Revamp to celebrate Aberfeldy’s history

Architecture: Town hall’s ‘radical refurbishment’ costing £1.5m has been backed by author JK Rowling

A popular Perthshire venue is getting a £1.5 million makeover as part of a project backed by Harry Potter author JK Rowling.

Plans are being drawn up for a radical refurbishment of Aberfeldy Town Hall.

The project is being led by local community organisation Locus Breadalbane and more than £450,000 has already been collected through fund-raising and donations.

JK Rowling, who has a house nearby, also made a “generous donation” to the scheme.

Developers are now preparing to submit a fresh application for funding the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Locus has teamed up with the Breadalbane Heritage Society to form a new group to look specifically at how the town’s local history can best be displayed at the new look hall.

The site was previously home to the town’s first school in 1843, long before Breadalbane Academy moved to its current Crieff Road location.

The hall was closely associated with famous architect James MacLaren who was responsible for its redesign in 1889.

According to MacLaren’s brother, Thomas, Aberfeldy Town Hall is one of the buildings for which the architect would be best remembered.

A spokeswoman for the newly formed Town Hall Heritage Centre Management Committee (THMC) said: “It is hoped that all this heritage can be highlighted within the building as part of the refurbishment.”

As well as these displays, it is proposed to install facilities for genealogy and local history research. Other notable historic events are likely to be featured in the new venue, including The Black Watch regiment’s first muster and the construction of Wade’s Bridge.

Once plans have been developed and approved, it will be the committee’s job to oversee how they are carried out.

She added: “The new committee will then be not just a planning body, but an active group ensuring that local history and heritage is presented in the best and most appealing manner.”

Anyone interested in getting involved should email house@croftnuisk.co.uk.

Proposed refurbishment plans for the historical Aberfeldy Town Hall.

Above: how the Town Hall looks currently. Below: James MacLaren, architect of the building.