News
This article is based on an article found in the Scotsman newspaper on 13 October 2016.
A 13th century chapel in Dunblane that lay hidden beneath mud and undergrowth for many years has been painstakingly restored and has opened as a visitor attraction.
Its trappings and church items, from books of worship to communion vessels, had surrendered to time, the identity of the body buried beneath a table alter similarly lost.
The chapel has been brought into the light, and has now opened as a visitor attraction, place of contemplation and even marriage venue.
It’s situated within the grounds of Old Churches House and has been painstakingly restored over a number of years by its owner, Alex McKie.
Volunteers stumbled across the building, then covered in mud and ivy, back in 1961 and while its original purpose was unknown they are said to have referred to it as a chapel.
They erected a wooden cross on the platform outside – which still stands today – and investigated the building further in the months that followed.
Those investigations revealed that a body had been buried in an east west position under the table alter, a position favoured ecclesiastically and one that pointed to the structure’s use for worship and burial.
Other clues were a well at the left hand side of the chapel, sufficient enough to provide a small bowl of water for communion, and small cupboards at the back, thought to have once held communion vessels and prayer books.
Rebecca Foster from Old Churches House said: “This small and charming chapel is, in many ways, a secret chapel, as it lay undiscovered for so long and has a fascinating story behind it.
“It was visited by the Queen in 1967 and Pope John Paul II gifted a unique spinning wheel in 1982, which we still have on display.
“When Alex took over Old Churches House – which was known as Scottish Churches House and used by church groups of all denominations for holidays, respite and meetings – the chapel was in a state of disrepair.
“We carried out a full renovation, installed new lighting and seating as well as fitting a reclaimed font from a Church in Selkirk.
Entry to the chapel is free and Mr McKie hopes it will join the list of Dunblane’s best known visitor attractions, including the 12th Century Cathedral, Dunblane Museum, the Leighton Library – Scotland’s oldest private library – and Andy Murray’s gold postbox.
He said: “There are always tourists teaming round Andy’s postbox and the cathedral is a huge draw.
“It’s all very accessible and so many visitors come to the area to learn more about Dunblane.
“We are very fortunate to have such a rich history here and we are delighted to be sharing it with the public.”
MAD Group at Dunblane High School
Within Dunblane High School there is a group of s6 pupils, lead by Pamela Kurilla a Religious and moral education teacher, called the MAD (Make a Difference) group who raise money in various ways for charities such as Macmillan cancer.
As group members, we do things such as coming up with new ideas for fundraising, contacting companies about donations, organising fundraisers and much more.
On Friday the 30th the Macmillan coffee morning is held in order to raise money for cancer patients. In Dunblane High School a coffee morning, a bake sale and raffle will be held to help in aid for this worthy charity.
With 2.5million people in the UK alone living with cancer at the moment meaning it is more than likely to affect most people sometime throughout their lives, making this a very worthy and relevant cause. Macmillan try to make sure no one faces cancer alone providing options for medical, emotional and financial aid as well as campaigning for better cancer care. This is a great charity who’ve have changed the lives of those with cancer and the family and friends surrounding them.
Gladman owns the site at Barbush that has plannig permission for a supermarket and offices. They are now considering submitting a planning application for housing to be built on the site instead. They held a pre application consultation on 20 September at Dunblane Social Club.
Gladman's presentation starts off by saying 'Gladman Developments is preparing an application for Planning Permission in Principle for a proposed residential development with associated infrastructure and landscaping on land north of Barbush, Dunblane. The total site area comprises approximately 7.7 acres (3.12 hectares). The site is proposed as a housing land allocation in the Stirling Local Development Plan (Proposed Plan currently out for consultation) for 80 units (ref. H138 Barbush)'.
Have a look at the display boards
Make your views known by completing the online comments form
Read the Stirling Observer article
Members of the Project Team including Terence O'Byrne from the Community Council and David Prescott from Holmehill Community Buyout.
Jamie Murray won his second Grand Slam title of the year at the US Open on Saturday with his partner Bruno Soares. He now holds 3 grand slam titles, the same as Andy!
Read more below.
The Park of Keir Public Inquiry was held over two weeks starting on Monday 5 September 2016 in the Westlands Hotel, Dunblane.
Watch webcasts of inquiry or search for 'Park of Keir'.
Read the Stirling Observer Article
Watch webcast of appeal pre meeting held on Tuesday 21 June
Read the background to the planning application and the refusal of planning permission
Timetable changes September 2016 - March 2017 on Sundays and some weekday evenings
The disruption is due to work being carried out as part of a Scotland-wide electrification programme 'designed to make services faster and more environmentally friendly'.
