Plans for Major Redevelopment of Timespan Museum
A museum and arts venue in Sutherland, known as Timespan, which opened nearly 40 years ago, is being considered for an £8 million redevelopment project.
Timespan was established on a former herring curing yard located at Helmsdale's harbour. The museum's operators have stated that it has "punched above its weight" for many years but has now become too small to accommodate the exhibits and activities they aim to present.
The proposed redevelopment includes extensions to the existing structure to create new gallery and museum spaces.
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Historical Context of Helmsdale and Timespan
Helmsdale, situated on the east coast of Sutherland, was constructed in the early 19th century as part of a planned resettlement for communities displaced during the Highland Clearances. The village subsequently became a significant hub for the herring industry, with its harbour supporting fishing, gutting, and curing operations.
Timespan opened in 1987, and its collections and displays document the history of Helmsdale and the surrounding region, including the Clearances, herring fishing, and fossils discovered along the nearby coastline.
The museum's cottage is planned to have new extensions added to it.
Architectural Plans and Project Timeline
Two architectural firms are collaborating on the redevelopment plans. Assemble, which won the Turner Prize in 2015 for its work on a community redevelopment in Toxteth, Liverpool, and Office Corr Higgins, based in Glasgow and Bristol, are leading the design efforts.
To date, three consultations have been conducted regarding the proposals. Timespan's management has yet to submit a planning permission application, and fundraising efforts are ongoing to cover the estimated £8 million cost.
The project is anticipated to take approximately five to six years to complete.
The project could take five or six years to realise.
Statements from Timespan Management
Sam Harrison, Fundraising and Redevelopment Manager at Timespan, explained the need for expansion, noting that the museum is currently limited by its existing facilities.
"We are constrained by a building that the heating doesn't work very well, and the corridors are long and dark.
What we would like to do is match up to the things we can do, and expand what we can do by having a building that allows that."
He emphasized that Timespan is engaged in many "wonderful things" but requires additional space to fully realize its potential.
