Brora's Old Clyne School project takes huge leap forward with hopes high for autumn start on £2.95 million transformation of historic building into a heritage centre and visitor destination
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Clyne Heritage Society has announced it has taken some major leaps forward in its long-running bid to transform a semi-derelict, 19th century school in Brora into a community heritage centre and visitor destination.
A funding boost has taken the ambitious Old Clyne School scheme to within a whisker of its £2.95 million target; planning consent has been granted for the redevelopment; and a parcel of land nearby has been gifted to the society.
There is now hope that construction work could start as early as this autumn with the new facility possibly opening late in 2023 or early 2024.
Society chairman Dr Nick Lindsay said it had been a “long process” to achieve these milestones against the backdrop of the pandemic and Brexit-driven price increases and shortages.
And he thanked the “diligence, perseverance and general hard work of our project team, Board members and supporters, not to mention the professionals we have engaged”.
Located on the north side of Brora, next to the A9 and on the North Coast 500 tourism route, the grade C listed Old Clyne School, built in 1863, was gifted to the society in 2017 by Scottish and Southern Electricity (SSE), developers of the Gordonbush Wind Farm.
It is intended to develop the historically significant building, which served as the parish school, into a year-round community heritage facility with a cafe and shop. Two extensions are planned.
Mr Lindsay said: “Brora is unique in the Highlands as the past home of the most northerly coal mine, which fuelled other industries including whisky making at Clynelish Distillery, tweed manufacturing at Hunter's Woollen Mill, brick making and salt making.
“It is this unique history that Clyne Heritage Society will display to visitors in its new museum, along with the many stories of events and tales of people that has made Brora famous throughout the world.
“The society’s range of heritage activities, projects and events will be expanded at the new premises so that the community can be engaged on a year-round basis in purpose-designed, comfortable, welcoming and inclusive facilities.”
The award, announced in March, of £450,000 from the Scottish Government’s Regeneration Capital Grant Fund takes the funds so far raised to £2.85 million of the £2.95 million required to begin construction on the site.
“It leaves us just a fraction short of the almost £3 million we need to put the first shovel in the ground,” said Dr Lindsay. “Funding applications for this ‘small’ shortfall are already with granting bodies and are yet to be decided.”
The green light from planners for the redevelopment has enabled the society to go ahead with the acquisition through the Scottish Land Court of a third of an acre of land adjacent to the school. The land is part of the common grazings for the townships of East Brora Muir, Dalchalm and Greenhill.
Dr Lindsay said: “Agreement had already been reached with the landowner to generously gift this small area of the 20.5 acre field to the society and the Land Court duly granted resumption of the land from the grazings unopposed.”
Society vice-chairman Dr John Alderson said it was hoped that the transformation of the Old Clyne School could begin as early as this autumn.
“We have never given up, as we have always believed in our project and the opportunities it will give members of our community, as well as visitors from afar,” he said.
“They will all be able to see the wonderful heritage resources that to date, we’ve not been able to display properly and members of the local community have not been able to engage with due to the lack of suitable facilities.
“The redeveloped Old Clyne School will be a boost, not only for the society but also for the village, as the local economy will benefit directly from our facility on a year-round basis.
“It will go a long way to help make Brora a ‘must stop and see’ destination.”
He continued: “If the financial shortfall is bridged in the near future, it is likely that the transformation of the current eyesore at the northern gateway to Brora will begin this autumn.
“Fundraising for the fit-out of the renovated building will also be required, with a planned soft opening in the winter of 2023-24.”
