wing to the rear with a linking area between the two. For 300 years they were the hub of town life. For 200 years they were the seat of justice where all accused were tried and, if guilty, imprisoned. They were also a place where the town could gather for public debate, for information and for entertainment.

With the historic fabric of the building restored and a contemporary new interior, including gallery space, performance areas, function rooms, an education room and a cafe, the Burgh Halls are set to come to life again.

Colin McLean, comments “This is an imaginative development which will create a fantastic arts centre for the people of Linlithgow and the surrounding area, as well as saving a beautiful old building. It’s transformation into a bright welcoming gateway to the Palace is bound to attract tourists enjoying Linlithgow’s rich heritage.”     

Coldingham Priory

The Tweed Forum has been awarded a grant of £237,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to conserve the ruins of Coldingham Priory and encourage community use of this fascinating site.

The A listed ruins date from the 12th century although it traces its descent back to one of the oldest monastic foundations in Scotland founded in 643AD at nearby St Abbs Head and connected with Lindisfarne. It was part of Aidan’s mission spreading the Celtic strand of Christianity from Iona. Ebba the abbess was a princess and sister to Northumbrian kings. Her monastery was visited by St Cuthbert and recorded in Bede’s writings. The Norman foundation at  Coldingham was an attempt to build on the links with the early Christians. The monks at Coldingham built a chapel on the cliffs at St Abbs Head in the 12th century and encouraged pilgrims to visit both priory and chapel. There are many colourful legends in the area.

Today the ruins are in a very poor state, badly eroded, overgrown and at risk of collapse. With the help of Heritage Lottery funding the site will be rejuvenated: the ruins conserved, footpaths reinstated and a wasteland transformed into a community garden with a monastic theme concentrating on plants with culinary, medicinal, and aromatic properties. There will be interpretation for the first time explaining the hundreds of years of history contained within its walls while a year-long education programme will engage schools and community groups in many diverse activities relating to the Priory and its conservation.

Colin McLean said “The Heritage Lottery Fund is delighted to be involved in this excellent project. The need to conserve the actual stonework of Coldingham Priory has been the catalyst for an initiative which will open up the heritage to many more people. With new paths and a community garden it will become a place where people can take time out from their busy lives and enjoy the heritage on their doorstep.”

Notes to editors
The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage.  From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation’s heritage for everyone to enjoy.  To date it has invested over £480million in Scotland’s heritage.