Browse Items (4104 total)

In 1903 Lint Riggs was reconstructed using design parameters laid down by burgh engineer David Ronald and it is consequently the most architecturally consistent street in the area with a Continental feel. The dominant building is the Masonic Temple…

Completed in 1814 according to designs by David Hamilton of Glasgow the Steeple is the iconic landmark of the town. 140ft tall, it has four stages – the bottom being severe Florentine; the second Greek Doric; the third or clock chamber Italianate;…

As part of the Falkirk Townscape Heritage Initiative there will be a temporary exhibition and a guided walk to illustrate and explore the living architecture of the shops in the town centre. The THI is funded by Falkirk Council, HLF, Historic…

This cast iron gateway is said to be one of the largest ever made. It consists of two massive columns, pilastered with ornamental panels, and weighing fully 4.5 tons each. A semi-circular arch stands on consoled corbels, with an entablature weighing…

The large athletics stadium at Grangemouth was officially opened on 9th July 1966 and its inclusion in Doors Open Days is part of the 50th anniversary celebrations. The venue rapidly became a national centre for events and in 1967 the Scottish…

The Hippodrome is Scotland's oldest surviving purpose built cinema, designed by local architect Matthew Steele in 1911 in response to a commission from film-maker Louis Dickson, who wanted somewhere to show his films. The building's most notable…

Jacobethan style mansion with central battlemented tower, port-cochere entrance and, within, an impressive vaulted hallway, grand stair and minstrel's gallery. A walled garden and stable block lie adjacent ( neither 'open'). The house was built for…

The ruins of the 12th century church associated with the village of Kinneil lie just west of Kinneil House. The west gable stands full height, with rows of putlog holes and a double bellcote. It is first mentioned in the 6th century in connection…

Set within a carefully designed park landscape Kinneil House or Palace was built for James Hamilton the second Earl of Arran when he was the Protector and Governor of Scotland from 1542 to 1554 during the minority of Mary, Queen of Scots. For a few…

A striking little modern church with an unusual drum feature on the street frontage. It replaces the original early 20C building.

This B-Listed Gothic-style church, prominent at this road junction includes a square and finialled tower and belfry on the roadside corner to a substantial entrance gable. The roof-line sweeps down over the side aisles. Originally built for the…

In the 17th century Larbert Church was caught up in national politics. King James VI exiled Reverend Robert Bruce of Kinnaird to his home parish. Bruce naturally started to preach from the pulpit of the old semi-deserted church, fulfilling the roll…

Adjacent to the parish church is a burial ground whose magnificent monuments neatly illustrate the advent of the Industrial Revolution in Scotland. They are dominated by those relating to the Carron Ironworks, which was established in 1759. The large…

Built alongside the Dobbie Hall in 1904 and designed by the same architects, A & W Black, the former library building reflects the hall’s rich façade. It is one of 2509 libraries around the world built between 1883 and 1929 with money donated by…

Two Gothic gables present to the main road, the larger to the main church and the smaller to the original church (1898, now the church hall).

Erected for 409 Lodge Douglas in an Arts and Crafts style with significant Egyptian elements. The main hall still has its orignal internal decoration. This little building is considered to be Steele's best work (despite the higher B listing given to…

The housing complex at 43-51 Corbiehall is known locally as the “Coffin Block” due to the shape of the doorways. It was designed in 1932 by Matt Steele for Bo’ness Town Council and comprises of two large 3-storey L-plan blocks with canted corners…

This 20C complex includes the Town Hall, District Court and the main 4 storey office block linked to the Councillor / Committee Wing. Opening will be restricted to this latter portion contains the Committee Suite and Council Chambers, and has a style…

This unimposing Grangemouth warehouse is a veritable treasure house! Like many museums, Falkirk Council is only able to exhibit a small fraction of its fascinating collection of objects at any one time, and the remaining items are held here.

See a veritable treasure trove of museum objects from the Falkirk Museums collection, housed in this unimposing Grangemouth warehouse, for future generations to appreciate.

One of 4 new school buildings designed in the same architectural style under a Public-Private Finance Initiative. 3 storey crisply articulated T-block, top-lit with a strong gable treatment at its northern end.

This building together with a swimming pool were originally planned for the town centre but are now both located in Camelon close to each other. The purpose of the court building is reflected in the stern symmetry of the frontage facade which makes…

Listed Category C/S, 1879 This building presently houses the Falkirk Registrars' Office, the Marriage Room being located in the former Council Chamber. No Disabled Access to Marriage Room.

The Carron office block was designed by Robert Baldie in 1880. Originally fifty three bays long, the central tower gatehouse, known locally as Thunderbird 3, is all that now remains.The ground floor has a moulded segmental pend arch; the first floor…

This very large and prominent building in the Gothic style, built to replace the original, has an aisled and cruciform plan and some important stained glass. The church hall to the rear is by Matthew Steele.

