The vision for rescuing the decaying Lews Castle and transforming it into a productive building took root over ten years ago and faced many obstacles along the way.
The initial £13 million price tag soared by an additional £5 million while getting the assorted bits of the funding in place at the right time was hugely problematic.
The past four years have been a crucial period for the ambitious project and the plans seem dashed when a important European funding bid was rejected in 2012.
That meant the last piece of the funding jigsaw eluded the Comhairle and the whole project risked floundering, resulting in the derelict castle being left to rot.
But unexpected finance became available after other competing projects fell thus freeing up the European Fund budget.
The Comhairle was invited to try again but conclusion was repeatedly delayed. Eventually the council was awarded £1.8 million.
Mindful of the significant economic, tourism, regeneration and cultural benefits the redevelopment would bring, the local authority increased its own contribution to over £4.3 million and lobbied other sources for extra cash. It has now topped that up by £1.5 million.
The Scottish Government then stepped in with £1.6 million to close an earlier funding issue which satisfied other backers the project was financially viable.
Vital jobs were created from the construction works, injecting a boost for the islands’ ailing building industry during the conversion.
Long term posts will arise from the quality hotel to be built within the present castle building, which will be leased to a private operator, as well as in the modern glassed extension hosting the museum and heritage complex.
The deteriorating Lews Castle, built by opium trader and Lewis landlord James Matheson in 1847, is on the Buildings At Risk Register.
The Heritage Lottery Fund is ploughing about £4.1 million into the redevelopment.
Highlands and Islands Enterprise has put in a total of £2.7 million while Historic Scotland has contributed £592,000.
Urgent works to shore up the crumbling castle is currently underway to repair the external stone walls, windows and roof of the castle, along with knocking down some modern outbuildings, to allow the building to dry out before the main renovations.
The £2 million patching-
Repair work was then taken over by Stornoway firm Neil Mackay and Company.
Six of the world famous Lewis Chessmen will be on display in the new museum and are predicted to be a major crowd puller when it opens.
Because of the Lews Chessmen display, visitor numbers are predicted to reach 50,000 a year when the new museum opens its doors. The annual figure of 15,000 visitors to the Stornoway museum soared to 23,000 when they arrived on tour in 2011.
Lews Castle was built in 1847 for James Matheson who made his fortune in the Chinese opium trade. It was taken over by William Lever, Lord Leverhulme, of Unilever who bought the island in 1918.
He upgraded the castle with central heating, electric lighting and internal telephones and held parties in the ballroom. He gifted it to Stornoway community in 1923.
During World War II it served as a naval hospital and accommodation for the air and
ground crew of 700 Naval Air Squadron who operated a detachment of amphibious bi-
Long slog for Lews Castle redevelopment
13 May 2015