4 February 2013
Last updated at 13:58 GMT

The new building will be situated beside the B-listed Dunfermline Carnegie Library

A new museum and art gallery showcasing the history of Dunfermline in Fife is to be built following a £2.8m cash boost from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The state-of-the-art building will sit between two Victorian buildings, the B-listed Dunfermline Carnegie Library and a B-listed former bank.

Dunfermline became Scotland’s medieval capital in the 11th Century and its abbey houses Robert the Bruce’s tomb.

Fife Council has allocated £6.8m to the project, which will be finish in 2016.

The Carnegie Dunfermline Trust has also donated money to the project.

Stored treasures

It is the only major project to receive funding in Scotland in this round of grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

There will also be full archaeological digs carried out in the car parks behind the library and former bank.

Mike Rumney, chairman of the City of Dunfermline Area Committee said: “This is fantastic news for Dunfermline and for the whole of Fife.

“We will use this modern, purpose-built, integrated centre to tell the story of the city’s unique place in Scottish history.

“The new museum will offer an insight into social and industrial history and host an ambitious temporary exhibition programme.

Colin McLean, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, said: “The new museum will be a fantastic boost for Dunfermline and a top visitor attraction for Scotland.

“New life will be breathed into these two striking buildings so that treasures, which have been stored away for years, can be brought out for people to enjoy in a dynamic and contemporary setting.”