A bid to create a heritage centre in the “forgotten town” of Monifieth is gathering pace.
Monifieth Local History Society is recording and saving the Angus town’s rich cultural and architectural past for the future.
Negotiations are currently ongoing with Angus Council to lease vacant premises to allow the group to move forward with its plans for a Monifieth Heritage Centre.
Margaret Copland, president of the Monifieth Local History Society (MLHS), said: “The MLHS volunteers manage and finance the House of Memories, which is a project run for the benefit of the community.
“Something that started in a very small way due to the eagerness to preserve local heritage, it has just grown, and has become a recognised Angus tourist attraction.
“These services can only be expanded in premises more suitable to our needs to move forward, with accommodation for research facilities and more area for displaying the exhibits which have been gifted or loaned to MLHS.”
Monifieth House of Memories is managed and financed by non-paid volunteers and to keep this permanent display of photographs and memorabilia costs £9,000 per annum.
The Freemasons of Lodge Grange handed over a cheque for £300 towards the financing of the Monifieth House of Memories which has been going for almost 14 years.
Among the items on display is a bronze replica of an ornament believed to date back to Pictish times which was moulded by Roddy Mathieson.
Margaret said: “We have in our care a replica of the Monifieth Cross, also the Monifieth Crescent, which indicate Pictish art work.
“The original stone cross found in Monifieth is now in the National Museum.
The Crescent, found at Laws, disappeared but a scale drawing still existed and the bronze casting reproduction was made from the details.
“We have many visitors local, national and international interested in their family history, and room for them to access research information would be beneficial.
“We do work closely with the Monifieth Library, which has over the last few years undergone many changes.
“We have for some time been in discussion with Angus Council regarding the possibility of leasing vacant premises under their ownership.
“Negotiations are currently ongoing, and we hope that with a successful outcome, we could continue to serve the community as volunteers, by continuing to manage and finance a Monifieth Heritage Centre, open free of charge to the public.
“Monifieth is often described as being ‘the forgotten town’. We would like to change that to “Monifieth – the town that remembers’.”
