£648K funding for Bannockburn House
Cash will help revamp
The community trust responsible for ambitious plans to purchase and redevelop Bannockburn House has formally secured six-figure funding.
An award of £648,300 has been allocated to the Bannockburn House Trust following a successful application to the Scottish Land Fund, announced today (Wednesday).
Earlier this year the trust agreed an £800,000 deal with owner Peter Drake to purchase the historic grade-A listed building and 25 acres of surrounding land.
And while members say this news represents a massive step forwards in the mission to get the house back in the hands of the community, they admit much work remains to raise the full cash sum required.
Trust chairman Alan Marshall said: “This is fantastic news, not just for the members of the trust, but for the whole community who have been a part of this project since day one.
“The enthusiasm that has existed for this project from volunteers and the community has been amazing. We’ve had more than 3000 people come through the doors through our open days and other events.
“This is a massive step forward and it takes us close to our target. On behalf of everyone involved, I’d like to thank the Scottish Land Fund for this hugely significant grant which takes us to within touching distance of securing this strategically important property for the whole community.
“We do have further sums to raise to meet the agreed purchase price, but make no mistake, this award was makeor-break to the eventual success of the project, so to hear that we have been successful is just fabulous.
“As well as thanking the Scottish Land Fund, we would also like to thank Stirling Council for their support in helping us with the bid. We couldn’t have done it without them, or without the many volunteers and helpers who worked tirelessly to get us to this point.”
The trust has already staged a number of public open days and exhibitions along with a Burns evening and paranormal night at the house – demonstrating its use as a community asset.
And once it has completed the purchase the trust plans to put on further events while also providing a base for new employment and volunteering opportunities – with people working to restore the house and develop visitor facilities.
John Watt, Scottish Land Fund Committee chair, said: “Today’s award to the Bannockburn House Trust represents an important milestone in their pursuit of community ownership.
“We were impressed by their community consultation which showed a real desire by local people to bring the historic building into community use.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon visited the 17th century building, which was once lived in by Bonnie Prince Charlie, earlier this year and listened to members of the trust talk about their plans for the building.
Speaking to the Observer she described the house as a “real historical asset” and highlighted its value as a tourist attraction.
The house was built in 1672 and Bonnie Prince Charlie spent a night there in 1745 during his march to the south to gain support for the Jacobite cause. A year later he then made the mansion his headquarters ahead of the Battle of Culloden.
The Bannockburn House Trust currently has 96 registered members, and volunteers will be on-hand to speak to members of the public about the project when they set-up an awareness-raising stall in Murray Place on Saturday, July 8 and Sunday, July 9.