The latest chapter in the history of Perth’s oldest secular building has been revealed to the public.
The Royal Scottish Geographical Society (RSGS) opened the doors to the Fair Maid’s House, which has been converted and restored into a new geographical education and visitor centre.
Officially opening the centre to the public were MSP John Swinney and Provost John Hulbert, who cut a ribbon.
The Fair Maid’s House, made famous by Walter Scott’s novel, The Fair Maid of Perth, had lain empty for more than 15 years, causing the garden to become overgrown and unkempt and the inside to slowly fall into disrepair.
The building’s facade remains unchanged and meticulous work has gone into preserving the main features of this iconic house, including the upstairs prayer niche and a previously hidden medieval stone wall, both of which have been made into features of the property.
It is only from the rear of the property, and once inside, that the profound changes become apparent.
In place of the red brick ‘link’ building that was added on between Fair Maid’s House and geographical society’s headquarters in Lord John Murray House, is a bright, modern reception and glass panelled education room.
An old-style library and explorers’ room are upstairs, while downstairs will host a number of displays on geographical issues, the history of the society, the geography and history of Perth and the house itself.
The new centre also has many impressive features and displays, including the peculiarly named ‘PufferSphere,’ a spherical display system that delivers 360-degree video of different views on the world-the world from space, night and day and continental drift.
The centre will also house the society’s vast historical collections of maps, diaries, books, photos and artefacts from the best of scientific exploration of the past 150-plus years.
These collections have never been properly accessible to the public before now.
RSGS chief executive Mike Robinson said, “The RSGS has undergone a significant rejuvenation over the last three years in every aspect of our work and structure.
“We have moved our office to Perth and raised £750,000 to develop and open a historical and iconic, but largely defunct property and turn it into a dynamic visitor centre for explaining modern issues, one that we really hope Perth will enjoy.”
The RSGS intends that the centre will initially be open from 10am to 4pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, until October.