The Hill Project

 A Cultural and Heritage Experience in East

Perthshire 

 

Developing Sustainable Projects in Blairgowrie and Rattray

 

The Ericht Trust is a 'not for profit' charitable organisation, which focuses on community development and regeneration in line with Scottish Government policies on community empowerment. It is a member of Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS). DTAS provides support to its members and a link into a network of the many comparable Trusts working for the benefit of their communities across Scotland. Being part of this bigger family gives strength to the organisation when voicing opinion or seeking support from Government and Local Authorities.   Scottish Charity Number SC039702

 Registered Company Number

SC341257 (Scotland)   

The Town

The town of Blairgowrie and Rattray currently has a population of around 9,700 people, with a larger proportion of retired people and young families than most Scottish towns. There are few local indoor amenities for these residents hence the desire by the local people to convert this building into an asset for the town. Within the Eastern Regional Development plan there is an intention to expand the number of houses on land in the south and west aspect of the town. Allowance for industrial and educational development is included but cultural and social aspects are not addressed. Should this development go ahead, there would be even greater need to put a “heart” back into the centre of the town. The town owes its existence to the industrial jute mills at the beginning of the twentieth century – now long since closed, and to the huge cultivation of soft fruit especially raspberries which earned it the name of “The Berry Toon” – the capital of soft fruit growing in Europe and possibly the world during the last century. The heritage of the town has been captured in song and words but never in a place to visit.

Community Support

There have been a number of public meetings held in the Royal Hotel, the Town Hall and the Angus Hotel.The Trust has also held meetings with all sections of the community throughout the feasibility study.Presentations have been made to a large number of local groups, including schools, nursery and childcare facilities, the Rotary Club, the 41 club, several Scottish WRI groups, SCYD, the Merchants’ Association, Local Councillors, MSPs and PKC officers.

Survey Results

The Business team, led by Motomo, conducted a town survey and the top 15 needs and wants on the “wish list” are shown here.

 

The One Voice (working for Blairgowrie and Rattray) office has acted as a focal point for recording residents’ opinions.

The Heritage Building The site extends to 0.78ha on an elevated southeast sloping ground, close to the town centre. It is a Grade B listed building with Historic Scotland. It is also within the Blairgowrie Conservation Area. The railings and other buildings within the boundary are also Grade B listed.

The original school was built in 1878 and was one of the first Parish Schools following the Education Act of 1872. It was built with local money and governed by the Parish Council.The famous Scottish poet Hamish Henderson was born in Blairgowrie and educated at this school.

In 1909 the central part of the school was extended into a two-storey building. It was the main school for the town until the new High School was built in Beeches Road in 1958.

The Setting

This beautiful old red sandstone building was built on glebe land next to the Parish Church. The money for the school was raised by public subscription. The school was opened by Alan Macpherson in 1879, the grandfather of our current Patron Sir William Macpherson of Cluny.The original building as shown in the photograph was conceived as a piece of townscape with the Parish Church and, made of matching stone, gives a pleasing panorama when approached from the town.  

The Concept

After considerable research, plans have been drawn up to convert the whole site into a community resource as shown in the following artistic impressions and photographs.

 

The Cinema

The East Wing 

This will be a modern facility for 120 people in raised seating with a fixed screen.The cinema will be open seven days a week and will show a broad range of programmes for different age groups, including live screening of world class theatre, opera and other events.

The Heritage Hall

The West Wing 

                   

                            ed into a beautiful multi-function room in keeping with the ambience of the building. With a high ceiling and panelled walls the room will have good acoustics for small musical performances

The West Wing will be transformed into a beautiful multi-function room in keeping with the ambience of the building. With a high ceiling and panelled walls the room will have good acoustics for small musical performances. The hall will have a small stage and access to a servery and bar, which will suit private parties or receptions. Visiting exhibitions and art displays are other possible uses, which would tie in with the artists’ studios and retail areas.

The Printworks MuseumThe Blairgowrie Printers in Reform Street contains a unique collection of print machines and artefacts. It is planned to move these into the Hill Site and install them as a working museum alongside a modern print workshop and education room. A film of the print shop and the people who worked there has already been made and this will be shown in the museum.

