BCT bought Finzean Old School on behalf of the community when Aberdeenshire Council decided to sell it. They had managed it as an Outdoor Centre for school groups since the current Finzean Primary School was built in 1964.

There are two buildings on the Old School site. The smaller one, known as the Soup Kitchen, dates from the original 18th century school, while the larger one was built in the 19th century to replace it. These 18th and 19th century former schools are in a row with the current 20th century school and BCT shares the same access and parking area with the School.

BCT has carried out very extensive work to improve the Old School buildings and site. Major renovations were needed to the inside of the larger building. BCT initially then used the three classrooms as BCT‘s office and office space let to local businesses. With the expansion of BCT’s operations, BCT now uses the rooms for BCT’s office, BCT’s file library and a room for meetings and hosting visiting groups.

The Soup Kitchen building, which required even more substantial work to it, has been developed by BCT as the Birse Parish Archive with working space and environmentally control storage for the Archive collections.

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