History of the Granary

Thomas Telford, although famous for his bridges, canals and many other civil works, also turned his hand to town-planning projects and large-building construction, particularly in Scotland's East coast. Telford's Granary built in 1808, is a typical example of the type of commissions he was receiving from the wealthy landowners and councils of the day.

The walls are nearly four feet thick, built of local sandstone and sealed with lime mortar, and have withstood countless storms and gales over a two hundred year period. Although not particularly decorative in style, the Granary's simple and functional design makes it an elegant period classic. During the early part of the building's life, it housed grain bound for Continental Europe and the British Army fighting the Napoleonic Wars. Records indicate that it continued to be used as a storehouse for grain and other farm produce until the Second World War.

In 1941 it was commandeered for military use as a subsidiary base/warehouse for the Special Operations Executive and the Royal Norwegian Independent Naval Unit. Known as the "Shetland Bus", this highly trained and top-secret team, carried out extremely dangerous clandestine operations in Occupied Norway, shuttling back and forward from Burghead and the Shetland Isles to the Norwegian coast in small fishing boats. (Casualties during these missions were considerable and many British and Norwegians lost their lives.) Norway's Crown Prince Olaf was shown around the Granary and other Naval installations in Burghead during a military visit in October 1942.

In 1949 the building was lent to Gordonstoun School Sea Scouts as a clubhouse and storeroom for their sailing equipment. From 1967 until restoration and redevelopment began in early 2005, the Granary has been unoccupied.