The Old School

The last couple of years has brought dramatic change to Saint Andrews Primary School, originally a Roman Catholic school run by nuns. This handsome red sandstone Victorian building has received an injection of new life in the form of eight small businesses taking up residence there. In October 2011 The Old School had been forlornly empty for some years until nine young women moved in and turned it into a place buzzing with creativity.

Within this atmospheric building you will find The Fairy Bodmother with her dance, fitness and nutrition classes, Blusha the makeup artist and wedding specialist, hair styling by Joanne Campbell Hair and beauty therapies from Robyn Elizabeth Beauty. The Art Room offers gifts, crafts, original art and creative workshops. Or you can visit photographer Louise Llewellyn, drama classes and courses from The Drama Company and no-one will want to miss the quirky charm of NonaLou’s tearoom which supplies many homemade treats as well as local produce.

Directions: By car – take the first left after Dumfries Cinema (A781 / A780, Shakespeare Street) onto Brooke Street and continue to the very bottom of the road. The Old School is the large sandstone building on the left. Or from Brooms Road (A756) take a right at the traffic lights after the fire station onto Queen Street then half way up turn right again onto McLellan Street and take another right onto Brooke Street – you can see The Old School from there.

On foot from the town centre – head down Queen Street (past the Queensberry Hotel), cross over Shakespeare Street and pass in front of the Theatre Royal and then turn right onto Brooke Street and continue to the very bottom of the road. The Old School is the large sandstone building on the left.

There is a large car park for all visitors located on the DG One side of The Old School. Drive down Brooke Street then pass in front of the school building on the left to access the car park.