NEWSROUND
but as Sir Robert Purvis noted in his
biography of Sir William Arrol, “[i]n its
general features the new building was
designed by Sir William himself ”.
I agree with our architectural adviser,
Patrick Lorimer that: "Not only is the
building iconic in the light of its original
owner, it is also a critical and vital element
within the historic landscape of this unique
part of Ayr, it should and can be rescued.”
This view has been put most clearly by
Andrew Arrol who, as Surveyor to York
Minster, is in charge of one of the most
important and ambitious repair and
restoration programmes in the British Isles:
“In my view Seafield House can certainly be
saved. It is very well built of good durable
materials and potential has many years of
life ahead of it.”
In February, FoSH Committee members,
Friends and supporters – including Peter
Drummond, AHSS Chair – attended a
debate at the Scottish Parliament on Chic
Brodie MSP’s motion on Scotland's
Historic Buildings. The motion included
mention of Seafield House and our
campaign to SAVE the former home of Sir
William Arrol. In her response to the
debate, Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary
for Culture and External Affairs said:
“Conservation projects that are based
around historic buildings benefit communities
and can be outstanding architectural projects
in their own right...When a derelict historic
property is given a new lease of life in a
community, we all feel good. Let us not wait
until important historic buildings get into a
poor state of repair. The key to good
management is planning and early action...I
thank Chic Brodie for lodging the motion so
that this important subject could be debated
in the Parliament, and I extend my best
wishes to the Friends of Seafield House.”
An important recent development is the
setting up by NHS Ayrshire and Arran of a
Viability Group on which South Ayrshire
Council and Historic Scotland are
represented. As a result, two consultant
reports were commissioned with funding
from the Scottish Futures Trust. FoSH has
consistently called for a full options
appraisal to be undertaken, but this has
been turned down. Instead, a new
marketing phase – including a tailored
Developers Day – will be undertaken by
selling agent Ryden.
Notwithstanding our calls for an options
appraisal, FoSH is working in support of
the latest marketing campaign in the hope
of finding a sensitive restoring owner for
the house. There is a concern that this
marketing campaign is to prove that no
purchaser will take on Seafield House with
its acres of beautiful tree-clad grounds,
eventually leading to a second listed
building consent application for demolition.
Our preference is to bring the building to
as wide a public as possible: Seafield
House would make a superb residence,
hotel or care home. Proposals for
engineering colleges, homes for Veterans
and flatted development have been put to
us. All required funding that, so far, has not
been forthcoming. There is conside Ʌ