Final funding for Lews Castle revamp put in place

Finance Secretary John Swinney confirmed £1.8 million from the European Regional Development Fund for the project during a visit to the site in Stornoway today.

Around £14 million in total is to be spent on restoring and converting the property, which has been shut for almost 25 years.

When completed, the museum will use Gaelic as its first language and will encourage people of all ages to tell their stories of island life.

The permanent displays will also include six of the Lewis Chessmen and the development will create a new resource for academics, family researchers as well as local schools and colleges.

Mr Swinney said: “This exciting project can transform the way we engage with the unique heritage of the Western Isles.

“It will encourage us all to get involved and make the most of the excellent new resources which build on the rich oral heritage of the area.

“The development will create new jobs, in both the short and the long term, and contribute more than three million pounds to the local economy during the construction phase alone.

“The tourism industry will benefit from this, with people traveling from far and wide to find out about their ancestors or to learn about the history of the Western Isles and their way of life.

“I look forward to seeing the positive impact that the transformation of Lews Castle has on the local community in the future.”

The leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Angus Campbell, said: “This is excellent news for the Outer Hebrides and secures the funding package for what is a major project for the islands.

“I would like to thank our partners from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland, HIE, the Scottish Government and the European Regional Development Fund for enabling the Comhairle in taking this project forward.”

Highlands and Island Enterprise Assistant Area Manager for Innse Gall, Anne Macaulay, said: “This is a very exciting project which promises to develop the potential of Lews Castle as both a cultural and economic asset for Lewis and the Outer Hebrides.”

Lews Castle was built in the years 1847-57 as a country house for Sir James Matheson, who had bought the whole island a few years previously with his fortune from the Chinese Opium trade.

In 1918, the Lewis estate including the castle was bought by industrialist Lord Leverhulme from the Matheson family. He gifted the castle to the people of Stornoway parish in 1923.

During WWII the Castle was taken over as accommodation for air and ground crew of British forces.

After the war, the Castle was also used for accommodation for students of Lews Castle College, which is located in the grounds.

Today the building is owned by the local council and is category A listed building.

Current refurbishment work had been delayed for three months after the main contractor went into administration.

Phase One of the project had been thrown into doubt with the downfall of Northern Ireland-based Patton Group.

But local contractor Nail Mackay and Co, who worked as subcontractors and also incurred massive losses as a result of Patton’s administration, has taken over the work.