Old school overhaul gives village new buzz

A former school in southern Scotland is reopening its doors after a multi-million pound transformation.

The Old School in Thornhill (OST) may still look familiar from the outside but inside there is a whole new look.

While some old doors and signs have been kept, the project - begun nearly a decade ago – has opened it up to new uses, from musical and dramatic theatre to community gardening and children’s own spaces to business networking.

One of the project managers, David Smith, said the project initially began with people who had returned to the area and met while taking their children to school.

"We had this idea about co-working and people working on their own coming together and using this space," he said.

"At the same time we had a Thornhill Action Plan, where the community wanted to see old buildings brought back to life.

"There were quite a lot of derelict buildings in the village and they wanted to see them used again, and a lot of people came to school here so it had great memories."

The old school was replaced by a new all-through primary and secondary which opened in 2010.

Funding was secured from a range of groups to buy it from Buccleuch Estates and also to redevelop it.

"We never wanted to recreate a Victorian primary school,” said fellow project manager Samuel Sparrow, “but to work with the elements we were left with.

"So we have exposed stonework, bricks and refurbished old doors, and we used concrete, stainless steel and plywood to tie all the rooms together, which is about creating a nice place to work but a practicality as it can be sanded back if it gets scuffed."

Around the main hall with stage, lighting and giant screen, the five old classrooms and kitchens have new purposes.

The idea was to create a space which could be in "constant use" as perhaps a theatre, cinema, a workplace or meeting point for young people.

"This was a well-loved building in the village so we wanted it to be something the community would be proud of, and that they could feel they could come in and make it their own and do their own thing," said David.

Former teacher Vina Mess will conduct the official opening and the OST team will be looking for the community to make it a new home – both inside and out, as the Thornhill Food Initiative now also has a new community garden, led by former pupil Mia Osborne.

"I had a lot of chats with people around the village and there was a momentum for a community garden,” she said.

She said they hope to grow a range of fruit and vegetables and flowers but also be a place for people with different levels of gardening skills to meet.

"It's a good positive thing for people's mental health to come into a beautiful outdoor space, chat, have a cup of tea and sow some seeds in a really nice environment," she said.

"This building has sat unused for such a long time that people are really excited about what it could now be used for – the energy in the village is great."