Dunfermline's Abbot House officially re-opens

Abbot House has been given a new lease of life with coffee lounge and gardens, artisan workshop, Go Escape room, artist studios and gift shop putting the historic attraction back on the map.

It's a huge turnaround from the dark days of August 2015 when the crumbling 16th-century townhouse, which had been operating as a heritage centre, was shuttered up and closed amid financial problems and doubts about its future.

A new team came to the rescue and trustee Lynn Gemmell admitted last week, at an official opening event, it was "quite surreal" to see the A-listed building restored to its former glory.

She said: "It's hard to believe that, four or five years ago, we were stood here, the building was freezing and lifeless and we were trying to work out what to actually do with it.

"Back then, our dream was to bring life, vibrancy and community back into Abbot House and it's hard to believe we've now done that."

One of the few buildings left standing after the Great Fire of Dunfermline in 1624, Abbot House has endured over the centuries and there was a real determination that it should once again play a prominent part in city life.

Operations manager Louise Hutchison said: "My job at Abbot House has been to bring the house to life and to create a place that both the local community and visitors enjoy and want to spend time in.

"A place to socialise and enjoy being with people, to learn and to be creative.

"From a personal perspective, it has given me real pleasure taking an empty shell of a beautiful building, if a bit shabby round the edges, and transforming it into a place that already means so much to so many."

While they can now reflect on a job well done and hopefully look forward to a bright future, in the beginning there was no money, sky-high repair and renovation costs and no clear vision of what should be done with the property.

A new charity, Abbot House Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) was formed in 2017 – a trading company runs the operational activities – and the new trustees were tasked with exploring funding options and finding a use for the building.

The following year, just as Lynn was leaving a job to go self-employed and Louise was going through a transition in her own career, both women realised they had the "passion and drive" to put more time into taking the project forward.

"And what a journey that has been!" Lynn smiled.

She said the key to Abbot House's success was identifying a sound business model with enough income-generating potential to ensure the building was self-sustaining, with sufficient cashflow to make sure it was properly maintained for future generations.

The main funding came from Carnegie Dunfermline Trust and Fife Council and the renovation was tackled in stages.

Phase one – the shop, toilets and workshop – was ticked off by the end of 2019 with the gift shop opening, amid a pandemic, in August 2020.

Plans were tweaked along the way, ideas for a bakery and restaurant were dropped and there were delays due to lockdowns and COVID, but external work and a refresh for the 'pink hoose' saw phase two completed by October 2021.

The third phase covered the internal fit-out, more studio space was created on the upper floors, new tenants moved in and the Blend Coffee Lounge, run by local man Derrick Thames, started serving coffees and cakes in July.

A desire to promote local arts, craft and produce has seen the gift shop stocked by local suppliers such as Cara Shanley, from Sketching Fife; Inga Jack, from Cushie Doo Textiles; and Gael Wilkinson, from Kin Bees.

It has sweet treats from Dunfermline business Heavenly Goodies too, with chocolatier Gwen McQueen also running workshops on site.

Designers Clarabella Christie and Rachel Henderson – both of whom have appeared on TV – as well as graphic designer David McNaughton, are helping to increase Abbot House's profile and Keith Gemmell's Go Escape room, called 'Home Guard' and featuring a real wartime Anderson shelter, is already proving a hit and bringing a new clientele to the building.

Louise explained: "Being a valued part of the community has always been a key goal for Abbot House.

"We could not survive as a standalone business and are proud to have built relationships and formed partnerships with neighbours, heritage partners, local businesses and local everyday folk."

She continued: "Dunfermline and Fife is brimming with talent and from the outset it was important to us to champion local talent and for local talent to support us.

"The Abbot House gift shop is a prime example of this two-way support. Fifty per cent of the products we stock through the shop are made by local artisans – pretty much all women – with phenomenal creative and business skills.

"Each small business is playing a part in not only supporting themselves and their own families, but the local community. As a team, we’re making a difference."

Lynn said she and Louise had "lived and breathed Abbot House for four years" and they're now moving from the development phase to the operational stage.

However, work will continue next year with plans for the education floor and adding more artist studio space.

Fellow trustee Alison Fox paid tribute to all those who had helped on the project, and in particular Lynn and Louise.

She said: "They have put their heart and soul into Abbot House and I know it’s not always been an easy journey.

"Lynn has dedicated a lot of time and effort for several years now and has played a key role in delivering what we are able to enjoy today.

"And Louise’s creative flair is evident throughout the house from the wonderful gift shop to the sympathetic design of the various spaces within the house.

"Without the passion and drive that both Lynn and Louise have put into Abbot House it's very clear that we would not be standing here today."