A major refurbishment of the historic Scottish Scapa Flower Visitor Centre and Museum gets a huge boost for its plans.
The Heritage Lottery Fund has told the Orkney Islands Council that a sum of £1.155 million has been approved for the renovation project.
The project is set to include the restoration of a series of historic buildings plus a brand new building which will house a café and a space for exhibitions.
As it stands, the centre is based around the former fuel oil pumping station at Lyness Naval Base, Hoy, Orkney. Scapa Flow holds a special place in military history. It was a base for the British fleet during both world wars. The German High Seas Fleet was scuttled here at the end of World War One in 1919.
Items on display include three Lancashire bombers alongside large military vehicles, cranes and artillery. Six steam powered triple-expansion duplex Worthington pumps are also on display.
“Scapa Flow has an internationally-important story to tell and we’re delighted to support a project which will do just that,” said Lucy Casot, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland. “Rare military equipment from both world wars, along with stories from some of the 12,000 people once stationed there, will help bring the sheltered harbour’s incredible history back to life, exploring how it shaped the history of travel, trade and maritime warfare.”
Work on the centre is set to start next year.
Image courtesy of Studio MB.
https://www.scotsman.com/news/scapa-flow-visitor-centre-and-museum-wins-refurbishment-funding-1-4512669
