Plea to save part of Inverness's hidden history
A HISTORIC hidden corner of Inverness is in danger of being lost forever unless £2 million can be found for building renovations, city businessman Ian Chisholm fears.
Mr Chisholm, a director of kiltmakers Duncan Chisholm and Sons, says that is the estimated cost of fully reinstating the 18th century courtyard property owned by the company in Castle Street.
The firm was recently served with a dangerous building notice for 53 Castle Street – immediately next door to its own shop – despite spending £60,000 on the building last year. It is now facing further costs of at least £68,000 after Highland Council stepped in to carry out work, including the installation of supporting scaffolding. But Mr Chisholm said that although the front of the building was safe, further work was required at the back which opens on to a courtyard featuring a workshop and the frontage of another historic building.
"It is one of the last courtyard buildings in historic Inverness," said Mr Chisholm, whose brother Duncan is also a company director.
"The public don’t see it a lot of the time."
Research has revealed that 52 families once lived in the courtyard buildings which contain a marriage stone inscribed with the date 1792 and the initials ID and IR.
"Looking to the future, we hope possibly there would be an opportunity to open it up for the community to get some benefit," Mr Chisholm said. "I think a lot of people will be interested."
The brothers have consulted various architects and had plans drawn up, but the cost of carrying out the work, at £2 million, is unaffordable.
"It is really reinstating the whole of the building as close as possible to its original fabric and doing it to the highest of standards," Mr Chisholm said. "The technical challenges and the costs associated with the conversion of historic properties are really quite daunting. It is really quite extensive and unbelievable when you go into it.
"We have done our very best but there are limits to what you can fund when you have an old building like this. It needs an awful lot of specialist work."
The buildings have been in the family for between 40 and 60 years, during which time tens of thousands of pounds have been spent on maintenance and other work.
"Obviously, we are looking to anyone who can support us because in the past we have never received any assistance or grant aid," Mr Chisholm said. "We have never had a penny from anyone to support us whereas many other buildings in the past have had support."
He noted funding was being made available to renovate privately owned buildings in the city’s Academy Street as part of a regeneration project. "I would hope it could be extended to other areas," he said. "There should be some sort of funding available for old buildings of Inverness. It is for the local community and for the future of the area that we need to try and preserve these buildings."
The company has had talks with organisations such as the council, Historic Scotland and Inverness City Heritage Trust in a bid to find a way forward.
"We are looking at all possibilities and are open to any suggestions," Mr Chisholm said.
Given the prime location, he said he hoped a solution could be found.
"It is situated in the heart of Inverness and lies directly opposite Inverness Castle," he added.
"It is a lovely old building and we are very attached to it because it has been in the family for so many years."
