Sherrif Court, Stonehaven

Heritage assets for community benefit, Stonehaven

The Stonehaven Sheriff Court originally built in 1767 and a prominent historic building in the heart of Stonehaven, was at risk of closure.  One of 10 local sheriff courts to close under the Scottish Courts & Tribunals Service (SCTS) rationalisation plan.

The Court House closed its door in 2016 and without a clear plan for continued community benefit, this central building might have been lost as a cultural and civic asset. The challenge was to preserve the building’s heritage while creating practical opportunities for the local community.

Whilst there was commercial interest in the building, the Stonehaven Town Partnership began discussions on transferring ownership of the important asset both with the Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service (SCTS) and with the wider community. Through community open days and gathering feedback from local groups and organisations – a strength of the Stonehaven Town Partnership – it was overwhelmingly obvious that the community wanted ownership.

To make the case, they focused on promoting financial viability and the building’s value to the community and produced a detailed plan highlighting sustainable uses for the building. Those included:

• Preserving the former courtroom as a heritage space to celebrate the building’s history
• Providing flexible spaces for the community and business
• Offering opportunities for creative projects and collaborations

Following a three year process and a £2 payment, the community transfer to Stonehaven Town Partnership was successful in 2018. Renovations have begun with a mixture of grant funding (Aberdeenshire Council, LEADER) and a loan from Social Investment Scotland.  

Tenants for the office spaces are in situ with the space now accommodating the Citizens Advice Bureau and a number of third-sector and start up organisations. The demand for the space has been realised and could be tenanted three times over.

The court room has been preserved and is put to good use by community groups and businesses to hold meetings and events. A real community draw is their ‘fish and chip’ nights at The Courthouse.

Whilst successful and meeting community needs, the community’s ownership of the Courthouse is not without its challenges. Maintaining and developing an historic asset, funding and resource limitations alongside volunteer fatigue are very real challenges in Stonehaven and for many communities across Scotland.  Organisations such as Aberdeenshire Voluntary Action, Development Trust Association Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland and the local authority often provide guidance, funding and support in these areas.

The community spirit is very much alive however and Stonehaven provides a strong example of community cohesion with local groups supporting one another’s efforts to provide a thriving environment for business, the community and visitors alike.

This Stonehaven Town Partnership project has combined heritage preservation with active community use to deliver long term and sustained benefits for both the town and its community.