Strathpeffer Pavilion
Encyclopedia
Strathpeffer Spa Pavilion was commissioned by the Countess of Cromartie
in the late 19th century, to serve as a social and entertainment centre for Strathpeffer
's many visitors. Formerly just a collection of farms in a valley in the Highlands of Scotland, the village of Strathpeffer developed and became a popular health resort
(then the most northerly spa in Europe) in the Victorian era
, when local spring waters were discovered to have health-giving properties.
Opened by the Countess of Cromartie in 1881, the Pavilion provided entertainment in the form of dances, concerts, lectures etc. Famous speakers included suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst
and explorer Ernest Shackleton
.
During the First World War (1914-18), many of the large houses and hotels in Strathpeffer were requisitioned by the armed forces
and the Pavilion was taken over by the US Navy and used as a hospital.
After the War, the popularity of the spa declined and the Pavilion was used only as an occasional venue for events, until it was acquired by Harry McGhee's Highland Lass Estates and was completely restored and refurbished, re-opening in 1960 as a licensed dance hall
and concert venue, becoming hugely popular, with people coming to the dances from all over the Highlands. The venue was even visited by the Beatles in January 1963 but, contrary to popular lore, they never actually performed at the Pavilion.
Thereafter, the building was acquired by a large hotel group and was allowed to fall into disrepair, being used only occasionally for concerts and other events. Eventually, it was acquired by The Highland Council
, who passed it on to the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT). SHBT then masterminded a huge fund-raising
and restoration project, with a view to restoring the much-altered building to its original Victorian splendour, with the addition of requisite modern facilities.
The restoration was carried out in 2003-2004 by architects LDN and the Pavilion re-opened in autumn 2004. It is now a multi-purpose venue for the performing arts
, dances, conferences, weddings and a variety of exhibitions, festivals and other events.
Anne Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland
Anne Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland , 1st Countess of Cromartie in her own right and known as the Marchioness of Stafford from 1849 to 1861, was a British peeress....
in the late 19th century, to serve as a social and entertainment centre for Strathpeffer
Strathpeffer
Strathpeffer is a village and former spa town in Ross and Cromarty, Highland, Scotland, with a population of 1,469.-Geography:It lies in a glen 5 miles west of Dingwall, with varying elevation from 200 to 400 feet above sea level...
's many visitors. Formerly just a collection of farms in a valley in the Highlands of Scotland, the village of Strathpeffer developed and became a popular health resort
Spa town
A spa town is a town situated around a mineral spa . Patrons resorted to spas to "take the waters" for their purported health benefits. The word comes from the Belgian town Spa. In continental Europe a spa was known as a ville d'eau...
(then the most northerly spa in Europe) in the Victorian era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
, when local spring waters were discovered to have health-giving properties.
Opened by the Countess of Cromartie in 1881, the Pavilion provided entertainment in the form of dances, concerts, lectures etc. Famous speakers included suffragette Emmeline Pankhurst
Emmeline Pankhurst
Emmeline Pankhurst was a British political activist and leader of the British suffragette movement which helped women win the right to vote...
and explorer Ernest Shackleton
Ernest Shackleton
Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton, CVO, OBE was a notable explorer from County Kildare, Ireland, who was one of the principal figures of the period known as the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration...
.
During the First World War (1914-18), many of the large houses and hotels in Strathpeffer were requisitioned by the armed forces
Armed forces
The armed forces of a country are its government-sponsored defense, fighting forces, and organizations. They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body, and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external aggressors. In some countries paramilitary...
and the Pavilion was taken over by the US Navy and used as a hospital.
After the War, the popularity of the spa declined and the Pavilion was used only as an occasional venue for events, until it was acquired by Harry McGhee's Highland Lass Estates and was completely restored and refurbished, re-opening in 1960 as a licensed dance hall
Dance hall
Dance hall in its general meaning is a hall for dancing. From the earliest years of the twentieth century until the early 1960s, the dance hall was the popular forerunner of the discothèque or nightclub...
and concert venue, becoming hugely popular, with people coming to the dances from all over the Highlands. The venue was even visited by the Beatles in January 1963 but, contrary to popular lore, they never actually performed at the Pavilion.
Thereafter, the building was acquired by a large hotel group and was allowed to fall into disrepair, being used only occasionally for concerts and other events. Eventually, it was acquired by The Highland Council
Politics of the Highland council area
Politics of the Highland council area in Scotland are evident in the deliberations and decisions of the Highland Council, in elections to the council, and in elections to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom and the Scottish Parliament...
, who passed it on to the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT). SHBT then masterminded a huge fund-raising
Fundraising
Fundraising or fund raising is the process of soliciting and gathering voluntary contributions as money or other resources, by requesting donations from individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies...
and restoration project, with a view to restoring the much-altered building to its original Victorian splendour, with the addition of requisite modern facilities.
The restoration was carried out in 2003-2004 by architects LDN and the Pavilion re-opened in autumn 2004. It is now a multi-purpose venue for the performing arts
Performing arts
The performing arts are those forms art which differ from the plastic arts insofar as the former uses the artist's own body, face, and presence as a medium, and the latter uses materials such as clay, metal or paint which can be molded or transformed to create some physical art object...
, dances, conferences, weddings and a variety of exhibitions, festivals and other events.
External links
- Official website
- TheStrath.co.uk lists all the performers in the Pavilion in the 1960s and 1970s