Local landmarks open their doors to the public
This weekend sees the annual Doors Open Day event in east Perthshire and a whole host of buildings in the area are taking part... writes Clare Damodaran.
Doors Open Days is Scotland’s largest free festival celebrating heritage and the built environment, giving people the chance to visit historic, civic and interesting buildings which are not usually open to the public, all for free.
Throughout Scotland, over 1000 buildings are opening their doors and welcoming members of the public.
This year, Doors Open Days in Perth and Kinross, which is organised by Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust, is taking place over the first three weekends in September and over different geographical areas with east and Highland Perthshire events taking place on Saturday, September 9 and Sunday, September 10.
Amongst the buildings taking part this year is Blairgowrie Fire Station on West George Street.
Officially opened in 1958, Blairgowrie Fire Station provided the first custom-built premises for firefighting equipment in the town since provision began in 1941. The station accommodates two appliances as well as a muster bay, lecture room, locker and drying rooms, showers and equipment storage.
Firefighters from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will be providing two one-hour guided tours of the station on Saturday, which will include an opportunity to observe breathing apparatus demonstrations, road traffic collision scenarios and demonstrations of basic life saving skills.
The tours take place at 2pm and 3.30pm and as numbers are limited booking is essential.
To book go to www.dod_ blairgowriefirestation.eventbrite.co.uk
Also in east Perthshire is the Alyth Family History Project exhibition in Alyth Parish Church on Bamff Road.
Alyth Parish Church was built in 1839 by Edinburgh architect Thomas Hamilton and is gothic in style with Romanesque influences particularly around the impressive stained glass windows. A Pictish stone from around the eighth century can be seen in the vestibule.
The photo exhibition will showcase the Family History Project’s archive with organisers promising an extensive display of school, wedding, baby, events, businesses, and views photographs, along with a projector of photos so visitors can sit back and enjoy a slideshow.
There will also be an opportunity to browse Old Parish Records, burial records, baptism and marriage records, newspapers, maps, and other publications, and refreshments will be available.
The church will be open on Saturday from 9am to 4pm and on Sunday from 10am to 4pm.
And in the Abbey Church on the Dundee Road in Coupar Angus, resident organist Austin Wilkie will provide music throughout the day on the church’s 1892 Wandsworth two-manual pipe organ. The present Abbey Church has a long history dating back to 1164 when a Cistercian Abbey was founded on the site. For 200 years the Abbey flourished, but by the Reformation the monks had gone and the buildings were in decline. The present church was built in the 1860s.
All the Doors Open Days programmes can be found at www. doorsopendays.org.uk
For any Perth and Kinross Doors Open Days enquires please contact Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust on 01738 477082 or info@pkht.org.uk
Over 1000 buildings are opening their doors and welcoming members of the public