Community Trust Handed Keys to Stunning Provan Hall

Hidden historic gem, Provan Hall, is throwing open its doors to the public on Thursday (Sept 14th) after a £3.5million restoration.

And Glasgow City Council today (Mon) handed the keys of the medieval mansion house to Provan Hall Community Management Trust which will run the attraction.

Visitors are invited to step back in time and explore the stunning venue set in Scotland's largest urban heritage and nature park later this week.

Provan Hall overlooks Auchinlea Park in Easterhouse and is one of the oldest surviving buildings in Glasgow. It was built in the 15th century as a hunting lodge for Glasgow Bishops. It is owned by the National Trust for Scotland and leased by Glasgow City Council.

The attraction will be back with a bang offering an array of events and activities including weaving workshops, ghost tours, history talks and volunteering opportunities. If the walls could talk, they'd tell a wealth of tales about famous residents and staff including a Titanic survivor and a murderous jealous husband. The venue is rumoured to be one of Glasgow's most haunted buildings and it attracts paranormal investigators from far and wide.

The new visitors centre will bring the building's intriguing history to life with interactive exhibits and projections. Set in Easterhouse, in the Seven Lochs Wetland Park, Provan Hall will be run by a charity made up of local organisations and residents.

Local councillor, Ruairi Kelly, Glasgow's Convener for Neighbourhood Services and Assets, handed the keys of the building to the Trust today.

Cllr Kelly said: "Provan Hall looks amazing after its sympathetic restoration and it is a fantastic community asset. It really is an architectural gem with an astonishing wealth of history which has been preserved for future generations to enjoy. It has an exciting new life as a visitors centre for the Seven Loch Wetland Park and I'm absolutely thrilled that it will be managed by the local community for the community as well as attracting visitors from far and wide. Combined with the beautiful Seven Lochs Wetland Park, it makes a lovely family day out and I'm sure it is going to be extremely popular."

Ian Monteague, Chair of Provan Hall Community Trust, was thrilled to accept the keys on behalf of the Trust.

He said: "It's with the greatest delight that the Trust takes up the next phase of Provan Hall's restoration - breathing new life into this venture. The Trust is keenly aware that the past we inherit - our future we plan.

"Provan Hall is a locally, regionally and nationally important asset - with the unique ability to tell the story of Glaswegian and Scottish heritage.

"We are ambitious about the future of Provan Hall and aim to become a top-tier heritage attraction in Scotland. It will be rooted in the local community and enhance the lives of local people, while promoting Easterhouse across the city and the country. A national asset, creating real local impact."

Funding for the restoration came from a number of sources including Glasgow City Council, the Scottish Government's Regeneration Capital Grant Fund, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, National Trust for Scotland, Avondale, the Scottish Landfill Communities Fund, the Turtleton Trust, the Wolfson Foundation and Robert Barr's Charitable Trust.

Caroline Clark, Director for Scotland The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "Provan Hall is fantastic inside and out and the new technology used to tell its story really brings its rich history to life. It has been wonderful to hear about visitors to the recent open days bringing their children and grandchildren and sharing stories of visiting Provan Hall in their own childhood, underlining how important an asset it is for the community.

"The restored hall is set to take its rightful place as a heritage treasure for local people and visitors to enjoy. As a hub for the Seven Lochs Wetland Park it also takes on an important new role to support natural heritage too. We are proud to support Seven Lochs and Provan Hall thanks to money raised by National Lottery players."

Provan Hall will take part in the Doors Open Festival this month with a programme of events and a series of winter and Christmas activities to attract local residents and visitors alike. The beautiful venue can also be booked for private events and as a meeting or exhibition space.

The building will open to the public from September 14th and its weekly opening hours will be Thursday to Sunday from 10am to 4pm.

Find out more about Provan Hall at www.provanhall.org

More info on the Seven Lochs Wetland Park can be found at www.sevenlochs.org