Doors Open Days is Scotland’s largest free festival that celebrates heritage and the built environment, new and old. Every September, you can explore hundreds of fascinating buildings across Scotland for free. Some open up once a year, some just once in a lifetime.
Doors Open Days is a national event run by the Scottish Civic Trust. Information about the national programme, including event listings, can be found at www.doorsopendays.org.uk.
Programme Highlights:
Greenock - Beacon Arts Centre
A contemporary theatre and arts centre in the heart of Inverclyde by the Greenock waterfront.
Greenock - St Mary's Catholic Church
St Mary's has great historical importance as the 'Mother Parish' of the Catholic Church in Inverclyde and beyond. The present church, designed by George Goldie of London, opened in 1862, replacing the earlier St Mary's in East Shaw Street.
Greenock - Watt Institution
At the heart of Greenock – on the west coast of Scotland – is a complex which celebrates James Watt, learning and local heritage. The Grade ‘A’ Listed Watt Institution is an important building historically, civically, socially and culturally. It houses archives, bequeathed artefacts and world class artwork. The building consists of a series of building housing the Watt Library, the Watt Hall and the McLean museum and art gallery. The buildings cover part of Union Street and Kelly Street in the town.
Greenock - St John the Evangelist
This Episcopal Church is in lovely decorative order. A fine example of Victorian architecture.
Wellpark Mid Kirk
Known affectionately as ‘The Toon Kirk’, Wellpark Mid Kirk is home to a lively congregation which cherishes its building, a handsome classical church with an ionic portico and steeple modelled on St. Martin-in-the Fields. The design for the façade was supplied by Lord Cathcart (apparently obtained in Bristol), the designer of the body of the church was James Ewing.
Wemyss Bay Station
Wemyss Bay Station is a Category A listed building built in 1903 and designed by the architect James Miller. The station was built to facilitate interchange between trains and steamers, through a spectacular glazed concourse and enclosed pier. It remains one of Scotland’s most remarkable stations and was recently judged by architectural critic Sir Simon Jenkins as one of the top ten stations in the UK.
Guided tours of the station are available on Saturday 11 September for small groups. Spaces must be pre-booked by emailing info@friendsofwemyssbaystation.co.uk
For more information on the participating buildings, events & tours, visit www.doorsopendays.org.uk
Where possible we will update our listings to notify of cancelled, postponed and rescheduled events, however we STRONGLY ADVISE that you check with the venue/organiser in the first instance for updates.
All information (whether in text or photographs) is supplied in good faith but should not be relied upon as being a statement of representation or fact.GOT AN EVENT TO SHARE? It's free to post your events on What's On Renfrewshire, click here to find out more!
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