Dec 2, 2024, 5:42 PM
Dec 2, 2024, 5:42 PM

Last Highland farm township faces closure due to funding crisis

Highlights
  • Auchindrain is a key historical site in Scotland with roots dating back to the Iron Age.
  • The Auchindrain Trust is facing a funding shortfall that threatens the future of the site.
  • The closure of Auchindrain would mean the loss of a vital piece of Scottish heritage.
Story

In Scotland, Auchindrain, a historically significant Highland farm township, is facing potential permanent closure due to a funding crisis. Recognized by the Scottish Government for its national cultural and historical significance, Auchindrain has been preserved as an open-air museum since the last residents left in 1962. Over the years, it has drawn visitors interested in Scottish ancestry and the traditional way of life of Highlanders. The charity Auchindrain Trust has relied heavily on public funding to maintain the site, with Historic Environment Scotland (HES) providing over £600,000 in grants in recent years. However, this support is set to end in March 2025, creating uncertainty for the site's future. The Trust has reported that the costs associated with maintaining such a large historic site exceed the income generated from visitors, particularly in a rural area like Mid Argyll. Despite efforts to find a sustainable business model, the ongoing challenges have led the Trustees to conclude that the museum may not be able to operate in a financially viable manner going forward. Consequently, this significant site, which offers a narrative of the ordinary rural working class in Scotland, is in danger of being lost, garnering concern from communities, historians, and visitors alike about the preservation of Scotland's historical legacy.

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