The Old School, Bankhead, Finzean

The school at Bankhead (Finzean) was established in 1732, as an endowed school. The endowment was a legacy of a former resident of the parish, Rev. Gilbert Ramsay, and funded by the sale of enslaved people in Barbados. the building was extended and adapted a number of times, including alterations by the architect of Balmoral Castle (William Smith ll), up to 1964 when a new building was opened on the adjacent school garden. In 2004 the community, through Birse Community Trust (BCT), acquired the Old School site.

in need of conservation and repair to meet the needs of the community, BCT recently completed a Project Viability study on the future of the site. in parallel with the study a community heritage project , called 'Aye, it wis aabody', explored the history of the school and links with chattel slavery in the Caribbean. Visitors will have the opportunity to see inside the buildings, where there will also be displays on the Feasibility Study and 'Aye, it wis aabody' project.