One of Edinburgh’s traditional farmhouses is opening its doors after a complete restoration. In its new life it has already become a community centre, specialising in training, cooking, and healthy living. It’s also one of Scotland’s newest examples of community ownership.
The farmhouse, at 41 Old Dalkeith Road, will be open to everyone from 1pm till 11pm on Saturday 24th March. There’ll be free food, tours of the building and the new workshops, exhibitions, live music, arts and craft displays, and two ceilidhs, one for families in the afternoon and one for adults in the evening (no tickets left for evening event unfortunately).
“The new Bridgend Farmhouse is the result of eight years of hard work by a team of volunteers,” said Will Golding, chair of Bridgend Inspiring Growth, the local charity formed to restore the building. “Now we’re looking forward to being a thriving community centre. In fact, we’ve already been running a whole raft of activities from the site over the last few years. So come and find out all about it on Saturday.”
Bridgend Farmhouse has been supported by the Big Lottery, the Robertson Trust, Historic Environment Scotland and by Edinburgh City Council which handed over the derelict building to the community in 2016. The People’s Health Trust and the Heritage Lottery have also given substantial grants towards the farmhouse’s projects. A Co-operative Community Benefit Society is being formed to own and run the farmhouse in the future. Anyone can buy a share. See details: www.bridgendfarmhouse.org.uk.
