Tay Cities Deal hope for chapel

The A-listed Mortuary Chapel in Arbroath is the ultimate responsibility of the Hospitalfield Trust.

The Mortuary Chapel was gifted to the then Arbroath Town Council in 1886 and the Hospitalfield Trust inherited a condition of the transfer that they would continue to be responsible for the repair and maintenance of the chapel.

In June 2008 the chapel was placed on the buildings at risk register.

Maintenance expenditure by Angus Council to date has been restricted to a strict health and safety and security priority only basis.

Negotiations were undertaken between the council and the Hospitalfield Trust representatives in 2010.

These negotiations determined that the Trust, due to their financial position, did not have the funds to undertake the list of urgent and necessary repairs to this building.

The Hospitalfield Trust has recently submitted planning and listed building applications for buildings within their overall estate.

Their conservation plan submitted as part of this application makes reference to the Mortuary Chapel as part of their estate, however it does not identify any specific works to be undertaken.

As part of Tay Cities Deal bid to support economic growth across the region, Hospitalfield Trust supported by Angus Council are submitting a bid for new investment in infrastructure which contains the potential to include the Mortuary Chapel as part of proposals to support tourism and international activity.

In June 2008 the chapel was placed on the buildings at risk register

Picture: Paul Reid/Kris Miller. At risk – Montrose Museum and, left, Mortuary Chapel in Arbroath.