Ambitious plans to transform historic buildings in Portsoy are on course for success thanks to National Lottery funding announced today.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund has announced its support for The Marbles, Portsoy awarding a development grant of £361,400 to progress plans to create a new creative hub in this former warehouse.
The investment in Portsoy’s historic harbour buildings, including its former marble warehouse, will support plans to put the buildings right at the heart of cultural life in the community.
The Marbles Warehouse in Portsoy is part of a significant complex of eighteenth-century harbour buildings related to the historic trade in local marble, grain and fishing. Now owned by the North East Scotland Preservation Trust (NESPT) which, with the Heritage Fund’s support, aims to develop it as a sustainable creative hub for local artists.
NESPT Chairman, Marcus Humphrey, said: “We are indebted to the late Tom Burnett-Stuart for the six historic buildings at the Old Harbour in Portsoy that he left us in his will. Our intention is to bring the unused buildings back into productive use to ensure their conservation for future generations.
“Our priority is to redevelop the category A listed Marble Warehouse, which dates from 1765 and was designed by John Adam, into phase 1 of the Marbles Creative Hub. The Heritage Fund has supported most of our projects over the years and we are delighted that they are again supporting us with this one.”
Since it was launched 30 years ago the Heritage Fund has invested an incredible £62 million in heritage projects across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray.
Caroline Clark The National Lottery Heritage Fund Director for Scotland said: “To date the Heritage Fund has invested more than £60 million in projects across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and Moray and we are delighted to add to that total with our support for these three projects.
“The Heritage Fund’s investment in the region has benefitted communities, tourism and the wider local economy. Creating opportunities for people of all ages to volunteer, to learn and train, and to get involved in heritage.
“Our investment will not only support new uses for these buildings it will help deliver the care they need to have a bright future as assets for the whole community.”
Other projects supported in this funding round include Grant Lodge in Elgin (£212,427 to develop plans to bring the building to back into use as a tourism and heritage venue after 20 years of lying empty) and Belmont Cinema, Aberdeen (£87,438 to support plans to reopen the landmark Belmont Cinema, as a community focused, cultural, educational asset that celebrates the heritage of film in Aberdeen.)
View an artist’s impression of The Marbles Creative Hub project vision:
Our thanks go to the National Lottery players for making this funding possible.
The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the largest funder for the UK’s heritage. Using money raised by National Lottery players we support projects that connect people and communities to heritage. Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. From historic buildings, our industrial legacy and the natural environment, to collections, traditions, stories and more. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
