The Engine Shed in Stirling was named ‘Best Visitor Attraction in Central, Fife & Tayside’ at last night’s 2018/2019 regional Scottish Thistle Awards.
The Engine Shed, run by Historic Environment Scotland (HES), is Scotland’s dedicated building conservation centre, serving as a central hub for building and conservation professionals and the general public.
Development began in 2013 to revitalise and extend the original building, with the Engine Shed opening to the public in July 2017.
Since opening, The Engine Shed has been awarded five top industry accolades, including being named one of the best new buildings in Scotland at the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) Awards 2018.
In addition to winning the regional ‘Best Visitor Attraction’ award, The Engine Shed was a finalist in the Innovation in Tourism category.
Dorothy Hoskins, Technical Outreach and Education Manager, at The Engine Shed said:
We are delighted that The Engine Shed has been named Stirling’s ‘Best Visitor Attraction’ only a year after opening. This prestigious award is a huge testament to the hard work and dedication of our team who have developed The Engine Shed into a key learning and visitor resource in Stirling."
“Since opening, we have received fantastic feedback from visitors and we hope our unique visitor experience will continue to inspire future generations to care for Scotland’s built heritage.”
The Scottish Thistle Awards, also known as ‘the Oscars of Scotland’s tourism industry’, is run by Visit Scotland to reward the best of the country’s outdoor and leisure trade industry.
The Engine Shed will now compete with the other regional winners to be crowned Scotland’s ‘Best Visitor Attraction’ in the National Finals in March.
About the Engine Shed
- At the very forefront of conservation, the Engine Shed will provide a central hub to engage the next generation with our historic environment and the value of protecting and preserving it, whilst helping to ensure a safe and sustainable future for our rich built heritage.
- The Engine Shed will be the test lab for developing activities and resources which can then be rolled out for use across the country and will help to support and enable the work of partners across a range of sectors spanning heritage, construction, education and training and many other related fields.
- The Engine Shed has received funding from Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), Scottish Government’s Young Scots Fund, European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the difference made up by Historic Environment Scotland.
- The Engine Shed houses Historic Environment Scotland’s Technical Outreach and Education, Conservation Science, and Digital Documentation teams, strengthening the link between research, education, and technology to increase an understanding of buildings and materials.
- The development of the Engine Shed will create a network of conservation centres linking with Historic Environment Scotland’s masonry training centres in Elgin and Forth Valley College and the applied conservation unit at South Gyle, Edinburgh.
About Historic Environment Scotland (HES)
- We are the lead public body charged with caring for, protecting and promoting the historic environment. We will lead on delivering Scotland’s first strategy for the historic environment, Our Place in Time.
- Historic Scotland, Scran, Canmore, The National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle and Edinburgh Castle are sub-brands of HES.
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Year of Young People 2018
The Year of Young People (YoYP 2018) will inspire Scotland through its young people aged 8 to 26, celebrating their achievements, valuing their contributions to communities and creating new opportunities for them to shine locally, nationally and globally. Over 200 young people throughout Scotland will become #YOYP2018 Ambassadors, ensuring their communities know about local opportunities to celebrate young people.
Follow the Engine Shed
Twitter: @HESEngineShed
Facebook: @HESEngineShed
For further information, please contact:
Stacey Dent
Historic Environment Scotland Media Office
Direct line: 0131 668 8097
Email: communications@hes.scot