The revamped Black Watch Museum in Perth is taking shape with the ambitious £3 million development due to be open in time for next Easter.
Work is progressing on the project in the grounds of Balhousie Castle the regimental home of The Black Watch resulting in new and improved access for visitors, including improved parking, toilets and a lift.
The aim is to enhance the visitor experience to the museum with an improved education room and archive office as well as a new cafe and retail outlet. There will also be slight alterations to the partition walls to allow reception space and to improve the flow of visitors through the museum.
In March, the Heritage Lottery Fund announced it was funding the project to the tune of £778,000.
Alfie Iannetta, chief executive of The Black Watch Museum Trust, told The Courier the revamped building should be completed by the end of March.
”Work is going well on the museum,” he said. ”The whole thing is taking shape and we hope to have it open for the Easter weekend next year. We have received wonderful support for this project from our regimental family and the general public.”
The Friends of The Black Watch and Museum were instrumental in promoting the project, and they also work to conserve the artefacts and archive material at the building.
When the funding was announced, Colin McLean, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: ”Balhousie Castle is sure to become a highlight amongst Perth’s tourist attractions, bringing economic benefits to the area while keeping the history of this important local regiment alive.”
The extension was designed by architect Lachlan Stewart, who was responsible for the gates at Glamis Castle in memory of the Queen Mother.