The oldest inhabited building in Perth may be among the historic structures to be granted support by a fund set up in the wake of the restoration of city status.
The latest beneficiaries of the £650,000 Perth City Heritage Fund are revealed in the annual report of Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust.
Grants of up to 75% are available for appropriate repairs in the two central Perth conservation areas. Two payments have been made to completed schemes one for window improvements and the other for roof and gutter repairs while around 30 expressions of interest have been received.
“Significantly, a long-term building at risk, John Buchan’s birthplace in York Place, looks set to be supported and, working closely with Perth and Kinross Council’s vacant property development officer, plans are being laid to carry out external fabric common repairs to the oldest inhabited building in Perth, the Cunningham-Graham close at the bottom of the High Street,” said the report.
In 2012, following the news of the granting of city status, Historic Scotland offered £650,000 for the period up to March 2015 for the creation of the Perth City Heritage Fund.
“The objective of this support is to build capacity, and maximise the city’s ability to contribute to, and benefit from, sustainable economic growth,” notes the report.
“The fund aims to safeguard and enhance the historic environment of Perth, while contributing to job creation and sustaining economic recovery.”
Despite the challenging funding climate for targeted historic building grants, the trust has continued to support such work. The report says this has included common roof repair at the corner of Kirkgate and the High Street, and a traditional shop-front project in Scott Street, Perth.
Work to the clock faces at Muthill Parish Church, roofing works at Kirkmichael Kirk and the installation of new windows for the Royal British Legion club rooms in Crieff have also been assisted.
In addition, a cast iron drinking fountain at Pitlochry Railway Station, refurbished by the Pitlochry in Bloom committee, has been supported.
Grant assistance was also provided to the community-led refurbishment of the washhouse in Scotlandwell, which had its chimneys reinstated.
The Coupar Angus Townscape Heritage Initiative, which the trust has collaborated and provided funding for, has effectively been completed, with the grant period for the Royal Hotel extended to accommodate a change of ownership.
Repairs to nine properties were ongoing during the year through the Blair Atholl Conservation Regeneration Scheme and repairs to the mill lade have also been supported.