This week the scaffolding came down from 20-26 Main Streert Gorebridge . The building has been comprehensively repaired and restored as part of the Gorebridge CARS grant scheme .The work has included repairs to the roof , reslating in natural slates to match the orginal , repairs to the dormer windows , with the addition of a new dormer(not grant aided) , repairs to the chimneys with the rebuilding of the front facade chimney ,repairs and where necessary replacement of eroded stone with new to match ,and repairs and replacement of traditional timber sash and case windows .Modern paintwork was removed from the stone string course at first floor level and from door and window surrounds to reveal the orginal stone underneath.Modern cement render and mortar was removed from stonework and the stone repointed with a traditional lime mortar.

See before and after photographs :

Chimney details before and after :

The Project Officer for the Selkirk CARS  , Colin Gilmour together with two of his colleaques from the project team , Lawrence Robertson and Michelle Ballantyne visited the Gorebridge CARS to see what we are up to . They travelled by train on the Borders Railway to Gorebridge station on Wednesday 21st October and were given a presenation about the Gorebridge CARS together with coffee and cakes (home made) and then taken round some of the current grant schemes in the Main Street .There will  be a return visit planned so that the Gorebridge CARS project team can see what's happening in Selkirk , again travelling via the Borders Railway.

By comparing what we are doing we can learn lessons and share good practice as well as sharing the things that don't work so well !!. 

As part of the Gorebridge CARS local history archive project Gillian Morrison, local resident and film maker has been compiling local memories and stories, often in conjunction with the work that the archivist , Sean Watson is undertaking .She is at a stage where she has now recorded a few local people taking about their experiences and memories of Gorebridge . This has revealed some significant and fascinating details about the history and heritage of Gorebridge and the surrounding area . 

Some of these can been seen below:

The new Borders railway is now open and there has been a flurry of activity at Gorebridge station and people coming into the Gorebridge Development Trust office to look at the model railway and to pick up the new leaflet about the history of the railway at Gorebridge . The archivist , Sean Watson has been digging up stories about the railway at Gorebridge and the CARS project officer has been drawing some cartoons to bring the stories to life . Some of these are featured in the new leaflet .Please click here to download a PDF version

.     The leaflet has been produced by the Gorebridge CARS scheme with additional funding from the Coalfield Regeneration Trust grant as part of the Gorebridge 

      History Archive Project.The coming of the railway is another catalyst to assist with the regeneration of the area and the local interest is significant. 

A presentation ceremony was held at Midlothian Council Chamber last Friday , 4th September to present the successful  trainees and school pupils with their certificates for completing the courses in Traditional Construction Skills .Councillor Jim Bryant presided over the event and presented the certificates to the 9 trainees who had undertaken the courses in  traditional construction skills in Edinburgh College workshops and on site training a the Corn Exchange and to the 9 school puplis from Newbattle Community High School who did the schools heritage awareness course at the college over a 6 week period .60 people attended the event with refreshments and an exhibition .Congratulations to all those who received their certificates !!!!.