A 150-YEAR-OLD railway station’s historic royal waiting room, once visited by Queen Victoria and Tsar Nicholas II, has been awarded £107,500 to help its restoration after a major blaze.
The former Ballater Railway Station, which was devastated by fire in May last year, will receive the funding from Historic Environment Scotland’s (HES) Building Repair Grants scheme.
The award follows the announcement of a wider £3 million plan from Aberdeenshire Council to reinstate the building, which had been used as a tourist centre since 2001.
The Old Royal Station in Ballater was the nearest stop to the Queen’s residence at Balmoral Castle so included “Queen Victoria’s waiting room”.
Specialist conservators will be commissioned to recreate the ornate interior of the B-listed building, including its familiar swan-necked iron lamps, porte-cochere covered entrance and outstanding decoration including stained glass.
Thomas Knowles, head of grants at HES, said: “We’re pleased to support Aberdeenshire Council in their project to repair and restore the Royal waiting room in the former Ballater Railway station.
“The money will allow them to repair the interior, which helps bring the building to life for visitors and creates work for local craftspeople.
“Although the application to us is related purely to repairing the damaged fabric of the waiting room, as an organisation HES is keen to support projects that enhance knowledge and understanding of Scotland’s historic environment.”
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