Bid Presentation - The Ericht Trust

1. The Hill Project
A Cultural and Heritage Experience in East
Perthshire

2. Developing Sustainable Projects in Blairgowrie and Rattray
The Ericht Trust is a 'not for profit' charitable organisation, which focuses on community
development and regeneration in line with Scottish Government policies on community
empowerment. It is a member of Development Trusts Association Scotland (DTAS). DTAS
provides support to its members and a link into a network of the many comparable Trusts
working for the benefit of their communities across Scotland. Being part of this bigger
family gives strength to the organisation when voicing opinion or seeking support from
Government and Local Authorities.
Scottish Charity Number SC039702
Registered Company Number SC341257
(Scotland)

3. The Old Hill Primary School
Blairgowrie
These buildings have been empty
since 2009 when the school moved
into its new premises at the
Blairgowrie Community Campus.
At its AGM in November 2011, the
Ericht Trust Board was supported by
its members to find a useful purpose
for these Heritage Buildings, which lie
within a Conservation Area.
Its owner, Perth and Kinross Council,
in 2009, put the site on the open
market and as far as we are aware
there has been no prospective buyer
for the site.

4. The Town
Blairgowrie and Rattray currently have a
population of around 9,700 people, with a
larger proportion of retired people and
young families than most Scottish towns.
There are few local indoor amenities for
these residents hence the desire by the
local people to convert this building into
an asset for the town.

5. Community Support
There have been a
number of public
meetings held in the
Royal Hotel, the Town
Hall and the Angus
Hotel.
The Trust has also held
meetings with all
sections of the
community throughout
the feasibility study.
Presentations have been
made to a large number
of local groups, including
schools, nursery and
childcare facilities, the
Rotary Club, the 41 club,
several Scottish WRI
groups, SCYD, the
Merchants’ Association,
Local Councillors, MSPs
and PKC officers.

6. Survey Results
The Business team, led by Motomo,
conducted a town survey and the
results are shown here.
The One Voice (working for Blairgowrie
and Rattray) office has acted as a focal
point for recording residents’ opinions.

7. The Heritage Building
The site extends to 0.78ha on an elevated south east sloping ground, close to the town
centre. It is a Grade B listed building with Historic Scotland. It is also within the
Blairgowrie Conservation Area. The railings and other buildings within the boundary
are also Grade B listed.

8. The original school was
built in 1878 and was
one of the first Parish
Schools following the
Education Act of 1832.
It was built with local
money and governed by
the Parish Council.
The famous Scottish
poet Hamish Henderson
was born in Blairgowrie
and educated at this
school.
In 1909 the central part of the school was
extended into a two-storey building. It was
the main or High School for the town until
the new High School was built in Beeches
Road in 1958.

9. The Setting
This beautiful old red sandstone building was built on glebe land next to the Parish Church.
The money for the school was raised by public subscription. The school was opened by
Alan Macpherson in 1879, the grandfather of our current Patron Sir William Macpherson of
Cluny.
The original building as shown in the photograph was conceived as a piece of townscape
with the Parish Church and, made of matching stone, gives a pleasing panorama when
approached from the town.

10. The Concept
After considerable research, plans have been drawn up to convert
the whole site into a community resource as shown in the following
artistic impressions and photographs.

11. The East Wing
The Cinema
This will be a modern facility for 120 people in raised seating
with a fixed screen.
The cinema will be open seven days a week and will show a broad
range of programmes for different age groups, including live
screening of world class theatre, opera and other events.

12. The Printworks Museum
The West Wing
The Blairgowrie Printers in
Reform Street contains a unique
collection of print machines and
artefacts. It is planned to move
these into the Hill site and install
them as a working museum
alongside a modern print
workshop and education room. A
film of the print shop and the
people who worked there has
already been made and this will
be shown in the museum.

13. The Heritage Museum
The Berry Toon
Since the beginning of the
20th Century, the Berryfields
o’ Blair have been recorded
in song and words.
The Blairgowrie area was
the centre of soft fruit
production in the world for
most of the last century.
Soft fruits – mainly
raspberries and strawberries
- are still grown
commercially here.
The berries and the people
who came to pick the fruit
have a place in our history.