Listed Category B, c 1870 Occupying the former Aitken Brewery site this building was designed by Thomas Brown in Baronial-Jacobean style (crow stepped gables and conical roofed turrets) to replace temporary hostelry accommodation for the new post of…

This pleasance low white rendered building creates a single precinct with the Priests House which along with the substantial boundary wall partially conceals it from the main road.

Originally McLaren Memorial Church (amalgamated with Carron Church, demolished 1963) this building shows similarities to Carronvale House by the same architect, eg a flavouring of Arts-and-Crafts, open timber-work porches and small paned windows.…

Iconic domed stone structure carved into pineapple shape. The building, originally attached to glass hot-houses, forms part of enclosure to former walled garden. Restored in 1972 by Landmark Trust to include holiday accommodation to rear.

Built in 1732 to a design by William Adam this is a typical T-shaped church of the Presbyterian form. The south façade contains two large round-headed windows with remnants of the former tracery. The pulpit stood in the centre of the south wall,…

This Romanesque church with its two eastern clasping towers is a familiar sight to travellers of the adjacent M9 motorway. It is claimed to be the only parish church in Scotland with two towers and was built in 1840 to a design by Edinburgh architect…

Her Majesty's Young Offenders Institution Polmont is Scotland's national facility for young men aged between 16 and 21 years who are committed to custody on remand (untried) and convicted sentences. The Scottish Government invested in a comprehensive…

Randolph Hill, home to Strathcarron Hospice since the 1970s, was built in 1912 by William Wallace, the general manager and director of Carrongrove Papermill. The building was designed by architect E. Simpson of Stirling in the latest style of…

The Rosebank Distillery building, mothballed by United Distillers in 1995, but still containing the vats, storage tanks, whiskey safe and stills.

James Aitken began practising as a lawyer in Falkirk in 1792 and in 1818 was joined by James Russel. The premises, from the very beginning, were in Kings Court – named after a public house called the King’s Arms. The firm of Russel + Aitken is…

In the heart of the new Forth Valley Royal Hospital, the Scottish Centre for Simulation & Clinical Human Factors is a state-of-the-art multi-professional training facility and the only high fidelity simulation centre in Scotland. It was…

Bo’ness Station is dominated by the 8-bay Haymarket Shed with its fluted cast iron columns supporting an elliptical arched arcade with decorative spandrels. As well as this famous Shed the train enthusiasts of the SRPS have amassed a huge range of…

This tall red sandstone building with its 130ft tall spire dominates Newmarket Street. The use of red-snecked rubble makes it stand out from the neighbouring buildings. Above the entrance is a fine Burning Bush sculpture. The foundation stone for…

This tall red sandstone building with its 130ft tall spire dominates Newmarket Street. The use of red-snecked rubble makes it stand out from the neighbouring buildings. Above the entrance is a fine Burning Bush sculpture. The foundation stone for…

Designed in 1905 by J N Scott and A Lorne Campbell in the perpendicular style the church has Art Nouveau details. The three stage tower contains the entrance under a square moulded hood. The tower is finished with a battlemented parapet and a green…

This small homely building is in the Romanesque or Norman style and its most prominent feature is the use of slate in the arched windows and door heads. It was built in 1921, as testified by the foundation stone in the north wall of the angular…

This unusual church was designed by Gillespie, Kidd and Coia in 1960-1 and includes a presbytery to the rear. From outside the distinguishing features are the use of banded yellow firebrick, irregular rectilinear windows, deep wooden boarding and…

This church and priest's house is one of a number of buildings by the experimental Glasgow architect Jack Coia and his practice, and a unique example of a Category A listing of a 'modernist' building. The design of the abstract flat roof brick…

Completed in 1814 according to designs by David Hamilton of Glasgow, the Steeple is the iconic landmark of the town. 140ft tall, it has four stages – the bottom being severe Florentine; the second Greek Doric; the third or clock chamber Italianate;…

The foundation stone for the new Falkirk Town Mission was laid on 10th September 1898. Amazingly, almost all of the money for it, about £1600, was raised at a grand bazaar in the Town Hall that year.The original plans by Alexander Gauld were modified…

The Barony Theatre building was erected in the 1880s as Borrowstoun Primary School. It is a typical stone building of the School Board era in plain Scottish Baronial style.Since the early 1960s, the Barony Players have made a number of internal…

Large Victorian villa extended upwards (Matthew Steele 1907) with striking columned and domed corner turret and cantilevered Tudor billiard room.

