THE doors are open again at Helensburgh’s biggest visitor attraction - and there’s been no shortage of people eager to see around.
The Hill House welcomed visitors over the weekend from near and far as lockdown restrictions eased last week and people were able to view Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s masterpiece once again.
For many it was their first chance to experience the Hill House Box - the £4.5 million structure built to protect the house from the rain and salty seaside air while the building’s owners, the National Trust for Scotland, look for a long-term solution to the problem of water ingress that has plagued the building almost from the day it was completed nearly 120 years ago.
READ MORE: Look back at the opening of the £4.5 million Hill House 'Box' in 2019
Elsa Burgess and her colleagues in the Hill House team were understandably delighted at being able to welcome visitors once again
The Box was opened in the summer of 2019, but both it and the Hill House were closed from March until October last year because of the initial Covid-19 limits – and were shut again until April 30 this year because of the tight Level 4 lockdown restrictions in place across the whole of mainland Scotland.
Now, though, there's a renewed sense of optimism among the team – who are looking forward to what they hope will be a busy summer with plenty of 'staycation' visitors.
Else Burgess, visitor services assistant at the house, told the Advertiser: “It’s nice just to welcome the visitors back and show our enthusiasm for the house to them.
“A lot of people are coming because they’ve never been before. To tell them about the house and teach them is a great privilege.
The Box has opened up new views across Helensburgh to the Firth of Clyde beyond
READ MORE: NTS unveils 'big box' plan to save Helensburgh's Hill House (from 2017)
“We’ve got a one way system going through the house. People are very polite and observant of it.
“We had a few locals coming in for coffee yesterday - after walking through Glen Fruin, they pop in for coffee and cake. It was nice to see regular faces again.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming more people back.”
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