The front facade of one of Crieff’s most iconic buildings has been given a facelift.
The windows of the former Drummond Arms Hotel appear to have some life emanating from them once again, and have been catching the eyes of passers-by this week.
Drummond Arms Regeneration Group was set up in 2019 by Crieff Community Trust to take ownership of the derelict structure for the community and find a solution for it in the long term.
The first task was to make the exterior of the long-neglected building safe, which has now been accomplished, with work still ongoing to strip out and make safe the crumbling interior.
And to give the James Square focal point more kerbside appeal finishing touches have now been added in the form of life-sized photographs creating the illusion that the notorious building is once again a hive of activity.
Four large colourful banners – artwork celebrating Crieff – were installed in the Hill Street windows earlier this year following a competition, and now the front of the hotel is also having a more positive impact on the overall appearance of the town centre.
The “windows” will be back-lit at night, further enhancing the illusion of life inside.
Local arts advisor David Campbell has put a lot of work into the project.
He explained: “It’s a piece of public art. I’m pleased with the overall effect. Certainly it makes the place look a far less abandoned, derelict building than it actually is, especially when you are viewing it looking up from King Street.
“On the ground floor on the right-hand side as you look at the building we have two information panels – a potted history of Crieff, which was written by Penny McDonald, and a brief history of the Drummond Arms, which also explains the legend of the Jacobite link with the last council of war, explaining it wasn’t actually in that building because Bonnie Prince Charlie had actually been dead for 90 years!
“Then on the first floor the idea was to give a suggestion of the building being in use and an event going on. I purposely made the images blurred to suggest movement, and the whole floor is designed to be a single piece. The pictures are originally from local events so people might recognise themselves in the images but no-one else will.
“When they are wired up to the electricity the lights should come on as it gets dark.
“Then we have well-kent figures on the next floor – Denis Lawson, myself with a clock suggesting time is running out, Jean Ann Scott Miller, Rhia the Wonderdog, June McEwan, Nigel Gatherer, Harry Thomason and Isabel Simpson.
“Above that we have two characters gazing out that are lifted from a historic painting, three still lifes suggesting that the rooms are occupied, and a toddy ceilidh, and at the top we have Bonnie Prince Charlie gazing out as a nod to the legend.”
David added: “There are still some finishing touches to be done. We are going to paint the doors, blacken in the remaining spaces and do up the remaining two windows in the former bank building which is now owned by DARL as well.
“The foliage sprouting from the building has also been removed.”
