Bid to save Dutch Village at Craigtoun Country Park as new pictures reveal deterioration

Fife Council has pledged to help with its restoration after a 24-year closure.

By Claire Warrender

January 25 2024, 5:55am

The Dutch Village is deteriorating. Image: Steve Brown/DC Thomson.

Fife Council has pledged to help with the restoration of an iconic Fife visitor attraction as new photos reveal the extent of its decay.

The Dutch Village at Craigtoun Country Park was closed almost 24 years ago due to dangerous roof tiles.

A tree root grows through a wall at the Dutch Village at Craigtoun Country Park — Tree roots are growing through the wall, causing cracks. Image: Steve Brown/DC Thomson

Its condition has deteriorated significantly since then and it is now on Historic Environment Scotland’s Buildings at Risk Register.

The four buildings on a man-made island sit in the middle of the boating lake at the St Andrews park.

Built in the 1920s, they housed a boathouse, summerhouse, cafe and Italian-style ice cream booth.

A postcard from 1972 reveals how it once looked — A postcard of the Dutch Village and boating pond in 1972 shows how it once looked. Image: Supplied.

And the village was a huge draw for families who travelled for miles to visit.

However, Friends of Craigtoun Park, which runs the attraction, warns it is now in danger of becoming “a sad ruin and an eyesore”.

Survey reveals several areas of decay

Tree roots are growing through the stonework and large cracks have appeared on the render.

Many pantiles are cracked or missing, allowing water to pour in.

Missing rendering at the Dutch Village, Craigtoun Country Park. — Missing rendering and cracks show the Dutch Village’s poor condition. Image: Steve Brown/DC Thomson

Cracks in another wall — The Dutch Village is a shadow of its former self. Image: Steve Brown/DC Thomson

And there are substantial areas of missing harl, exposing brick work.

A survey also revealed rusting windows, internal damp, vegetation and birds roosting inside.

The Dutch Village was once a family favourite — The Dutch Village at Craigtoun Park was once a family favourite but it is now at risk. Image: Steve Brown/DC Thomson

The Friends had the buildings surveyed in 2021 to look at future uses.

And funding director Henry Paul said a structural engineer last year recommended immediate repairs following further damage.

However, no money has been secured for either restoration or renovation and the charity says they were unable to get Fife Council to engage with them until recently.

Hopes of Dutch Village restoration on the horizon for Craigtoun Park

While the charity runs Craigtoun Park on a 25-year lease, the Dutch Village remains the responsibility of the council.

And it has commissioned another survey, this time by their own engineers, to be carried out this week.

Friends of Craigtoun say they would ideally like to adopt a model similar to that at Silverburn Park in Leven, where the charity has overall responsibility along with the power to fundraise.

“We have been having regular meetings with Alan Paul (Fife Council’s head of property services) and hopefully he will be able to help us get the refurbishment of the Dutch Village off the ground,” said Henry.

Mr Paul said the council is assessing the condition of the Dutch Village and will work with Friends of Craigtoun to help with its restoration.