Caithness Map :: Links to Site Map Great value Unlimited Broadband from an award winning provider  

 

Old and New Doors Open Free This September

28th August 2011

Photograph of Old and New Doors Open Free This September

Ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors? Every September, the national Doors Open Days offers free access to landmark buildings, private homes and usually private work spaces that the public never normally get a chance to see.

The Highland programme is co-ordinated by The Highland Council and Inverness City Heritage Trust. This year, over 35 sites will be open in The Highland Council area, ranging from state-of-the-art modern facilities to ancient castles and nuclear bunkers.

Doors Open Days is an opportunity to showcase interesting modern architecture.

This year, participants can take a special guided tour of the Highland Archive and Registration Centre. The Centre, which cost £10.5 million, was opened by HRH The Earl of Wessex in 2009 and provides state-of-the-art facilities for the preservation of archives.

Special tours will also be available at the Centre for Health Science, a multi-user facility located adjacent to Raigmore Hospital. One of the first of its kind in the UK, it specialises in health-related teaching, research and patient care.

Other modern architecture to feature includes Glachbeg Croft Centre, North Kessock, an environmentally sustainable building with distinctive turf roof, Eden Court Theatre, one of the UK's largest art centres and Maggie's Highland, where visitors can learn about the work of Maggie's and the importance of their buildings and surroundings.

Historic buildings opening their doors for the event include 16th century Ballone Castle near Portmahomack; Cromarty House, an imposing Georgian mansion built in 1772; and Inverness Town House, built in the Victorian Gothic style between 1878 and 1881 and housing a fine range of historic portraits, painting and busts.

A range of historic churches across the area can be explored, from St John the Evangelists Church in Wick, built in 1868-70 and Berriedale Church, designed and built by Thomas Telford to St Mary's Catholic Church, Inverness, which has impressive stained glass windows and Wardlaw Mausoleum, the late Medieval burial place of the Lovat Frasers.

For something completely different, visit the Highland Astronomical Society's JSL Observatory at Culloden to learn about the night sky; take a guided tour of Inverness Sheriff Court, standing on the site of the Medieval castle of Inverness or explore the Council's Emergency Centre - a top secret underground bunker built by the RAF during WWII.

Councillor Ian Ross, Chairman of The Highland Council's Planning, Environment and Development Committee said: "We are really happy to support this annual event across the Highlands. As well as allowing visitors into some of the oldest buildings in the Highlands, we are really pleased that visitors will be able to see round some of the more exciting and innovative new buildings, potentially our historic buildings of the future. The event hopefully has something for everyone and is an excellent opportunity to get to see what really goes on in the buildings that we pass every day. I would like to thank Inverness City Heritage Trust, our organising partners, and, of course, all the building owners and managers who have opened their doors and made this event possible."

The full Doors Open Day programme is available to download from www.highland.gov.uk, printed copies are also available in Highland Libraries and service points.

In Caithness the Doors Open Day takes place on 17th September 2011.

Photo
Berriedale Church in Caithness, Scotland
Berriedale Church closed in 2006 with the final service being held on 1st October 2006.
See photos from that day at
www.caithness.org/fpb/2006/october/gallery.php?gallery=0&start=0

The Caithness Buildings open on 17th September are -
Berriedale Church
Built in 1826, Berriedale Church is one of the 41 Parliamentary churches designed and built by Thomas Telford in the Highlands and is the only one to carry a date on a stone plaque over the door. Set in a peaceful location surrounded by gravestones, it was closed as a church recently but is now looked after by the Berriedale Church & Cemetery Association. It is available for weddings and other local events. Refreshments and toilet facilities available at nearby village hall.

Caithness Horizons, Thurso
Caithness Horizons opened to the public on the 1st December 2008 following the refurbishment of the Thurso Town Hall and adjacent Carnegie Library. Since opening the museum has been awarded a 5-star Visitor Attraction rating by VisitScotland and has achieved full Museum Accreditation. Caithness Horizons is home to a permanent and temporary exhibition gallery. In addition, Caithness Horizons has a lovely gift shop and
cafe which serves delicious home-baking. Caithness Horizons is fully accessible and is located on the High Street in Thurso. Parking is available immediately opposite the museum.

Church of St John the Evangelist, Wick
This Episcopal Church of Scotland, one of only two in Caithness, was designed by the architect Alexander Ross, and built in 1868-70. It has seating for approx 110 people. The church became a Category B Listed Building in 1997. The interior has a warm and friendly atmosphere, accentuated by impressive stained glass windows. There is a pipe organ by Harrison of Durham within the chancel.
*Note: Toilets in church hall on Moray Street not suitable for wheelchair users.

Clan Gunn Heritage Centre, Latheron
Clan Gunn Heritage Centre and Museum tells the story of one of Scotland's
oldest clans from its Viking origins to the present day.
The Centre holds an archive of Clan Gunn and its many related families.

