THE OLD TOWN HOUSE

13th Jan 2006

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Work begins this week to restore one of Old Aberdeen’s most famous landmarks to its former glory, thanks to the University of Aberdeen and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

The University of Aberdeen is delighted to present an exhibition of Barbara Rae's work Old Town House. This exhibition showcases a series of prints focused on Aberdeen harbour.

The University has embarked upon a project to transform the 200-year-old Town House, which has remained unused for 15 years, to become a visitor “gateway” to the University and to Old Aberdeen. External funding has been raised from the HLF following a £250,000 grant, the Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland, and alumni donations. The University also embarked upon a fundraising drive to raise the remaining £500,000 and work now begins in earnest to conserve, restore and adapt the building.

Project Leader, Vice Principal, Professor Dominic Houlihan, University of Aberdeen, welcomed the work beginning on the Town House and said: “This is a momentous occasion with the start of work to restore and refurbish the historic Town House. This project provides a wonderful opportunity to return a redundant historic building to daily public use as an information and reception facility for the benefit of all who visit Old Aberdeen.”

The primary purpose of the building will be for student recruitment. It will provide space for prospective students, parents and school parties to find out more about studying at Aberdeen. The restored and refurbished building will feature reception and event/meeting room areas for the University, and facilities will be available for evening use by community groups and local societies. As well as welcoming prospective students, information on the area’s history, buildings and public attractions will be shared with all visitors to Old Aberdeen through visual displays, oral presentations, written publications and guided walking tours.

Sympathetic restoration will include reinstatement of original features as well as sensitive adaptation of the internal layout to accommodate the building’s new function. Included will be structural strengthening, timber decay eradication and new building services.

This weekend is the tenth anniversary of the National Lottery and a host of events are planned across Scotland to mark the occasion. The National Lottery has raised more than £1.58 billion over the last 10 years for “good causes” across Scotland, the Town House being one of these.

Commenting from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Colin McLean, Manager for Scotland, said: “HLF is very happy to be supporting this project which will bring new life to the Town House. Restoring this historic building to its full glory will create a focal point for life in the University and Old Town, showing the important role of heritage in our lives.

“Aberdeen City is a priority funding area for HLF and we are keen to hear from groups based in the city who are thinking about developing a heritage project. We fund heritage projects of all kinds - historic landscapes and parks, oral history, archives and projects celebrating local traditions.“

The Town House is expected to be ready for use by July 2005.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
Built by George Jaffray in 1788 and once used for the Burgh’s Council proceedings and legal administration, the Town House is a unique Category A property on the Scottish Ministers list of nationally/internationally important buildings administered by Historic Scotland. Located between the important sites of St Machar’s Cathedral (est. 1131) and King’s College Chapel (est. 1495), it lies within an area already recognised for its architectural and cultural richness, and for its historic interest. A symbol for civilised indigenous architecture in Scotland, the Old Aberdeen Town House has been chosen as the logo of the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland.

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) enables communities to celebrate, look after and learn more about our diverse heritage. From our great museums and historic buildings to local parks and beauty spots or recording and celebrating traditions, customs and history, HLF grants open up our nation’s heritage for everyone to enjoy. In the 10th Birthday Year of the National Lottery we have supported more than 15,000 projects, allocating over £3 billion across the UK .

This year The National Lottery celebrates its 10th Birthday, which will be marked with the first ever National Lottery Day on 6th November. Lottery funded projects across the UK, will be holding special activities and events in the lead up to and on 6th November, to thank the public for playing and supporting the Lottery. For more detailed information on events and activities taking place to celebrate the 10th Birthday, please visit www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk

Further information:

Professor Dominic Houlihan, Vice Principal (Research and Commercialisation), will be available for interview/photographs today (Friday, November 5). In the first instance, please contact Jill Moir, Head of Communications, on (01224) 272012 to arrange.

For more information on the Heritage Lottery Fund, please contact Shiona Mackay on 01786 870638 or Francis Mallinson on 020 7591 6027. Website: www.hlf.org.uk

Issued by the Communications Team, Office of External Affairs, University of Aberdeen, King's College, Aberdeen. Tel: (01224) 273174.
Ref: 1511townhouse
Contact: Angela Ferguson

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