Portsoy buildings that featured in Peaky Blinders will benefit from funding
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Historic buildings in Portsoy which featured in hit TV series Peaky Blinders and the remake of classic film Whisky Galore! will be assisted in being resurrected due to new funding.
The properties, which include the category A listed Corf House designed by John Adam in 1765, the category B listed Marble Workshop and Granary, and the category C listed Rag Warehouse, were used in the filming of the epic BBC gangster series when the production came to the Banffshire town in February 2021.
They were also showcased in the movie Whisky Galore! which was filmed in Portsoy in the summer of 2015 and was released the year after.
The North East Scotland Preservation Trust (NESPT) has been awarded the new funding to help bring the disused buildings back to life.
Scottish charities are to benefit from a share of a new £5 million fund empowering communities to breathe new life into disused and at-risk heritage properties.
In Portsoy, it will help the NESPT bring back into productive use the four listed buildings at the Old Harbour.
They have been left to the trust in the will of the late Thomas Burnett-Stuart.
The funding is being awarded as part of a new partnership between the National Lottery Heritage Fund and charity the Architectural Heritage Fund, to expand the Architectural Heritage Fund’s Heritage Development Trust model across the UK.
It follows the success of a pilot programme which supported seven social enterprises and charities in England to repair, restore and reuse at-risk high street and town centre buildings in their local areas.
As one of 12 new Heritage Development Trusts, the NESPT will receive a package of funding to help it scale up its operations to redevelop the pipeline of local historic buildings in Portsoy.
It can also apply for grants to support early project development and will be given guidance from consultants and mentors to develop its skills and knowledge alongside peer-to-peer support to expand their reach and influence.
Marcus Humphrey, chairman of the North East Scotland Preservation Trust, said: “We are most grateful to the Architectural Heritage Fund and The National Lottery Heritage Fund for including us in the programme. It will be transformational both for the trust and for Portsoy.
"Bringing the largely unused buildings back into use will benefit the local community and secure a long-term sustainable future for the trust.”
