The Ericht Trust Hill Project 2015

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 Town
The town of Blairgowrie and Rattray currently has 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.
Within the Eastern Regional Development plan there is an intention to expand the
number of houses on land in the south and west aspect of the town. Allowance for
industrial and educational development is included but cultural and social aspects are not
addressed.
Should this development go ahead, there would be even greater need to put a “heart”
back into the centre of the town.
The town owes its existence to the industrial jute mills at the beginning of the twentieth
century – now long since closed, and to the huge cultivation of soft fruit especially
raspberries which earned it the name of “The Berry Toon” – the capital of soft fruit
growing in Europe and possibly the world during the last century.
The heritage of the town has been captured in song and words but never in a place to
visit.

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 top
15 needs and wants on the “wish list”
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 southeast 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 1872.
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 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 Cinema
The East Wing
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 Heritage Hall
The West Wing
The West Wing will be
transformed into a beautiful
multi-function room in keeping
with the ambience of the
building. With a high ceiling and
panelled walls the room will have
good acoustics for small musical
performances.
The hall will have a small stage
and access to a servery and bar,
which will suit private parties or
receptions.
Visiting exhibitions and art
displays are other possible uses,
which would tie in with the
artists’ studios and retail areas.

13. The Printworks Museum
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.

14. 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 into a café area.

15. The Upper Floor
There will be a large meeting room
with modern AV aids, artists’ studios
and workshops of varying sizes.
Artists’ work will be displayed along the
corridors and stairs, for sale and on
commission.

16. The Berry 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.

17. Bowls
Salmon Fishing
Curling
Rattray Silver Arrow –
over 400 years old
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.
Jute
Golf
Other Exhibits

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

19. Intergenerational Community Activities
There is an Intergenerational organisation led by Perth & Kinross Association of Voluntary
Services (PKAVS) being established in the town. The school site could provide facilities for
some of this group to develop their ideas.
Refurbishing the bike sheds for Men’s Sheds, gardening clubs, bike repairs and similar
ideas could be accommodated. Outdoor grassed areas could be used for raised beds for
growing vegetables and plants and educational projects would integrate well with the
plans.

20. “The Future”

26. 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 – M & E 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 – Printworks Film
Watson, Lyall and Bowie, Solicitors
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
Jeremy Gardner Ass. Ltd. – Fire Engineer
CSP Acoustics LLP - Acoustics Engineer

27. Consultation with
Community Council Blairgowrie
Merchants Association Blairgowrie
Local Councillors – Caroline Shiers, Bob Ellis, Liz Grant
John Swinney, MSP
Murdo Fraser, MSP
PKC Officers
Caledonia Housing
Blairgowrie Parish Church
St Catherine’s Church
One Voice
Voluntary help from
Tony Niepold Robert Smail’s Printworks, Innerleithen
Jim Arnott Print Engineer Edinburgh
Hamilton Scott &The Blairgowrie Printworks Team
Baxter Clark & Paul – Architects
Strathmore Screens
Kim Wood
Jane Davidson
Pat MCarthy One Voice for some photographs.
Completed Documents
Building Condition Survey
Bat Survey
Topographical survey
Measured building survey
Utilities
Duguid’s 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 Report
This portfolio was designed and completed entirely by voluntary work by Trustees of the Ericht Trust – Myra Shearer
and Jessie Shaw Jan 2015.. ©