Historic Scottish Borders buildings will be among the highlights of Doors Open Day 2021, a festival that sees organisations and volunteers offer free access to sites and events across Scotland
The festival aims to ensure that Scotland’s built and cultural heritage is made accessible to everyone living in and visiting the country.
Inspired by the successes of Doors Open Days’ first ever digital festival in 2020, which welcomed 184k virtual visitors from across the world, the 2021 festival will have both online and in-person events and activities.
Scottish Borders’ Doors Open Days festival will take place on 4-5 September. The Scottish Borders has an exciting programme of events and activities. Highlights include:
- Tim Stead’s Sculptural House: both in-person and virtual tours of this spectacular Category A listed house are being offered, led by Tim's widow Maggy, online information will also be provided
- Gala Fairydean Rovers Football Stand: this is a Category A listed concrete modernist classic by Peter Womersley. Along with Reiach and Hall architects and David Narro Associates, we are currently undertaking concrete repairs of the structure. For Doors Open Days they are arranging a series of online presentations on its history, the current repairs and their proposals for its future ‘restoration’
- Jedburgh Port House - Snail Trail: alongside the guided walk of buildings by Borders architect JP Alison, Jedburgh Community Trust is providing a ‘Snail Trail’ for children (inspired by the local sweet, the Jeddart Snail) and offering a downloadable knitting pattern for the snail
- Hawick Distillery: the first Scotch Whisky distillery in the Scottish Borders since 1837 is housed in an award-winning conversion of Hawick's Edwardian electrical works. Visitors can enjoy a complimentary distillery tour
Other activities taking place are:
- Hawick - Exploring the Town's Heritage
- Hawick - Heart of Hawick Waterwheel - basement tour
- Hawick Museum Digital Exhibition - Ancient Egypt Discovery
- Jedburgh - Mary Queen of Scots House Visitor Centre - Creative Craft Workshops and video tour
- Jedburgh - Newgate Steeple and Old Bridewell Jail - video tour
Find out more about the rest of the events and activities that will be on in September by visiting the Doors Open Days website.
COVID-19 restrictions
Doors Open Days only encourages people to attend in-person events in accordance with the latest Scottish Government COVID-19 guidance. The events and buildings that will be open for physical visits in September will ensure safe access according to the most current guidelines.
About Doors Open Days
Doors Open Days is Scotland’s largest free festival that celebrates Scotland's places, history and culture, new and old. Each September, the festival offers access to over a thousand sites and events across Scotland. The aim of Doors Open Days is to ensure that Scotland’s built and cultural heritage is made accessible to people living in and visiting the country. Doors Open Days is supported by Historic Environment Scotland, and is part of European Heritage Days.
Councillor Simon Mountford, Executive Member for Enhancing the Built Environment and Natural Heritage
"Doors Open Day is a chance to showcase some of the places and stories that have shaped the Scottish Borders. Now that many of the COVID-19 restrictions have eased, we’re eager to reconnect with our communities and share all that the Borders has to offer.
"Some of the events in our local programme are hosted in collaboration with the Jedburgh and Hawick Conservation Area Regeneration Schemes (CARS), which have focussed on the restoration of key buildings in both towns. It's great to be able to put these fantastic historic buildings under the spotlight and highlight the work that is taking place to conserve them for future generations."
Dr Susan O’Connor, Director of Scottish Civic Trust, Doors Open Days national coordinator
“Hundreds of venues across the country have been busy organising events, planning walking tours and creating videos and other virtual activities for visitors. We’re particularly excited to welcome visitors back into buildings for in-person events so we can all reconnect with our neighbours and local places.”