C O N T E X T 1 1 4 : M A Y 2 0 1 0 41 generated from the holiday lets at the property will be transferred back to the council. This money will be ring-fenced, and allocated to the restoration and reuse of the other historic buildings on Calton Hill. It is a novel approach, based on our arrangements with Historic Scotland at Cloister House in the Scottish Borders. Cloister House is owned by the Scottish ministers through Historic Scotland. They continue to have responsibility for the external fabric of the building, with the Vivat Trust being responsible for the internal condition, the booking management and property marketing. At the year end both parties consider their expenditure and any surplus is divided equally. The building is inspected throughout the year. It is used and warm and, most important, enjoyed by many people. Another partnership route the trust is actively considering is the partial use of buildings which have high community profiles. The trust is working with the Cullompton Walronds Trust in Devon, where the Vivat Trust will provide an end use for the first and attic floors, while the Cullompton Walronds Trust will continue with the community functions on the ground floor.The Vivat Trust may also offer historic buildings, which may be open to the public for a limited season, during their down or closed season. One way of working with a local authority is through its compulsory purchase powers. That is how the Vivat Trust is working with Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council over Hadlow Tower in Kent. Without the council’s tenacity and bravery, this Grade I listed building would continue to decay. The trust hopes to go on site with this £4 million project during 2010. The trustees and staff of theVivatTrust see their role as one which supports and informs as well as undertaking restoration work directly. The trust intends to stay reasonably small, so that it can remain flexible in its approach and practical in delivery. It has at its core the need to restore and maintain these special buildings. The end use allows meaningful public access. All of the Vivat Trust buildings are open over the Heritage Open Day weekend. Equally important, the trust makes contact with local schools and heritage groups around the buildings it is working on to offer them the opportunity to learn more. That aside, for its partners it is usually the contribution the Vivat Trust can make to the economic profile of a town or area that helps make the decision of whether or not to work with it. A high-quality holiday let in a restored building attracts holiday makers with funds to dispose of.That can only help the local pub, shop and tea room. All good partnerships within heritage need patience. What you think can be achieved in a year is likely to take four. The Vivat Trust enjoys the challenge of partnership working. It does not always end up with a trust holiday solution, but talking about a heritage project with a cash-strapped local authority helps both sides to understand the building better. Laura Norris was the first director of the Alba Conservation Trust and is now director of the Vivat Trust. Discover England’s Archaeological and Architectural Heritage www.pastscape.org.uk Pastscape.org.uk is a quick and easy way to search nearly 400,000 records held in our national historic environment database.You’ll find information on archaeological, architectural and maritime sites. Features: • Descriptions of sites, buildings and maritime wrecks, including details of investigations and record sources • Pictures (where available) • Links to modern mapping and satellite images, as well as old maps • Bonus features for registered users: ability to save searches and access downloads of screensavers, wallpapers and e-postcards The National Monuments Record (NMR), the public archive of English Heritage, holds over 10 million photographs, plans, drawings, reports, records and publications covering England’s archaeology, architecture, social and local history. www.english-heritage.org.uk/NMR EH_Archaeology_half_3 1/4/10 12:25 Page 1
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