The historic trade of silversmithing will be returning to a north-east town later this year.
The Meal House in Banff, known locally as the Auld Smiddy, has been transformed into a spacious and light workshop with many windows – designed so the community can always see the work being done.
Business partners Kate Pickering and Scott McIntyre plan to open the Smiddy Centre of Excellence for Silversmithing and Jewellery towards the end of September.
The project was came about after the pair put a bid into Aberdeenshire Council to be the ones to bring the trade back to Banff.
As the founders of the Vanilla Ink jewellery school, which began in Dundee before relocating to Glasgow, the two are hoping to start other centres across Scotland – and link-in to local heritage.
It’s hoped the new venture will also encourage people to dig into their heritage to find connections to past silversmiths in Banff.
Mrs Pickering said: “This will be where people from all walks of life can come to understand the tools and skill involved with silversmithing.
“We’ve started our first project – a tool amnesty.
“We’re hoping people find tools and equipment that may have been used to make things in the past.
“We’ll then kick-off with classes for all, making things such as rings and tumblers before branching into blocks of lessons.”
Mr McIntyre added: “Silversmithing is exciting but people don’t seem to know about it.
“As a skill it can be great to just make something but it also acts as a sort of therapy for people.
“We want people to know they can come to this space and just create something.
“It can feel great to bash at the metal.
“We would love to make this into a tourist spot and are delighted to be getting our own brown sign.”
An Aberdeenshire Council spokeswoman said: “The Smiddy itself was redeveloped by Aberdeenshire Council, with the Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme funding.
“It will be home to an exciting silversmithing project, something we hope will see the re-birth of part of the town’s history and bring unique visitors to Banff.
“We are supporting this project with start-up funding and have been working closely to help get this off the ground, and we look forward to working alongside them in future.”
