The Dalkeith THI and CARS is now coming towards the end of it's third year when all the building grant schemes have to be agreed.
The Dalkeith THI and CARS Project Team have to date awarded grants to 18 buildings and 28 owners.
The schemes currently on site are now nearing completion:
75,77,79-81 High Street is entering it's final phase. For a description of the work see previous report below.
Before work started After 81 Shopfront before
81 Shopfront after.
87-89 is also nearing completion:
Before: After:
1-3 Musselburgh Road is now complete:
Before rear: After rear: Before front
After front :
The frontage of 41 High Street is complete with new shopfront:
Before work: After :
Nos 104-114 High Street is also near completion:
Before work: After work: Before work: After work
Before work: After work:
Dalkeith High Street Improvements now complete:
High Street Before: High Street After:
The schemes that have just been awarded grant aid are:
132-134 High Street:
This is a priority 1 building in the High Street , one of the Tail Street corner buildings, which together with the opposite corner building forms a pair.These are three storey stone tenement buildings dating from the early 19th century.
A grant has been awarded to repair and where needed replace the weathered stone on the upper floor together with roof repairs, refurbishment of windows and rain water goods.
21-27 High Street :
This is a mid terrace , double fronted stone, 2 storey with attic building in the High Street dating from the late 19th century. The grant has been awarded to repair and restore the stonework, reinstate the lost central chimney and left hand upper floor stone mullioned window, repair the roof and rain water goods , repair and restore the dormer windows and other sash and case windows and repair and restore the orginal "with love" shop frontage and repair the stonework to the rear pend area.
Previous approved grants:
Two priority projects, the former Cross Keys Hotel and The Tolbooth. Three priority buidings, 69-71 High Street (WH Smith) and 15-17 High Street and shop front improvements to 4-8 High Street (Boom Barbers and the Nail Bar).
Donald Marshall, Chair of the Dalkeith THI/CARS Project Team says "The grant aid will enable the owners to repair and restore their buildings; bringing historic buildings back into good order and the work will also assist with the regeneration of the town centre. These are priority schemes within the Dalkeith THI/CARS and will make a positive difference to the High Street".
Brief description of the schemes
The Cross Keys
This is an important listed building that has been vacant for a number of years. The condition of the building has deteriorated and dry rot had taken hold on the ground floor, spreading to the staircase and upper floors. The building has now been purchased by a new owner and planning permission and listed building consent obtained to restore and convert the building to commercial use on the ground floor with flats above. The grant aid has been awarded towards the careful repair and restoration of this important building which dates from 1804.
Cross Keys:
The Tolbooth
The Tolbooth is one of Dalkeith's oldest buildings and has a colourful history. It was once the jail and courthouse and then a customs facility for the payment of goods related to the market in the town. The building was once maintained through money raised on the tolls on bridges over the North and South Esk. The last man to be executed here was William Thomson who was hanged for highway robbery in 1827, stones in front of the building mark the site of the gibbet.
The building is owned by St Mary's Church and grants have been obtained from a number of sources including the Dalkeith THI/CARS to repair the building. Grants have been obtained from: The Leche Trust, The Wolfson Foundation, The Dalrymple Donaldson Fund and WREN Heritage Grant Fund. Dalkeith Business Renewal is providing the Third Party Funding to release the grant from WREN.
The Tolbooth has suffered some unsympathetic repair work in the past with hard cement render being smeared over the face of the ashlar stones on the front elevation. The rear wall which has hard cement render also needs repair and the cement taken off and replaced with traditional lime harling.
The repair to the stonework is a key component of the scheme. This work is essential to avoid further decay and to ensure that the original fabric of the building survives for the future.
The Tolbooth:
69-71 High Street (WH Smith)
This is a key double fronted building facing the junction between High Street and South Street. It is very prominent in the street and seen in long views as one travels up South Street.
The scheme is to repair the stonework, rebuild one of the chimneys, repair and repaint all the windows and provide a new shop front, refurbishing the original detailing along the shop fascia. This building is typical of many of the mid 19th century buildings that existed in Dalkeith but now only a few remain.
It was once called Manchester House and many people in the town remember it as a lively general store. Now it continues to serve the population of the town having the post office and WH Smith.
WHSmith, 69-71 High Street:
15-17 High Street
This is a traditional stone 2 storey mid terrace building in the High Street with a shop on the ground floor and flats above. It is a listed building in poor condition and the interesting semi circular stair turret at the rear is suffering from water penetration, the sandstone is weathered and hard cement pointing has been used which has aggravated the problem. The grant will restore the building and partially rebuild the stair turret in matching stone.
15-17 High Street , front elevation: Rear view:
4-8 High Street
These are two shop fronts at the southern end of the High Street near to the junction with Buccleuch Street and the Old Edinburgh Road.
No 4 High Street, the Nail Bar has an unusual chrome/stainless steel shop front which dates from the 1960's which will be restored and enhanced. No 8 High Street (Boom Barbers) retains it original shop front, three vertical divisions between stone columns, with the middle being the shop entrance. The original stone string course will be revealed and new window frames and door will be provided.
No 4 High Street shopfront : No 8 High Street shopfront:
All these projects will help to revitalise the High Street.
