The Buildings

Our stewardship of the historic Pavilion and associated structures is guided by a principle of "respectful restoration." We will honour the architectural integrity of William Henry Playfair's design while carefully adapting the spaces to be fit for purpose as a modern community hub. This involves a commitment to:

• Preservation: Undertaking necessary repairs and conservation work in consultation with heritage experts to protect the building's historical character.

• Accessibility: Ensuring the buildings are welcoming and accessible to all members of our community.

• Sustainability: Upgrading facilities with a focus on energy efficiency and environmental responsibility, securing the site's long-term operational and financial health.

Stewardship here means treating the buildings with respect of it's history while adapting them for modern day use, blending the past with the living present.

The Gardens

For years, a dedicated group of volunteer gardeners has tended this space with devotion, skill, and love. This team has kept the grounds beautiful, accessible, and alive even as the building itself has struggled. We are humbled by what they have achieved and will do all we can to:

• Secure the Foundation: Ensure the gardening group has guaranteed access, resources, and recognition for the vital work they already do.

• Celebrate Their Contribution: Publicly honour the years of care that have kept St Ronan's Wells a place worth saving.

• Provide Practical Support: Offer infrastructure, materials, and coordination that makes their work easier and more sustainable.

• Expand if They Wish: If the group wants to grow — more volunteers, new projects, community gardening programmes — we will help make that possible. But the pace and direction remain theirs.

Stewardship of the gardens means supporting those who are already doing the work, and ensuring they can continue for generations to come.

The Festival

To support and honour the annual Cleikum Festival, we will do all we can to provide it with a stable, supportive anchor. For hundreds of years, the festival has been a cornerstone of Innerleithen's identity, and our stewardship is dedicated to strengthening its foundations. We will work closely with the Games Committee to:

• Provide a Secure Home: Ensure the festival's key ceremonies have guaranteed access to a well-maintained and supportive site at St Ronan's Wells.

• Reconnect Ritual and Place: Work with all involved to restore the functional and symbolic links between the festival's rituals and the physical well, moving beyond mimed gestures to authentic engagement.

• Support Living Tradition: Act as a resource for the community to explore and understand the deep meanings behind the festival's traditions, helping to ensure this vital intangible heritage is carried forward with renewed purpose by the community itself.

Stewardship of the festival means holding the space for tradition to thrive, ensuring its roots are nourished by the very ground from which it grew.