Stirling Doors Open Days & Archaeology Month
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DOORS OPEN Stirling DAYS 2019 Doors Open Days & Archaeology Month YEARS Saturday 14th & Sunday 15th September 2019 with events throughout September Celebrating 30 years of Doors Open Days Part of European Heritage Days All Completely Free 1 Doors Open Days is supported by Historic Environment Scotland 2019 is a celebration 30 Years of Doors Open Days in Scotland & 25 Years in Stirling! Doors Open Day is a celebration of Stirling’s built heritage, both old and new, and we hope you enjoy the many wonderful buildings which are opening their doors for us this year and the exciting events organised for Archaeology Month. It’s all completely for free! Look out for the balloons / blue banners on participating buildings. Doors Open Days and Scottish Archaeology Month (both supported by Historic Environment Scotland www.historicenvironment.scot), are Stirling’s contribution to European Heritage Days, which take place throughout Europe each September. European Heritage Days have been happening annually since 1999, they were launched by the Council of Europe in 1991 and are now run by the Council of Europe and the European Commission. This year hundreds of thousands of people throughout the signatory States of the European Cultural Convention will celebrate Europe’s cultural heritage. Doors Open Days and Archaeology Month, as part of European Heritage Days, highlight local skills and traditions, the history of an area, architecture and works of art, but the broader aim is to bring citizens together in harmony even though there are differences in cultures and languages. For further information on European Heritage Days please go to www.ehd.coe.int Doors Open Days in neighbouring areas: Clackmannanshire - 28th & 29th September East Dunbartonshire - 7th September Falkirk - 14th & 15th September South Lanarkshire - 7th & 8th September North Lanarkshire - 21st & 22nd September Perth and Kinross - 7th & 8th September Perth City - 14th & 15th September 2 3 4 1. The Baston Burn Dig Monday 2nd, Friday 6th, Saturday 7th, Sunday 8th and Monday 9th September Doors Open Day 2019 Doors Open Day A return to Baston Burn, a small brochy thing, this time to explore the interior! Booking essential, contact Murray Cook [email protected] 2. In Wallace’s Footsteps! Meet Legend’s Cafe, National Wallace Monument, Causewayhead FK9 5LF Wednesday 11th September 12.00 noon - 2.00pm Explore the Battle of Stirling Bridge on the Anniversary of Wallace’s most famous victory, with Dr Murray Cook, Stirling Council’s Archaeologist. Duration 2 hours, some rough ground and lots of steps, wear appropriate clothes. Booking essential, contact Murray Cook [email protected]. 5 3. Allan’s Primary School Bastion 29 Spittal Street, Stirling, FK8 1DU Saturday 14th September 1.00 - 4.00pm Doors Open Day 2019 Doors Open Day This beehive bastion projects from the Old Town Wall, behind Allan’s Primary School, dates from the 1500’s its three gun loops would have been used to fire at any approaching enemies. It later served as a gunpowder store, was converted into a Doocot sometime in the 1700’s and, more recently, was renovated in 2003. The Old Town Wall itself is constructed directly onto the rock which, in many places throughout the Old Town, is only just below the ground surface. Take this rare opportunity to come along and see inside and find out a bit more about this little building. A projecting work in a fortification designed to permit fire to the flanks along the face of the wall Limited disabled access – low entrance door, please mind your head! 4. Bannockburn House Bannockburn FK7 8EY Saturday 14th September 10.00am - 4.00pm Sunday 15th September 10.00am - 4.00pm Come and take a tour of the historic Category A Listed Bannockburn House which, apart from a Victorian extension, has survived largely unchanged since the 17th century. After over 50 years of dormancy this beautiful house and grounds were bought by the local community in December 2017 - with help from public donations and grants from organisations including Stirling Council and the Scottish Land Fund. A dedicated group of volunteers is now breathing new life into the house and grounds with the aim of creating a community hub providing a range of activities and resources to benefit future generations. Come and discover all about the house’s long history, its connection to 6 Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Jacobite movement and the worldwide tartan trade. Doors Open Day 2019 Doors Open Day There will be teas and coffees available plus some stalls with information about projects going on at Bannockburn House. There is even a little shop selling keepsakes for you to remember your visit. The Sculpture Placement Group also has two sculptures located in Bannockburn House for the Doors Open Days weekend for visitors to enjoy. Booking is essential. Tours are by arrangement only, to