The Scottish Crannog Centre Trust went public with the news over the weekend, sharing information of a fire which in a matter of minutes had ripped through the venue’s highly popular reconstruction of an Iron Age crannog.
Mike Benson, the site’s director, says the “outpouring of support from the local community and friends from further afield has been tremendous at this difficult time”, with over £15,000 having already been raised as part of a JustGiving campaign set up by neighbouring business Loch Tay Highland Lodges.
So far 587 people have donated varying figures to the appeal, raising £15,872 to support the site’s rebuilding job.
“The loss of the Crannog is devastating but, importantly, the Museum Collection is intact and no-one has been hurt,” Benson adds. “We would also like thank the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland for their instant response to the emergency and their faultless efforts in tackling the blaze and keeping everyone safe in the local vicinity.”
The decimation of its star attraction is all the more cruel after the year of hardship endured by the Lochside venue.
It was only in August 2020 that the site’s director warmly welcomed the Scottish Government’s £4 million Museums Resilience and Recovery Fund as “brilliant news for the independent sector” and a step which would enable institutions like the Scottish Crannog Centre to “stride into the future with confidence”.
Despite what he labels a “hugely distressing blow”, Nicholas Grant, Scottish Crannog Centre Trust’s chair, says the team is now “even more determined to double-down on all our efforts in the development of the new Crannog Centre” which will be situated in Dalerb, on the north shore of Loch Tay.
The Scottish Crannog Centre has recently been shortlisted for the Community Impact Award at this year’s Museums + Heritage Awards, with the site’s Dig the New Breed!! programme identified as one of the five most impressive outreach projects offered during the pandemic.
Update
Since this story was initially posted the fundraising target has been raised to £50,000 after a huge outpouring of support for the Scottish Crannog Centre. More than 80% of this total has now been raised (17/06/21).
To check the fundraiser’s progress or make a donation, click here.
