WORK is underway on the transformation of Dumbarton’s oldest building into a library and museum.
Clark Contracts is leading the £7.2 million Glencairn House project on behalf of West Dunbartonshire Council, with it being one of three developments forming part of the £19.9 million levelling up award made to the council by the UK Government.
The refurbishment of historic Glencairn House, on the town’s High Street, will see the iconic building overhauled into a ‘state-of-the-art’ facility. Ambitious plans include the construction of a three-storey extension to create extra space to house the library and museum.
The property, with its landmark arch windows, has lain vacant for several years and will undergo a ‘meticulous’ restoration of the existing structure while preserving its historic elements. As well as dedicated spaces for children and families, it will provide access to computers, quiet study areas, and relaxed meetings spaces.
A children’s library pavilion will also be created at the back of the building, opening out onto a library garden centred on the existing tree which will become the garden’s ‘storytelling tree’.
Museum displays will be integrated throughout, featuring key objects from the council’s museum, archive, and local history collections that tell stories of Dumbarton. Items on display will include some of the oldest in the council’s collection, including a Roman medallion from 193AD and the bronze ‘Skellat Bell’ from around 900AD.
Councillor David McBride, convener of infrastructure, regeneration, and economic development, said, “This is a real milestone not just for the redevelopment of Glencairn House but also for the town of Dumbarton, as a whole. The building, which has been vacant for a number of years, is central to the High Street and its refurbishment will breathe new life into the town centre, right in the heart of our community.
“These ambitious plans will ensure we have a fit-for-purpose facility that will also recognise and preserve the significant history of Glencairn House.”
