SHBT - Merchants House

Is it 339-343 High Street, Kirkcaldy? Is it Law’s Close, Kirkcaldy? Is it Merchant’s House, Kirkcaldy?

Actually, according to SHBT Property Manager, Elizabeth Mackay, it is all of the above viz., the restored and adapted 16^thCentury Kirkcaldy Merchant’s House; now mixed use premises including flexible offices, educational facilities, and retails units. Elizabeth Mackay highlighted the long rigg garden at the rear of the property – part of the Kirkcaldy Riggs Gardens Project – and a present need of volunteers to help with upkeep of the garden. (The retail units are currently used by Disabled Persons Housing Services and the local Member of Parliament). SHBT, or Scottish Historic Buildings Trust, is a charity that secures the future of under-used historic buildings across Scotland by expertly restoring them for the nation and finding new uses that can regenerate local communities and the historic environment. 

At the weekly meeting of The Rotary Cub of Kirkcaldy, SHBT Property Manager, Elizabeth Mackay told how the Trust has raised more than £30 million pounds over 35 years to restore more than 30 buildings of historic significance. SHBT is in the final stages of fundraising to transform Riddle’s Court, an important 16th century merchant’s house on Edinburgh's Royal Mile, into the Patrick Geddes Centre. Patrick Geddes was responsible for the restoration of Riddle's Court into a Hall of Residence in the late 19th century. 

Past President Rev Bryan Tomlinson proposed a deserved vote of thanks to the speaker.