STIRLING.- The future of one of Scotland’s most remarkable buildings looks bright after the HLF earmarked £2m to save Cowane’s Hospital.

The 17th century almshouse in Stirling is deteriorating rapidly and recently had to close to the public due to lack of funds and rising costs.

However thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund the Cowane’s Hospital Maintenance Trust has secured pledges for much of the estimated £3m needed to repair the beautiful almshouse and gardens, creating a national visitor attraction and community resource.

Cowane’s was founded by Stirling’s greatest benefactor John Cowane, in the 1630s, to provide shelter for impoverished merchants. The trust plans to provide it with a sustainable future as a visitor attraction telling the story of how modern Scotland was made – through trade, charity and leisure. The revived Cowane’s Hospital will feature:

• Restored historic rooms and kitchens
• An exhibition about the hospital, Scottish trade and charity
• Gardens and bowling green returned to their 18th century splendour
• Community heritage projects
• Costumed guides and fun family activities.

Hazel Barton, Charity Officer for the Cowane’s Maintenance Trust, said: “This is the best possible news – Cowane’s is an important part of our national heritage and it has been terribly sad to see it deteriorate.

“The building and the charity founded by John Cowane have been important to our community for 400 years, providing help and support for others. It’s great that this wonderful building is receiving the helping hand it needs to put it back at the heart of local and national life.”

The building’s magnificent hall, which is still the meeting place of the Stirling Guildry, will be available for weddings, concerts, parties and events of all kinds. The trust’s proposals also anticipate that it will be a centre of activity for local children, old folk and the wider community.

Commenting, Lucy Casot, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: “Cowane’s Hospital has a fascinating history stretching back almost 500 years. We are delighted that thanks to players of the National Lottery, HLF can support the development of a project which will capture and share this history, revitalising a rare building at the heart of Stirling’s historic quarter as a tourist attraction and community hub.”

Before the trust can access the earmarked funds it has to develop the detail of the restoration works and the heritage activities. It also needs to secure the remaining funds and satisfy HLF that everything is in place for the project to be delivered. This development phase is likely to last until summer 2017 with the work starting on the building by the end of that year.

Cowane’s Hospital stands in the Old Town close to Stirling Castle and beside the Church of the Holy Rude where James VI was crowned.

For centuries the hospital was the headquarters of Cowane’s Trust – Scotland’s second oldest functioning charity, which exists to help a variety of vulnerable groups: the charity moved out when the building was no longer fit for purpose. The building was then transferred to a new, separate, charity whose objects include the renovation, onging maintenance and public use of the land and buildings..

Major works are needed, including a new roof, before the building can be re-opened to the public: vandalism and decay are also taking their toll.

The restoration plan has wide backing, including from the leader of Stirling Council and from 15 Members of the Scottish Parliament who put their names to a motion by Labour’s Dr Richard Simpson which congratulated the trust on its work to save a building of such national importance.