Historical buildings share Â£650,000 repairs fund

Pollok House, Glasgow, will receive over Â£200,000 for roof repairs. Picture ALLAN MILLIGAN

Projects include an A-listed Edwardian mansion in Glasgow and a 16th-century harbour in East Lothian that has links with Oliver Cromwell.

The cash has been awarded by Historic Environment Scotland (HES), the new public body set up last year to support the country’s heritage sector.

Glasgow’s Pollok House, which is home to an important collection of Spanish paintings, has been awarded £260,010 towards roof repairs.

The Scottish Waterways Trust has been given £273,600 for external conservation work at Old Custom House in Dumbarton and the railway viaduct at Bowling Basin on the Forth and Clyde Canal.

A further £47,840 will go to Dunbar in East Lothian for structural work at the harbour, which has previously had repairs funded by Oliver Cromwell in the 17th century.

Kirkcudbright Town Hall in Dumfries and Galloway has received £36,036, and the 16th-century Priory Doo’cot in Crail, Fife, got £38,400.

Martin Fairley, head of grants at HES, said: “This scheme is designed to support and highlight Scotland’s diverse historic environment and the contribution it makes to communities up and down the country.

“We are pleased to be supporting a wide range of projects and working together with councils, community groups and volunteers, amongst others, to champion Scotland’s historic buildings.”

The money comes from the organisation’s building repair grants scheme, which supports improvement work on buildings of architectural or historic interest.

“Scotland is home to a range of fascinating historic buildings, and it is vital that we work together to preserve them for future generations,” said Scottish culture minister Fiona Hyslop.

“I look forward to seeing how these grants will reinvigorate some wonderful buildings and bring benefits to communities all over Scotland.”