Under-threat Alness hub is an ‘Aladdin’s Cave’ treasure trove of local history
AN Easter Ross community stands to lose a treasure trove of local history and heritage if a hub at its heart isn’t safeguarded.
That’s the fear of volunteers behind Alness Heritage Centre.
The centre, at 102 High Street, is home to an acclaimed museum, shop, meeting room and garden.
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It’s also a base for Alness Community Association (ACA), a group dedicated to the town’s wellbeing.
The ACA also owns the community minibus as well as publishing the Alness and District Times.
But the discovery of dry rot within a part of the building and some roofing issues have cast a shadow over its future - and prompted a plea for help as the group attempts to identify suitable funding.
The centre’s Mike Stainke said: “This place is like an Aladdin’s Cave. It’s so full of archive material. It’s a legacy of the local town and the local area. It’s been about 20 years we’ve been in this particular building. There’s a lot of things go on here.”
The building was purchased in 2000 amidst competing interest from a national supermarket with the community getting behind the idea of preserving its heritage.
Volunteers cleaned, restored and painted to create exhibition and shop space and started gathering the photographs, artefacts, documents and memories to tell the social history of Alness.
Local councillors have voiced their support.
Mr Stainke said: “We are in the process of trying to find funding to get that sorted. We don’t know how bad it is but the worst possible scenario is that the place has to close. If this building was to close we would have lost a lot of the history of our town.
“It’s a very important hub for the community and something we want to protect for future generations. It is a struggle. We are aware the situation is critical.”
The heritage centre currently has specially made festive wreaths and a local interest calendar for sale from its premises.
Can you help? Email the team at alness@alness.com
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