book your place please go to http://www.bannockburnhouse.scot/ bannockburn-house-events/ and follow the links. Tours will last approximately one hour and will start at 10.00, 12.00 & 2.00. Limited parking is available on the driveway of house for booked visitors only. Please car share where possible. To ensure you enjoy your visit to the full, please wear WARM clothing - it is an old house with no heating (yet!). Limited disabled access – the main hall and some rooms on the ground floor are accessible but there is limited access to the house and grounds due to staircases and changes in levels. For more detailed information please visit https://www.accessibilityguides. org/content/bannockburn-house 7 Doors Open Day 2019 Doors Open Day 5. Carbeth Huts Stockiemuir Road, Carbeth G63 9AY Saturday 14th September 1.00 - 2.30pm Sunday 15th September 1.00 - 2.30pm The lure of the countryside and all that it offers satisfies a deep human urge to touch nature. ‘Hutting’ is a worldwide phenomenon, increasing yearly as cities become more congested and restrictive. In Scandinavian countries ‘huts’ exist in hundreds of thousands and in the vast spaces of Canada in millions. Carbeth as a hutting community has existed for 100 years and with 180 huts is the world’s largest single community owned hutting organisation. It has a rich history directly related to industrial Clydeside, the Blitzing of Clydebank and a diverse range of organisation and movements. Come and join the walk and talk round the estate and find out about 100+ years of hutting with tea and buns to follow in the Community Hut. Booking essential and places are limited. Places must be booked before 5pm on Wednesday 11th September. To book your place please email [email protected]. uk or call 01786 233 670 (Mon-Weds). Good walking boots are essential and rainwear is an advisable option. Very limited access only - due to rough and undulating ground 8 Doors Open Day 2019 Doors Open Day 6. Church of the Holy Rude St John Street, Stirling FK8 1ED Saturday 14th September, 11.00am - 4.00pm Sunday 15th September, 12.00 noon - 4.00pm The Category A Listed Church of the Holy Rude is the second oldest building in Stirling (after the castle) and has been a place of worship for over 600 years. King James VI was crowned within the church and it houses the largest romantic organ in Scotland. It is surrounded by the Top of the Town graveyards, from where musket shot-holes from 1651 are visible in the tower wall from when Stirling Castle was under siege. The singing group, The Gargoyles of Gargunnock, will provide at various times a selection of medieval and renaissance songs in the style of wandering minstrels. There will be displays from Stirling Council Archives and Stirling Civic Trust with representatives from both of these organisations on hand for most of the weekend to answer your questions. Cowane’s Hospital will also have a display explaining about the ongoing refurbishment works there. Disabled access. 9 7. Engine Shed Forthside Way, Stirling FK8 1QZ Doors Open Day 2019 Doors Open Day Saturday 14th September, 10.00am – 4.00pm The Engine Shed was once a military goods and transfers shed. It was built sometime between 1896 and 1913 but the exact details of its construction were subject to an information blackout and are still unknown today. Historic Environment Scotland undertook extensive restoration of the building and its doors opened in 2017. The Engine Shed in Stirling is now Scotland’s dedicated building conservation centre and serves as a central hub for building & conservation professionals and the general public. The Engine Shed is a vital learning and visitor resource to help encourage a greater understanding of traditional building materials & skills, which are in short supply, and to inspire future generations to continue to care for the finite and unique resource that is Scotland’s built heritage. Come and take a free guided tour of Scotland’s dedicated building conservation centre, learn about our building including how it was constructed by using traditional materials in a contemporary way and how many other traditional materials have been able to be recycled or restored during the restoration. Booking essential Tours are by arrangement only, to book your place please go to https://www.engineshed. scot/whats-on/ Disabled access - There are two accessible parking bays for blue badge holders located on the street at the front of the building adjacent to the spikey bridge stairs. 10 8. Iris Murdoch Building University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA Doors Open Day 2019 Doors Open Day Saturday 14th September, 10.00am - 2.00pm The Iris Murdoch Building is the home of the Dementia Services Development Centre (DSDC) at the University of Stirling, it is an international centre of excellence whose purpose is to improve lives for people living with dementia, promote creating dementia friendly communities and improving policy and practice.