PICTURES: Stunning reveal of new windows for restored Picture House

The restoration of Tain's historic Picture House has taken a striking step forward with the unveiling of its newly restored windows.

Originally designed by Andrew Maitland and Sons, the building has had its windows boarded up since the 1960s.

The recent glazing work and removal of scaffolding is the latest step in a series of phases to restore the grade B listed building as a cinema, performance / creative arts venue and community asset.

Tain Picture House started life as a town hall following its completion in 1876. It went on to become the town’s cinema and was aptly renamed Tain Picture House in 1939. It eventually closed to cinema goers in 1965.

Tain and Easter Ross councillor Derek Louden, who is also a trustee for Tain Heritage Trust, said: "This work is a combined effort by three trusts, Tain Heritage Trust, Tain & Easter Ross Civic Trust and Tain & District Development Trust. They've all played an important part.

"But the building would still have died were it not for the love shown to it by the people of Tain and Easter Ross, young and old over the last twenty years as we've tried to repair it and bring it back into use. Whether your help was financial or on a shovel we thank you.

"Every pound we were given was spent locally in the middle of the pandemic supporting local firms and local employees. We're not finished yet, not by a long way, but if the public keeps supporting us nothing can stop us. We've a new source of funding getting closer every day.

"When that arrives, we'll finish the job and have a building everyone will be proud of."

Mr Louden extended his thanks to the various people and companies involved in the project.

""I'd like to thank a lot of people for the progress being made at the Picture House. Firstly, my colleagues on the Easter Ross Area Committee for having the courage to support Tain Heritage Trust's bid for Town Centre Improvement Grant support. Thanks too, to the Architectural Heritage Trust for covering many of the professional fees we incurred. Alan and Lewis at Richard Mackenzie's for project management and Mike Sangster for the messier bits. Thanks to R D Fraser for getting the electricity connected.

"Thanks also to Nick Lawton at Torrance Partnership for his scheme of works and for keeping us on track. Highland Building and Conservation for the stonework and the scaffolders for holding the balcony up while they replaced the column. And thanks to Treecraft and to Marcin at MG Joinery for the glazing.

"Thanks to Fairhurst for Structural Engineering support and Robin Pettigrew for Health & Safety advice. Lastly, thanks to Lachie and Paul at Anta for plans and liaison with planning and for cheer & positivity."

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