One of Dunfermline's oldest buildings is to be the focus of a new community-led film.
Abbot House will close to the public on Saturday due to financial problems. Scotland’s Urban Past responded to a request from Dunfermline residents for help in recording the importance of their community space before it closes. The SUP team provided volunteers with the resources and skills needed to produce a short film about Abbot House, through training in film techniques, conducting oral history interviews and video production.
The film will focus on the passionate volunteers who have dedicated their time to Abbot House since it was first developed as a heritage centre in the 1990s and the wide range of activities that currently take place in the community space, including storytelling sessions, social meetup groups, English language courses and the Dunfermline Young Archaeologists Club (YAC).
Members of the public are invited to visit Abbot House between 15:00 – 18:00 on Saturday 15 August for a full day of celebrations and the chance to share their own memories of historic building. The dedicated team from SUP will be on hand to film oral histories and scan visitors’ historic photographs, letters and documents at the event.
Mark Seaborne, a volunteer tour guide at Abbot House and leader of the Dunfermline YAC, said: “I started working here to build my confidence again and meet like minded people. Abbot House brings people together and acts like a hub for those who are interested in Dunfermline's past from all over the country and from all walks of life.”
“There’s always something to discover. You can spend hours looking at the 16th century fresco wondering who is that, what is that building, what story is it telling? Abbot House is made of legends and folktales. People can often make their own endings to the stories being told.”
Colin McLean, Head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: “Thanks to National Lottery players, HLF is able to help communities learn about and take pride in their local heritage as well as training in new skills. Learning about history can be rewarding, fascinating and fun, and SUP is helping that happen across the country.”
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