The John Rae Society has entered an extremely exciting and important phase, where match funding is required to help create a development plan to ensure the projects sustainability and enable us to apply for further grants.
We are asking for donations at a pivotal time for the Society as, having already purchase the Hall of Clestrain, we now plan to renovate the property and turn it into a world class visitor centre and community resource. The John Rae Society has entered an extremely exciting and important phase, where match funding is required to help create a development plan to ensure the projects sustainability and enable us to apply for further grants. With your support, this work will both supplement and complement the information already captured and place the Society in a favourable position to confidently apply for the necessary large-scale funding.
Looking ahead, the Society hopes that the Hall of Clestrain development will provide real economic benefit through employment and volunteering opportunities, offering visitors a wider range of possible themes and itineraries, provide new educational, research facilities and training opportunities, engage with communities both here and Canada helping to better understand Orkneys heritage and ancestry.
The John Rae Society aims to restore The Hall of Clestrain! This is, the famous John Rae’s 18th Century family home.
It is an ‘A’ listed building of considerable distinction.
We plan to restore the Hall and turn it into an amazing events centre and a resource for the community of Orkney.