Lews Castel The largest castle in Scotland\'s Outer Hebrides is set to become a hotel and museum, thanks to a £13.5 million redevelopment project on the Isle of Lewis. Lews Castle, a Victorian era home built on the back of opium money by the island\'s one-time owner Sir James Matheson, has been awarded £4.6million by the Heritage Lottery Fund towards the revamp, which tourism chiefs hope would be completed in 2014.
The Fund confirmed it would be helping the fundraising effort to revitalise \'one of the most magnificent castles on a Scottish island\', which is still looking for the final £2million to complete the redevelopment.
A spokesman for Western Isles Council said last night: \'We are confident the shortfall will be found. We are already in discussions with various parties.\'
The castle, which sits overlooking Stornoway, will house a museum of the Outer Hebrides and will be the first in the UK to use Gaelic as its first language.
It will also have an exhibition space allowing collections from the British Museum, such as the Lewis Chessmen, and the National Museum of Scotland to be put on display.
But the jewel in the crown for visiting tourists, will be the opportunity to sleep in the castle, which will also house a hotel.
Colin McLean, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: \'The transformation of Lews Castle has the potential to make a real difference to the economy of Lewis and indeed the Western Isles through job creation and tourism.
\'The innovative combination of providing a new-build museum combined with the restoration of the Castle as a high quality hotel is an example of partnership working on many levels, and is a new model that we may see more of in the future.\'
Alasdair Allan, MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, said: \'Today\'s announcement from the Heritage Lottery Fund is an important step towards revitalising, not only Lews Castle, but the wider tourist economy in the islands. The council and other agencies locally have been working tirelessly to progress plans that would ensure Lews Castle becomes both a cultural and economic asset to the islands.\'
Currently vacant and on the Buildings at Risk register, Lews Castle was built in 1847 for James Matheson who made his fortune in the Chinese opium trade.
It changed hands in 1918, when industrialist Lord Leverhulme acquired the island. He invested in the castle introducing central heating, electric lighting and internal telephones and extended the ballroom to accommodate his parties.
He then gifted it to the people of Stornoway in 1923.
The redevelopment of the castle was previously turned down by billionaire Donald Trump. It had been suggested he helped in memory of his mother, Mary Ann, who came from Stornoway and the businessman did visit the castle, but decided against investing.