Grant Lodge in Elgin 20 years after the fire
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Surveys will begin next week exactly 20 years after a fire damaged the interior of one of Moray's best-loved buildings.
Grant Lodge, which stands prominently in Elgin's Cooper Park, has remained closed and boarded up ever since the blaze broke out on July 26, 2003.
Moray Council intends to re-open the building as part of its plans to create a cultural quarter within the town.
The local authority says it hopes to begin re-developing Grant Lodge during 2026.
However, in advance of that, preparatory work is starting a week on Wednesday.
A Moray Council spokesperson said: "Structural, stonework and roof surveys of Grant Lodge will begin on July 26.
"Site investigations will be undertaken to the highest conservation standards while the business plan and design brief are developed for the wider refurbishment.
"It’s anticipated the main redevelopment works for Grant Lodge will begin early in 2026.
"The work will create a new high-quality heritage venue for Moray that will be accessible and open to the public, celebrating Moray’s rich heritage and identity. It’ll become the first port of call for locals and visitors to the region."
To safeguard the building the council has hired the services of Moray-based structural engineers Fairhurst and traditional stonemasons Harper & Allan.
It is also working with LDN Architects.
Pinny Muir, an accredited conservation architect with the firm, said: "In 1903, Grant Lodge was gifted to the people of Elgin – and it's quite a legacy.
"This project to bring this special building back into use is so important for Elgin. It's a significant opportunity to benefit the local community and economy, thereby restoring the intention of the legacy."
The £31.6million cultural quarter is being funded with significant investment from four partners.
A total of £12.7million is coming from the Scottish government, £3.5million from the UK government, £3.9million from the Moray Council and £2million from Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
It's planned to raise the other £9.5million from private sources.
The council is exploring various potential uses for Grant Lodge once it is restored.
These include a café, bar, function room, gallery, offices or a retail area.
Grant Lodge was built between 1766 and 1790, to a design by Robert Adam, the leading Scottish architect of that era.
It was given to Elgin by Sir George Cooper along with its grounds, which became Cooper Park.
The lodge served as the town's library until 1996, after which it was used to store historical records.
Watch a silent movie HERE from 1903, showing the crowds and excitement on the day Cooper Park first opened.