14. Other Museum Interests
Curling
Bowls
Rattray Silver Arrow –
over 400 years old
Golf
Jute
The jute industry used the power of the River
Ericht, whilst the Dundee jute mills used coal to
power the machinery. The remains of the mills can
still be seen today along the banks of the River
Ericht.
Salmon Fishing

15. Central Ground Floor
Three former classrooms will be
opened up to provide a large entrance
area. Permission has been sought to
add a new glass foyer on the front of
the building. The multi-functional
reception area will cater for ticket
sales, retail displays, seating areas and
exhibition space.
This will lead to a café area below the
mezzanine gallery.

16. The Mezzanine Floor The Gallery
The mezzanine floor will be a new
addition to the building joining the
museum to the cinema.
It will allow visitors to view the print
museum from above and provide gallery
and exhibition space above the café.
There will be a small film studio to view
the printworks film.
Small
Viewing
Room

17. The Upper Floor
There will be a
large meeting room
with modern AV
aids, artists’
studios of varying
sizes and
gallery space for
exhibitions and
sale of work.

18. The Play Centre
Made up of six separate areas
joined by a covered veranda,
the play centre will have a
party room with inter-active
floor, a soft play area for 3-7
year olds, a toddlers’ play
area and parent seating.
There will be an enclosed
outdoor play area and small
refreshment stand.

19. Intergenerational Community Gardens
There is a need for interactive networking and communication in the area. These
groups will use much of the outdoor space.
The grassed area will be useful for raised beds, Men’s Sheds etc.

20. Proposed Landscaping & Car Parking Plan

21. “The Future”

22. Hand drawn image of a cross section through the building

23. Professional assistance from
John Manning – Architect
Shirley Forbes – Architect
John Duguid Partnership – Quantity Surveyors
Motomo – Business Consultants
Douglas Land Surveys - Topographical Survey
Graham and Sibbald- Surveyors – Buildings Valuation
Cadogans – Mechanical & Electrical Engineers
J & E Shepherd – Surveyors
Allen Gordon & Co. – Structural Engineers
Mayfield Arts – Ron Inglis – Cinema Consultants
Dr Sue Swift – Bat Survey
The Bell Library – Archive Plans
Graham Edwards – Chartered Accountants
Birseland – Frieda Morrison, Printworks Film
Advice from
DTAS – Development Trust Association Scotland
AHF – Architectural Heritage Fund – Dragons’ Advisor
PKAVS – Perth & Kinross Ass. of Voluntary Service
Andrew Burrell – The Burrell Co. - Dragons’ Advisor
E C Harris – Dragons’ Advisor
Alistair Keatinge - Dragons’ Advisor
The Prince’s Regeneration Trust
Historic Scotland
Richard Welch Conservation Officer PKC
Tony Niepold Robert Smail’s Printworks, Innerleithen
Jim Arnott Print Engineer Edinburgh
The following lists are not complete. As the project progresses we will update it from time to time and the document will
also be updated as we make further consultations.

24. Completed Documents
Building Condition Survey
Bat Survey
Topographical survey
Measured building survey
Utilities
QS Report
Plans and drawings
Business Plan
Executive Summary
Financial Projection
Professional Valuations
Cinema Feasibility Report
Car Park Report
Probable Cost Professional Report
Social Enterprise Report
Smart Parking Ltd
Cadogans Report
Allen Gordon, Structural Survey
Community Council Blairgowrie
Merchants Association Blairgowrie
Local Councillors – Caroline Shiers, Bob Ellis, Liz
Grant
Ian Miller, Leader of PKC
John Swinney, MSP
Murdo Fraser, MSP
John McCrone, Regeneration Manager PKC
Norma Robson, Housing Manager PKC
Caledonia Housing
Blairgowrie Parish Church
St Catherine’s Church
Voluntary help from
Hamilton Scott, Ken Dow, David Phillips, Erle Bullions
Ron Stephen, Ross Yeaman, John McKinlay, Harry
Brooke – helped restore and renovate print machines
into working order.
Baxter Clark & Paul – Architects
Strathmore Screens
Kim Wood
Jane Davidson
One Voice – Pat McCarthy for photographs
Consultation with

25. The Hill Project
A Cultural and Heritage Experience in East
Perthshire