Doors set to close for Lyness refurbishment

The Scapa Flow Visitor Centre and Museum at Lyness will close at the end of the month ahead of a major renovation project.

This will involve the restoration of the historic buildings, the enhancement of interpretation and displays, and the creation of a new building which will house an exhibition space, café, toilet facilities and information areas.

When the centre shuts on Tuesday 31 October, it will remain closed until the work is completed in 2019 – with the museum set to re-open in time for commemorative events marking 100 years since the scuttling of the German High Seas Fleet in Scapa Flow.

The Oil Tank will be closed all day Wednesday 25 October for structural survey work.

Meanwhile, on Saturday 28 October a rare event will take place when a concert is held within the unique acoustic environment of the oil tank at the museum.

It will feature the band Sink and the Georgian voice quartet Otkhi, who will perform a mix of original compositions, traditional songs and new improvised work inspired by a residency in Hoy in the run up to the concert.

They will be joined by members of Hoy Sound as well as projection artist Mettje Hunneman for what the organisers describe as a “visual and sonic feast”.

Museum custodian Jude Callister said: “Once the Centre closes, volunteers will join staff in carefully packing up the many hundreds of artefacts that will go into storage during the project.

“Specialist contractors will also carry out surveys of the buildings and the equipment they contain ahead of the main refurbishment work getting underway in 2018.

“Next Spring we plan to set up displays for visitors in temporary buildings near the ferry waiting room at Lyness, which will include information about the renovation project. We also plan to run more guided walks – so there will still be plenty for visitors to see and do.”

Earlier this year The Heritage Lottery Fund announced that a grant of up to £1.115 million has been approved for the Lyness project.

This completed a major funding package made up of grants from Historic Environment Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, the Orkney LEADER fund and Orkney Islands Council’s capital Projects programme.

The oil tanks concert on Saturday 28 October starts at 13:30pm. Entry is free of charge.