A grant of over £190,000 has been allocated to help repair and restore a historic building at 1-7 Bridge Street in Penicuik.

The grant was awarded by the Penicuik Heritage Regeneration Project.

Known as the Pen-y-coe Press building, the property includes a printing works and community stationery shop on the ground floor, run by Penicuik Community Development Trust, together with a small heritage centre with an exhibition and artefacts explaining the history of paper making in the town. The upper floor houses four separate flats.


The total cost of the restoration scheme is £234,252 with all five property owners contributing towards the cost of the work.

Dating from the late 19th century, the building is of traditional stone brick and render construction with a slate and tile roof. The shop at ground floor level retains the original post office and printing works interior.

Original features

The restoration work will include repairs to the front façade, including exposing the original stonework, roof repairs and re-slating and shop front improvements. Window repairs and replacement will be carried out where necessary, with timber sash and case windows to match the originals.

Historic town centre

The Penicuik Heritage Regeneration Project is a partnership funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, Midlothian Council, and Penicuik First and supported by Penicuik Community Development Trust, and Penicuik and District Community Council.