A secret wartime role played by a Perth mansion in preparing airmen for battle has been revealed.
Durn – the headquarters of land and estate agent Bell Ingram – opened for the first time recently as part of Doors Open Day and yielded a surprise discovery about the building’s past.
An elegant late 19th century villa set on the eastern bank of the Tay on Isla Road, it has a rich history, having previously been used as a family home for the famous Pullars from Perth and it was known that there was an RAF connection.
More than 150 visitors took advantage of the opportunity to tour the building to appreciate its history and architecture, but one visitor had a tale to tell which was unknown to the current occupants.
“We knew that our headquarters had once been home to the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, but one visitor brought in some old black and white photos that showed there used to be a flight simulator in our basement, which was a huge surprise to us,” said Victoria McCusker of Bell Ingram.
“The pictures showed various images of airmen posing with the simulator on training exercises – so it was fascinating to think of the role the building had in the war effort and to compare this to how our basement is used now as an office space.
“It was fantastic to have so many people come to visit us to find out what we do here and take in the views of the River Tay and North Inch – views we all take for granted daily.
“It was definitely a huge success, and we look forward to getting involved again and opening our doors to even more visitors next year.”
Durn was one of five new buildings that opened for the first time during Doors Open Day which saw 40 places of interest from castles to civic buildings across Perth and Kinross opened to the public.
Built around 1880 for Surgeon Major Frederick Robert Wilson of the 57th Brigade, Durn was acquired by the Pullars in 1890. It has undergone numerous extensions and was bought by Bell Ingram land and estate agents as their headquarters in 1962.
