LITTLE HOUSES IMPROVEMENT PLAQUES

In 2010, the National Trust for Scotland celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Little Houses Improvements Scheme (LHIS). This project originated in the 1930s with the acquisition of 20 small houses in Culross in Fife, and was inaugurated in 1960 as a building preservation fund to renovate small vernacular buildings set in village communities (burghs).

The first LHIS project was in Crail, a picturesque fishing village in Fife, and since then the LHIS has undertaken 205 Little Houses projects.

Many of the houses are located in Fife, particularly Culross, but they are also found in Peterhead in Aberdeenshire and Dunkeld in Perthshire. The character of many of these small burghs would have been lost were it not for the preservation program, as they were slated for demolition. Today the houses are conserved as living homes. Some remain in the care of NTS and are rented, others are sold to private owners but have binding conservation clauses in their deeds.

Since the 1930s, blue plaques have been displayed on these buildings to mark their relationship to NTS. They are iconic and highly visible.

Currently, there are two issues the NTS would like to address in regard to the blue plaques:

• Some of the older plaques are now weather worn and require replacing. The NTS would like to undertake a program of replacement and rejuvenation of the old plaques.

• The 50th Anniversary offers the opportunity for NTS to create a new style plaque for use on current and future projects.

Project costs and funding requirement: $7,400.

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Learn more about the property:
www.nts.org.uk/Conserve/buildings_history.php

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