Six community groups benefit from sale of historic Caithness hall
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ALMOST £40,000 has been awarded to six community groups following the sale of an historic 19th century Caithness building.
The money has been paid to organisations in Castletown from the proceeds from the Traill Hall which was gifted to the village in 1866 by Margaret Traill – the daughter of Sheriff James Traill, who pioneered the local flagstone industry – as a public hall and reading room.
Over the years it was also used as a temporary school, a canteen and a youth club before becoming a store for the Norfrost freezer firm but it had been unoccupied for 30 years.
Attempts were made by the Traill Hall Community Trust to get the building back into public use but were unsuccessful so it was decided at a meeting in the village to put the premises on the market. The initial price was £60,000 but that was later reduced to £40,000. The property was bought by Juliette and Ian Currums who plan to turn it into a family home.
Funding applications were invited from organisations in Castletown and the money has now been distributed to six bodies.
Castletown Drill Hall received a total of £10,404 for new heaters for the premises while Castletown Junior Football Club and Castletown Senior FC each were awarded £7000. The former was for new goals, football strips for three age groups, new footballs and equipment as well as a portable defibrillator. The latter got the money for a new roof for the sports pavilion, new heating, electrical work and flooring.
Castletown Beyond 2000 Initiative received £6750 for 15 new Christmas lights at £450 each with Castletown Youth Club getting £6000 for a Community Sharing Shed, wiring, freezer /fridge.
Castletown Rainbows and Brownies – the 1st Castletown Rainbow Unit – was given £2195 for hi-vis vests, protective gloves and litter pickers for 20 girls, an event shelter for outdoor activities, storage for unit equipment. The money will also be used for a unit flag, a notice board for meeting place as well as camp blankets and a first aid kit.
The overall funding provided was £39,788 which included a donation of £439 to the Thurso lifeboat. The total came to £40,000 once fees were added.
Trust chairman, George Gunn, said: "We are pleased the funds raised by the sale of the hall have been disbursed. We are happy to have supported six Castletown charities. We hope this is a good benefit to the village, in the spirit of Margaret Traill, the founder of the hall.
"As the trust is now being wound up, I would like to thank all those who volunteered over the years whether in the planning for the hall, carrying out running repairs or organising the sale. You are all appreciated. A special mention goes to Louise Furniss for her work as treasurer."
Louise added: "A huge thank you also to George for all his tireless efforts as chairman of the trust for all the years he was involved."
The hall is the third historic building in Castletown to benefit from new owners. The nearby old church has been transformed into a house while the disused mill by the beach has been sold and is to become a whisky distillery and a visitor centre.