Many congratulations to Andrew on his fine effort in Rio
From BBC website - read more
Andrew Butchart, in his first major championships, took nearly five seconds off the Scottish 5,000m record of 13.13:30 he set in late May, setting a new mark of 13.08.61 in finishing sixth behind double gold medallist Mo Farah.
"I am over the moon," the 24-year-old from Dunblane told BBC Scotland. "The place is more important than the time, but I will take the time. I am so happy.
"I came into this year being really positive, and I guess I showed that. I am not scared of anyone, no matter who they are, and I think everyone has to be like that.
"You can't fear these people. I train and work as hard as them so I deserve to be there.
"I have no idea what I could do next, but it is looking good. This is my first majors and it went really well. I just hope I can keep going and progressing."
Andy Murray has done it again. He has won gold for Britain at the Rio Olymics after a gruelling and at times, magnificent, final against Juan Martin Del Potro.
Read more below.
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Community in Action
Allan Water, Retaining Wall Restoration, Dunblane
A partnership project between Dunblane Development Trust and Stirling Council is about to restore a section of the collapsed Riverside Walk in Dunblane.
A section of the Riverside Walk, the recreational path that runs along the banks of the Allanwater just below Dunblane Cathedral has been fenced off and closed to the public since 2011 when it was washed away by the river in full flow following a period of extreme wet weather.
The local community led by Dunblane Development Trust has been working to see it restored and reopened as the walk is a valuable asset of cathedral city life for both locals and visitors.
Stirling Council has set aside £100,000 towards the necessary work and Dunblane Development Trust has also attained a £10,000 grant from the Clackmannanshire and Stirling Environment Trust and has raised over £2,000 from local public donations to allow the restoration to take place.
Stirling Council Environment Convenor, Councillor Danny Gibson, said: “We know just how important this part of Dunblane is to the local community and what a jewel in the crown it is of their visitor offering which is why we have pledged such a significant sum. Stirling Council is delighted to support the community’s aspirations and efforts to have the Riverside Walk restored and reopened.”
Altogether the project is likely to cost up to £110,000 and the Dunblane Development Trust, acting as agent, has appointed IKM Consulting Ltd as the principal contractor. The works will be overseen by Stirling Council’s Localities and Infrastucture service. Weather permitting the project is anticipated to be complete by mid September 2016.
Roy Nicolson, chair of Dunblane Development Trust, said “after years of campaigning and effort by the trust’s volunteers, the local community will be delighted that the reinstatement of this valued riverside walkway is now being undertaken.”
Club of the Month – August 2016 - Dunblane Explorer Scout Unit
If you would like your organisation featured in future months, please get in touch – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Dunblane Milvus Explorer Unit is a fantastic group of young people between ages of 14 and 18, who are interested in adventure, meeting new people and travelling away to camps close and afar. Recent camp locations include Fordell Firs and Kashel, and these are just private camps. Some of the Unit also go to national camps like the Blair Athol Jamboree. These are a fantastic way to push yourself out of your comfort zone and do many activities that you never would do before. The best thing about the Milvus unit is that it predominantly relies upon the explorers themselves and not the leaders. Since it is such a tight but approachable group, you will get to know everyone sooner or later after joining; the unit has seen a high influx of newcomers lately , we were in mid teens before Christmas, but now the unit member numbers are in the mid-twenties. The main and most popular as well as recognized event in the unit is the infamous film night, which happens twice a year, once before Christmas and once at the end of term, the films are a surprise but always a pleasant one, and plenty of food is involved as well. The unit meets every Friday night during the school term at 7:45PM, (but don’t worry, its far from a sacrifice), at the Dunblane Scout Hall next to the fourways roundabout. The leaders are David and Nick Morris and can be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , so come along and have some fun with a fun lot of people!
By Diarmid Thomson (Explorer)
Many many congratulations to Andy Murray who has done us proud again winning the Wimbledon Gents Singles championship for the 2nd time.
Read more below.
Some parking suspensions are required as part of the Dunblane Station Access Project. These will occur as and when required; dependant upon the location of the work being undertaken on any given day.
A Traffic Order by Stirling Council will, as required, temporarily suspend the parking on the following locations between July and end of October 2016:
- Perth Road On the north-west side thereof from the junction of Stirling Road to the junction of Beech Road
- Beech Road For its entire length;
- High Street from the point where it meets Beech Road in a northerly direction for a distance of 13 metres or thereby
- Station Road from the point where it meets Stirling Road to a point adjacent to the rear boundary of the building to the rear of number 1 Stirling Road
- Stirling Road for its entire length.
A COPY of the Order, may be examined at the Stirling Council's Offices, Environment and Place, Endrick House, Kerse Road, Stirling during office hours. www.stirling.gov.uk or www.tellmescotland.gov.uk
