Copyright © Ron Edwards from 2007 | Terms of Use

Town Hall reopens in 2009 after being derelict for
20 years.

Trust goes to jail!

THE impressive results of an £800,000 restoration work programme by Fife Historic Buildings Trust on Kinghorn Town Hall were clear when it was officially opened today (Friday 27th November).

The building was officially opened by Mrs Barbara Page, widow of Bob Page, a much loved former trustee who sadly died during the project.

Derelict for over 20 years this historic building has now been converted by the Fife Historic Buildings Trust to create a permanent office for the Trust, a meeting room for the Kinghorn Historical Society and a holiday apartment , which is to be let by the Vivat Trust.

Repair and conversion work has cost over £800,000 and the project was a key part of the Kinghorn and Burntisland Townscape Heritage Initiative. Trust Manager Alan Lodge paid thanks to the support and funding by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Scotland and Fife Council, which made the project a success.

Trust chairman John McCombie, said: “ The Trust first looked at this project back in 1996 and it has taken a lot of time and effort to get to where we are today.

Looking at the building now and remembering the sad state it was in when we first visited it gives me immense pleasure that we have been able to restore the property to it’s former glory.”

The Town Hall was designed by architect Thomas Hamilton and contained a jail as well as a very grand chamber, where the Council held their meetings. It was used right up until the early 1970’s, but then fell into disrepair, especially after it’s use as a community hall ceased.

The Trust’s office is actually in the old jail itself, where all of the solid old cell doors have been carefully restored. Manager Alan Lodge quipped that he always thought he would end up in jail.  

When the building opened its doors in September for Doors Open Day, a staggering 300 people poured into the building to get a first look at the restoration, showing just how important it still is to the local community.

Press release by Alan Lodge, Fife Historic Buildings Trust

All images on this page may be subject to copyright.