Historylinks Heritage Hub Project History

The existing Museum building was constructed by the members on land leased from the Dornoch Common Good Fund until 2095. Work started in 1996 and the Museum opened to visitors in July 1998.

In 2017 the Trustees consulted with the membership on plans to expand our audience and improve the resilience of Historylinks. A detailed consultation process involving the members, the Dornoch public and museum visitors was undertaken as part of a Feasibility Study & Business Plan produced by Impact Hub (Inverness) .

The outcome of this work was that an extension to the building using land already leased was the optimum solution to deliver on these goals, and with the support of the Scottish Land Fund it was agreed to approach the landowners (the managers of the Common Good Fund) to try and buy the land.  Unfortunately, our offer was rejected but the members backed the Trustees' decision to proceed with the project with 75 years left on the lease - adopting a phased approach.

• Phase 1 - Feasibility
• Phase 2 - Design
• Phase 3 - Construction
• Phase 4 - Fit-out

Financial support was obtained from the Dornoch Common Good Fund for Phase 2 and the appointed architects (Blueprint - Tain) gained planning permission (20/04991/FUL) in April 2021, followed by Building Warrant approval (21/01193/NDOM6) in September. 

In October 2021 Torrance Partnership were appointed for QS services, to initially develop a new Cost Plan and then produced itemised tender documents to send to interested contractors. In parallel to this we are preparing applications to four major funders who we hope will support our project.

In the meantime, the Trustees set an ambitious target to raise an additional £30,000 of money locally to support Phases 3 & 4 (Construction & Fit-Out) with a new fund-raising sub-committee and a separate bank account for these funds.

News update: Following the funding awards in October from th