To mark the completion of the repair and restoration of WH Smith in Dalkeith an event was held in Dalkeith Arts Centre on the 15th March 2013. The senior surveyor for WH Smith attended as well as the main contractor for the scheme, Chadwell and some sub contractors including the stone mason, Edinburgh Stone Masons together with funding  partner representatives, the Provost of Midlothian Council, Joe Wallace, local councillors and community representatives.

An exhibition was set up and a photo call was arranged with the Midlothian Advertiser.  Donald Marshall, Chair of the Dalkeith THI/CARS Project Team said, "this is a key building in the grant scheme; a Priority 1 listed Grade B property located prominently in the High Street opposite the junction with South Street so it is visible in long views coming up South Street towards the junction. I am very pleased that we have been able to assist with this project. It has secured the future of this important historic building. Many people have fond memories of the store when it was Manchester House and a couple of the "iwozheredalkeith" story plaques are placed in Elliot's and Wilson's Close recording some local memories of the area. It is vital that the building continues to have a commercial role in the town centre and WH Smith are to be congratulated for restoring the building and giving it a new lease of life which helps the viability of the High Street in these difficult times". See attached leaflet for details.

                    (Photograph from the Midlothian Advertiser)               

The overall project is now half way through the fourth year and some large schemes are nearing completion:

WHSmith , 69-71 High Street Dalkeith ;

Before:                                                  After:

The Tolbooth :

Before:                                                  After:

15-17 High Street:

Before, rear of the building:                 After:

Dalkeith THI/CARS receives national recognition.

Fiona Hyslop, the Scottish Government Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs visited Dalkeith on the 29th January. She announced the next round of Conservation Area Regeneration Schemes in Scotland (one of which is Gorebridge in Midlothian) as well as praising the work in Dalkeith and walking along the High Street with the Project Manager to look at the work being carried out. 

(Historic Scotland photographs)

Fiona Hyslop praises work in Dalkeith at Midlothian Council Chamber then goes on a walkabout in the town centre.

The Duke of Buccleuch reopens the Tolbooth.

On February 13th the Duke of Buccleuch reopened the Tolbooth at an event to mark the completion of the repair and renovation work. He cut the ribbons across the main entrance door and gave an address to an invited audience (grant partners and representatives of organisations who had been involved in the repair/renovation programme). Afterwards guests were able to view an exhibition of the scheme and take some refreshments at the County Hotel next door.

(photographs from Midlothiam Advertiser)

The Duke of Buccleuch reopens the Tolbooth .

Last priority project , 1-3 High Street receives grant award.

The Repair and restoration of 1-3 High Street, the last of the four priority projects to be repaired is now on site (the others are the Tolbooth, the former Cross Keys Hotel and 1-3 Musselburgh Road).  The scheme involves repairing the roof, restoring the stone end gable and rebuilding the stone chimney, repairing the stone on the front elevation and refurbishing all the timber sash and case windows and taking off the hard cement render on the rear and reharling in a lime harl and colour wash. Some improvements will also be carrried out to the shopfronts.

1-3 High Street, priority project starts on site.

"Iwozheredalkeith" plaque scheme launched,

On February 15th  the Midlothian Artist in Residence, Susan Grant, launched the iwozheredalkeith plaque scheme at an event in the Dalkeith Arts Centre. An invited audience was able to view an exhibition of Susan's work as part of her residency in Midlothian and also to look at the plaque scheme which has involved working with local people to collect their stories and memories of Dalkeith so that they can be recorded and some have been set out on the red plaques placed in the town centre.  A leaflet is now available so that the plaque trail can be followed around the town. On the following Saturday, February 16th Susan lead a guided tour of the plaques in the town centre.

Susan Grant, Midlothian Artist in Residence leads guided tour of the iwozheredalkeith plaque project.

The opening event was held at 1-3 Musselburgh Road on the evening of the 25th October 2012 to celebrate the completion of the scheme.

Representatives from the developer, Queensberry Property Ltd and the Contractor Cruden Homes Ltd attended as did members of the grant partnership and members from different local community groups. (Dalkeith History Society, Dalkeith Community Council, Dalkeith Heritage Trail Group)

A leaflet was produced to record how the scheme was carried out ,explaining some of the background and historical importance of the building.An exhibition banner has also been produced which will be displayed in the shopfront at 81 High Street Dalkeith for the next few weeks .

Donald Marshall the chairman of the Dalkeith THI/CARS Project Team welcomed everyone to the event and explained why the building was a priority project in the grant scheme . Billy Murphy, Director of development for Cruden Homes then went onto explain how the building was repaired and restored, highligthing some of the problems that were successfully overcome, resulting in a scheme that has restored and brought the building back to life.

The leaflet which explains the scheme is down loadable on the down loads section of the website.

Photos of some of the team members at the event......the strange looking footware is the protective covering over shoes to avoid newly laid carpets from getting dirty!!!!!