A north-east heritage group is still hopeful a museum celebrating the life of a shipping pioneer can be brought to the village where he was born despite the proposals hitting choppy waters.
Hercules Linton, from Inverbervie, designed one of the most iconic vessels of Britain’s world-leading 19th century shipping industry, Cutty Sark.
The Cutty Sark Museum Project, led by Mearns Heritage Services, had been launched in an effort to commemorate Linton’s life and also the famous tea clipper.
The group had hoped to use the Burgh Chambers in the village, however this was used by the community council at the time and it is understood members had concerns about giving up the meeting space.
Now the group has turned its attention to setting up a virtual resource on Linton and Cutty Sark, which would ultimately be used as the basis of a funding bid to open a museum.
The village recently marked Hercules Linton Memorial Day where flowers were laid at his grave in the old kirkyard.
The website would include information, design, audio links, graphics and photography to inform the final design and size of the building, which would also feature other interesting local history, such as Robert Burns’ links to the Mearns.
The group has also enlisted help from Bervie, Glenbervie and Auchenblae primary schools.
Dave Ramsay, project director, said he was confident the success of the website would be the first step towards opening a museum.
He said: “There were a few minor objections from the community council, they were looking for an assurance that they would still be able to use the Burgh Rooms for meeting, but that would not have been viable because the room would have become an exhibition space.
“The website is currently a work in progress but will allow people to come and learn about the history of the area.”
Inverbervie Community Council, which now meets in Bervie school, has said it is supportive of the proposals.
Neil Paterson, chairman of the organisation, said: “The issue we had is that we were given plans which we were not given the chance to discuss properly.
“We would be very supportive of a museum but would have to meet with the people putting forward the proposals to make sure they work.”