FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INVERNESS, SCOTLAND — 16 September 2024 — The Boleskine House Foundation SCIO, a registered Scottish charity has agreed a contract for the interior restoration of Boleskine House. The work is set to commence with immediate effect with local Beauly firm Simpson Builders overseeing the 55-week programme.

Suffering two fires in its recent past in 2015 and 2019, Boleskine House was purchased in July 2019 and The Boleskine House Foundation has been restoring the estate for the last five years. “We are now finally getting to one of the most exciting parts of the project, and seeing the vision come to life,” said Keith Readdy, trustee chairman of the charity, “We may actually have a functional house by Christmas 2025!”

The interior has been meticulously designed by the charity’s in-house volunteer design team alongside Inverness-based conservation accredited LDN Architects. The house will re-imagine Jacobean, Georgian and Victorian periods with traditional drawing room, dining room and library.

The restoration project extends beyond structural repair, encompassing a comprehensive decarbonization scheme that includes an air source heating system and solar PV panels to allow the estate to generate some of its own electricity. The charity hopes to display these initiatives as environmentally sustainable techniques in retrofitting listed buildings.

This work is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund (NLHF), underscoring the project’s importance in both cultural heritage and environmental sustainability. The charity was recently awarded £250,000 towards the build cost expected to be in excess of £1M.

Simpson Builders, established in 1999 by Gordon Simpson, have a distinguished track record in the restoration of heritage and listed buildings throughout the Highlands, having recently completed the National Trust of Scotland’s Canna House. Gordon Simpson, Managing Director has remarked on their next building project at Boleskine House, “We are excited for the opportunity to continue working on heritage buildings in Scotland and bringing them back to life. We hope our work can help Boleskine House to be enjoyed by members of the community for decades to come.”

Trustee of The Boleskine House Foundation Gary Livingstone remarked, “We are immensely grateful for the community’s support and thrilled with the progress thus far. This restoration not only salvages a pivotal historical structure but also sets a benchmark for community-led heritage regeneration across Scotland. Our hope is that Boleskine’s revival inspires similar grassroots action elsewhere, demonstrating the profound impact of heritage on community revitalisation.”

The Boleskine House Foundation

The Boleskine House Foundation SCIO is a Scottish Registered charity whose mission is to restore and preserve the historical legacy and heritage of the Boleskine House estate for the greater benefit of the public. In addition to our conservation-led approach to sympathetically restore Boleskine House, we aim to educate the public on the heritage of the house and lands, to welcome the enjoyment of its structure and surrounding gardens, and to facilitate learning, growth and well-being. For more information, please visit www.boleskinehouse.org.

Contact:

Keith Readdy

info@boleskinehouse.org

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