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 http://www.www.highland.gov.uk/, printed copies are also available in Highland Libraries and service points.
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For further information contact Hazel Bews on 01349 884133, email: Hazel@rowan-tree-consulting.co.uk