The Cowane’s Trust has successfully secured full planning and listed building consent from Stirling Council for the consolidation and alteration works to allow public access to John Cowane’s House, St. Mary’s Wynd, Stirling. The approved scheme will transform the Category ‘A’ listed ruin into a community heritage destination that will enrich lives, expand learning opportunities, promotes wellbeing and contribute to the long-term social, cultural and economic resilience of Stirling.
The development, named as Queen Mary’s Palace project, will feature a mix of free-to-access heritage attractions with accessible interpretation, a welcome area, an accessible visitor toilet, an all-weather route and a community and wellbeing garden. Presenting the history of John Cowane, the house’s occupants and Stirling’s merchant community through interactive interpretation boards, digital guides, guided tours and augmented reality, visitors will be able to point their phone camera at the ruins and see a 3D reconstruction appear over the surviving walls. The experience will show how the house may have looked in the 17th century, helping visitors picture the scale and layout of the merchant’s home as they explore the site.
In addition to transforming the Category ‘A’ listed ruin, the approved plans will:
- Conserve a site of outstanding historic and architectural significance
- Create an accessible and well-interpreted heritage attraction
- Improve organisational capacity and long-term sustainability
Lorne Scott, CEO of The Cowane’s Trust, commented:
“We are thrilled to receive the green light from Stirling Council. John Cowane’s House is Category A listed and forms an important part of the historic setting below Stirling Castle. Its surviving fabric is at increasing risk from water ingress, open masonry joints, eroded mortar, exposed wall cores, vegetation and continuing weather-related deterioration. The proposed works are therefore necessary, carefully planned and conservation led’’.
‘‘Project delivery of this nature is truly a team effort and thanks must go to ARPL Architects, Narro Associates, Scott Simmons Landscape Architect, McGowan Miller Construction Consultants, MKA Economics, NJS Business Consulting and the wider support staff at the Cowane’s Trust in bringing the projects vision to life’’.
Photographic Images: courtesy of the Kilted Photographer