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Projects
Old Town Hall
The Old Town Hall was constructed in 1814, as shown by a date-stone located to the centre of the sandstone pediment. It was built to replace a former tolbooth in the centre of the street, mentioned as early as the 1660’s, which had had extensive renovations prior to demolition. The Hall, like other Scottish town houses, has a steeple which was originally hung with a bell, a council chamber at first floor, and prison cells and stores. By 1962, the…
Boatbuilding
Our team have now successfully launched the “Tholugher” with help of boat building expert Gail McGarva. The Tholugher was funded by the Holywood Trust and launched by Clare Hanna of the trust. The trainees chose the name carefully as it means “The Patient one” in Old Norse, and represents the patience it took for all those who worked on the project.
Church Sculpture
Glen is working on a fascinating new project that requires a great deal of skill and patience. He is currently chiselling a church from the Northumbrian period, which is a remarkable feat. We are excited to see the final result of his hard work!
Slachterhus
The old slaughterhouse or Slachterhus was acquired by Building Futures Galloway with a view to creating a central hub for our accredited training centre. It has afforded the team and young trainees alike the chance to learn new skills both heritage and modern. The team built new walls to house teaching facilities for several different heritage skills including traditional boat building and stone masonry. It has doubled up on occasion as an amphitheatre hosting a pop-up cinema and lecture theatre
No. 9 High Street
No. 9 High Street, Whithorn, forms an important historic link to the top of the town being one of a handful of dwelling houses to survive a building boom and revamp of the area in the 1960s. Unfortunately, it lay empty and derelict for 30 years. Building Futures Galloway will stabilise and rebuild No 9 High Street and return it to its former glory thus preserving this historical landmark for the future and providing an energy efficient dwelling house built…
Footpath
The team was commissioned to create a new section of footpath for the Whithorn Way. This included restoration of a traditional stone bridge, which a new wooden handrail was fitted, installation of a new wooden bridge, the installation of pedestrian gates, finger boards and information boards. The new section opened a most scenic part of the local area and walkers and cyclists alike have praised the newfound access to this particular part of our aesthetic local scenery.
Smiddy
The old Smiddy in Whithorn has been reconstructed by the team using traditional building methods. The building was formally opened by Deputy Lord Lieutenant Alex Haswell in July 2023. It is dedicated to Ben Wilma, (the buildings last resident blacksmith), with an ornate carved stone renaming it Ben’s Forge. The Smiddy will once again be used for blacksmithing purposes and has become the centre for metal work and blacksmithing at the Building Futures Galloway Training Centre.
Grapes
The old stable block at the former Grapes Hotel in Whithorn has provided the team a great opportunity to hone their heritage construction skills, namely, the working with lime mortar. The building will form part of a wider project involving the already repurposed main Grapes Hotel building and be transformed into an affordable, energy efficient and disability accessible home. The team have stabilised and rebuilt the outer structure using traditional construction methods and traditional heritage materials.