Dunbeath Heritage Centre
Located in the Old School, Dunbeath Heritage Centre is an open door to the rich past of the Caithness Strath and the landscape of Neil Gunn's "Highland River" and "Silver Darlings". Information available on local history, as well as an exhibition about the "Wag of Forse", art installations and a bookshop. Accredited Museum with new exhibition area.

Waterlines Visitor Centre, Lybster
The history of the fishing industry in Lybster, at one time the third largest herring port in Scotland, and the natural heritage of the area is brought to life in a fascinating exhibition.



 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

27/3/2024
Wick Public Service Obligation Celebrates Successful Second Year Subsidising Wick Aberdeen FlightsThumbnail for article : Wick Public Service Obligation Celebrates Successful Second Year Subsidising Wick Aberdeen Flights
The Highland Council is delighted to confirm a highly successful second year for Public Service Obligation (PSO) flights between Wick and Aberdeen.   The period from April 2023 to March 2024 has seen a substantial increase in passenger numbers, with several months seeing over 1,000 passengers using the service, and overall the service has seen year on year growth of 25%.  
18/3/2024
Members Agree Digital Ambition For Highland Council - Or How To Make Cuts Without Saying SoThumbnail for article : Members Agree Digital Ambition For Highland Council - Or How To Make Cuts Without Saying So
Members of Highland Council, who met on Thursday 14 March 2024, approved a corporate Digital Ambition, which has been designed to deliver significant organisational change across Council services, recognising the current priorities within the organisation.   The Strategy, which is embedded within the wider Council Delivery Plan, has been developed to focus attention and resources on areas of change which will deliver the greatest benefit to the Council.  
14/3/2024
Clarification On The Role Of MCR Pathways' Coordinators And Mentors In Highland Schools
The Council remains committed to supporting mentoring in our schools, including the support that is currently delivered through the MCR Pathways programme.   Highland Council is currently undertaking a review of Employability Support provided by a number of different council services and how these relate to the work carried out by external partners and in our schools.  
15/3/2024
Council Agrees A New Draft Highland Outcome Improvement Plan
Highland Council members have considered and agreed a revised draft Highland Outcome Improvement Plan.   The partnership plan has been reviewed and updated by the Community Planning Partnership.  
15/3/2024
Members agree Highland Council's new Community Wealth Building Strategy
Members at today's (14 March 2024) meeting of The Highland Council agreed the local authority's new draft Community Wealth Building Strategy.   They were also asked to note that a period of public engagement on the draft will now begin, with a final strategy returning to full Council for consideration in September.  
15/3/2024
£60m Capital Investment Approved For Roads And Infrastructure In Highland
Plans to invest up to £60m new Capital in Highland roads and infrastructure have been approved by Members at the Council meeting on 14 March 2024.   The decision will see an additional £40m Capital investment in roads and transport infrastructure.  
10/3/2024
Highland Council Budget - Delivery Plan Sets Out Roadmap To Deliver Savings And Investment
A draft Delivery Plan sets out a roadmap which will ensure the delivery of £54.6m savings and over £100m investment agreed by Council over the next 3 years.   The report is a difficult to follow series looing at areas but does not specify where the cuts to jobs will come over the next three years.  
Cuts And More Cuts But Still Cash For Arts In Highland - £30,000 For TapestriesThumbnail for article : Cuts And More Cuts But Still Cash For Arts In Highland - £30,000 For Tapestries
The Co-Chairs of the Inverness Castle Delivery Group, Fergus Ewing MSP and Cllr Ian Brown, are delighted to announce the award of £30,000 from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) in support of framing the 57 panels that will form the Tapestry of the Highlands and Islands.   This financial commitment from HIE has contributed significantly to the preservation of the 57 panels created by communities across the Highlands and Islands, of which 32 will be included in the first exhibition as part of the Inverness Castle Experience.  
6/3/2024
Council Employee Receives Special Recognition At The Scottish Empty Homes AwardsThumbnail for article : Council Employee Receives Special Recognition At The Scottish Empty Homes Awards
Dawn Meston from The Highland Council's Housing team won a prestigious award at the Scottish Empty Homes Awards held at The Studio, Glasgow on Thursday 29 February 2024 in recognition of her contribution to bringing empty homes back into use across Highland.   Between 1 April and 31 December 2023, a total of 25 empty properties were brought back into use following Dawn's intervention as Highland's Empty Homes Officer.  
5/3/2024
Highland Council Confirms Dates For Thermal Trial To Start In ThursoThumbnail for article : Highland Council Confirms Dates For Thermal Trial To Start In Thurso
The Chair of The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee has confirmed details of a trial, to start next week, of a thermal process for carrying out pothole repairs.   An external contractor, Thermal Road Repairs, has been appointed to undertake the work using a thermal repair process.