Govan Heritage Trust
Faced in 2007 with closure of Govan Old and loss of unarguably Govan’s greatest historic asset, the community – led by social enterprise Govan Workspace – worked tirelessly on a rescue plan which finally came to fruition in 2016 when a new charitable trust took ownership. ‘Govan Heritage Trust’ is already implementing the first phase of a 5-year business plan to secure a viable future for the building, with the creation of 3,000 sq feet of lettable space on the lower ground. Other development phases are to follow. Govan Workspace continues, alongside managing Govan’s Fairfield Heritage museum, to provide necessary support and to project manage the developments at Govan Old.
Govan Workspace
Govan Workspace has been active in the field of community regeneration for the past 40 years and for almost half that time has demonstrated the value of using local heritage as a tool in the renewal process – socially culturally, & economically.
Since 2007 when closure of Govan Old was announced, the social enterprise has led the rescue of the A-listed building and search for a viable future, going on to initiate and nurture the fledgling Govan Heritage Trust to take ownership. Using its own long experience of delivering complex building projects such as Fairfield Heritage, Govan Workspace has begun the implementation of a 5-year business plan for the new Govan Old project.
Our Partners & Supporters
The ambitious proposal to place Govan Old at the heart of the regeneration of the Govan town centre is shared positively across the board by community and statutory bodies. Since its ‘closure’ was announced in 2007, the building has remained effectively ‘open’, thanks to the leadership of Govan Workspace/Govan Heritage Trust, the local congregation, and the support of dozens of local volunteers who have given freely of their time to ensure activities continued at the community venue.
What makes the Govan Old story special is that the community’s initiative and vision has received the backing of key agencies in the public sector – creating a genuine partnership. Funding for Phase 1 has come from Glasgow City Council / Central Govan Action Plan / City Deal with support from the Townscape Heritage Initiative and Historic Environment Scotland. The Scottish Government’s Vacant & Derelict Land Fund and Regeneration Capital Grant Fund have already committed funds to Phase 2.
It is also important to recognise that the project could not have got off the ground without outstanding support from the charitable trust sector – large pump-priming grants coming from the Garfield Weston Foundation and William Grant Foundation, followed by help from the Swire Charitable Trust, Robertson Trust, Bellahouston Bequest Fund, Hugh Fraser Foundation, Pilgrim Trust and EB Scotland.
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The museum is currently closed. We will re-open on April 1st 2025
Please get in touch if you want to bring a larger tour group. For more information please contact: info@thegovanstones.org.uk
Govan Stones
866 Govan Rd
Glasgow
G51 3UU
Phone: 0141 445 2340
Email: info@thegovanstones.org.uk