Central Ground FloorThree former classrooms will be opened up to provide a large entrance area. Permission has been sought to add a new glass foyer on the front of the building. The multi-functional reception area will cater for ticket sales, retail displays, seating areas and exhibition space.This will lead into a café area. 

The Upper Floor

There will be a large meeting room with modern AV aids, artists’ studios and workshops of varying sizes.

Artists’ work will be displayed along the corridors and stairs, for sale and on commission.

The Berry Museum

 

The Berry Toon 

Since the beginning of the 20th Century, the Berryfields o’ Blair have been recorded in song and words.The Blairgowrie area was the centre of soft fruit production in the world for most of the last century.Soft fruits – mainly raspberries and strawberries - are still grown commercially here.The berries and the people who came to pick the fruit have a place in our history.

 

Bowls

Salmon Fishing 

Curling 

Rattray Silver Arrow – over 400 years old 

The jute industry used the power of the River Ericht, whilst the Dundee jute mills used coal to power the machinery. The remains of the mills can still be seen today along the banks of the River Ericht.

Jute 

Golf

Other Exhibits

The Play Centre

Made up of separate areas, the play centre will have a party room with inter-active floor, a sensory room, and a soft play area for 3-7 year olds. There will also be a toddlers’ play area and parent seating space. There will be an enclosed outdoor play area and small refreshment kiosk.

Intergenerational Community Activities

There is an Intergenerational organisation led by Perth & Kinross Association of Voluntary Services (PKAVS) being established in the town. The school site could provide facilities for some of this group to develop their ideas.Refurbishing the bike sheds for Men’s Sheds, gardening clubs, bike repairs and similar ideas could be accommodated. Outdoor grassed areas could be used for raised beds for growing vegetables and plants and educational projects would integrate well with the plans. 

“The Future”

Professional assistance from John Manning – Architect Shirley Forbes – Architect John Duguid Partnership – Quantity Surveyors Motomo – Business Consultants Douglas Land Surveys - Topographical Survey Graham and Sibbald- Surveyors – Buildings Valuation Cadogans – M & E Engineers J & E Shepherd – Surveyors Allen Gordon & Co. – Structural Engineers Mayfield Arts – Ron Inglis – Cinema Consultants Dr Sue Swift – Bat Survey The Bell Library – Archive Plans Graham Edwards – Chartered Accountants Birseland – Printworks Film Watson, Lyall and Bowie, Solicitors

  

Advice from  DTAS – Development Trust Association Scotland AHF – Architectural Heritage Fund – Dragons’ Advisor PKAVS – Perth & Kinross Ass. of Voluntary Service  Andrew Burrell – The Burrell Co. - Dragons’ Advisor E C Harris – Dragons’ Advisor Alistair Keatinge - Dragons’ Advisor The Prince’s Regeneration Trust Historic Scotland Richard Welch Conservation Officer PKC Jeremy Gardner Ass. Ltd. – Fire Engineer CSP Acoustics LLP - Acoustics Engineer

     

  

Consultation with Community Council Blairgowrie Merchants Association Blairgowrie Local Councillors – Caroline Shiers, Bob Ellis, Liz Grant John Swinney, MSP Murdo Fraser, MSP PKC Officers Caledonia Housing Blairgowrie Parish Church St Catherine’s Church One Voice Voluntary help from Tony Niepold Robert Smail’s Printworks, Innerleithen Jim Arnott Print Engineer Edinburgh Hamilton Scott &The Blairgowrie Printworks Team  Baxter Clark & Paul – Architects Strathmore Screens Kim Wood  Jane Davidson Pat MCarthy One Voice for some photographs.  

Completed Documents Building Condition Survey Bat Survey Topographical survey Measured building survey Utilities Duguid’s Report Plans and drawings Business Plan Executive Summary Financial Projection Professional Valuations Cinema Feasibility Report Car Park Report Probable Cost Professional Report Social Enterprise Report Smart Parking Ltd Cadogans’ Report Allen Gordon, Structural Survey Report 

This portfolio was designed and completed entirely by voluntary work by Trustees of the Ericht Trust – Myra Shearer and Jessie Shaw Jan 2015.. ©