Torwood or Tappoch Broch is probably the best preserved of all the Lowland brochs with walls over 10ft high. It stands at the high point overlooking the Roman road to Stirling and with panoramic views across the Forth Valley. Due to its strategic…

A walk through the history of the town inevitably starts at the old parish church. The town of Falkirk owes its name to the church, which is believed to date back to the 7th century. However, the oldest part of the existing building is the base of…

Watling Lodge is a finely detailed and well-preserved example of a late 19th century Arts and Crafts villa, with the added importance of being constructed directly upon one of the best preserved stretches of the Antonine Wall. The villa was built in…

This unusual asymmetrical grouping in grey ashlar replaced the original in Zetland Place. It has a cruciform plan and is dominated by a parapeted and perforated main tower and slender stair tower. Visitors to this venue may take the opportunity to…

Designed by William Black of Messrs A. & W. Black, architects, Falkirk, the Erskine Church was built in 1905. It is in the Gothic style of architecture of the Perpendicular period, with a square tower at the south-west corner some 90 ft tall. The…

The Falkirk Townscape Initiative is a grant-giving scheme funded by Falkirk Council, HLF, Historic Environment Scotland and others, that has seen £5.5 million invested in Falkirk Town Centre between 2013 and 2018. The aim is to help regenerate the…

The buildings were designed for the sloping site in Gauze Road by Alison, Hutchison & Partners in 1972 for Central Regional Council and opened in 1976. The exterior features an open scale and platt staircase and ramp access to the main entrance…

In the west wing of Callendar House lies the Searchroom for Falkirk Archives, containing collections relating to the Falkirk area and its people.It is located in the oldest part of the house. When the Forbes family was in residence it was used as a…

Falkirk Stadium is home to the Scottish Championship club, Falkirk FC, and has a capacity of 7,937.Work began on building the stadium in 2003 after Brockville Park, the club's town centre home since 1885, was sold and demolished. The new stadium was…

Forth Valley Sensory Centre are the proud beneficiaries of the “Adopt a Sculpture” programme. A fabulous tactile sculpture called “Big Wave Vortex”, by Tom Allan, is now located within the Sensory Garden located next to the Centre.The Garden provides…

Adam Smith Global Foundation offers you an opportunity to explore their exciting Heritage Centre and Timeline, created to celebrate Kirkcaldy’s most famous son, the economist and moral philosopher, Adam Smith, in his 18th Century town birthplace.…

Located in Kirkcaldy's town centre, the Adam Smith Theatre is a popular venue in a traditional setting, well-loved for its high-quality shows, full-scale cinema and long history as the heart of the local arts scene.

The Church and Crypt underwent major renovations and restoration in 2017. Visitors will be able to view and tour the church and grounds. The local History Group have produced a booklet detailing the history of the church and the surrounding area,…

The Kirk invites you to enjoy peaceful contemplation in this beautiful setting. See our wonderful stained glass war memorial window, 17thC grave slabs, carved stone font and 1886 organ. All are welcome in this place.

"Island Jewels of the Forth" - an island hopping tour which shines a spotlight on the now mainly deserted islands from Bass Rock at mouth of the Forth westwards to the iconic Forth Bridge. Exhibition examines their character, rich natural heritage…

Dysart Tolbooth was built in the late 16th century and visitors will be able to access the former prison cell. The 19th century Town Hall holds the permanent exhibition of the Dysart Trust which features fascinating items from Dysart’s industrial…

A church has stood on this site since 1126 when Robert, Archbishop of St Andrews, granted the land to the Abbey of Dunfermline. The original building, which was dedicated to St Glastian, has had many alterations since then. The current building…

Experience Kirkcaldy’s heritage inside the oldest building in town in continuous use. View the beautiful stained glass windows by Burne-Jones and William Morris, newly restored, and Crear McCartney; hear the stories of Kirkcaldy’s famous folk – the…

Law’s Close, known locally as “The Merchants House” is a Category ‘A’ listed building and one of the best preserved 16th century town houses in Scotland. Situated on the High Street in Kirkcaldy with views across the Firth of Forth towards Edinburgh.…

The Willie Clarke Centre at Lochore Meadows Country Park is the hub of all activities within the park. We are keen that visitors are given the opportunity to appreciate the buildings setting in the park and its flexibility for use for a variety of…

In our Heritage Centre we have 6 monthly exhibitions. We have workshops on regularly and we do talks and outreach. We also have class visits from local schools. We have an extensive Archive and deal with many enquiries from both home and abroad.

Rothes Halls is an entertainment and conference venue located right in the centre of Glenrothes, adjoining the Kingdom Shopping Centre. Its vibrant programme includes popular music, big-name comedy, drama, dance and children's shows and large-scale,…

Laying on the mediaeval pilgrimage route from Culross to St Andrews Kinglassie has a little known spring called Finglassin's or St Glass’s well and it is highly likely that pilgrims would have stopped here to slake their thirst.With the official…

Scotland's first Coptic Church serves a congregation of people from 15 nationalities including Scottish, Irish, Egyptian, Swedish, Sudanese, Lebanese, Spanish and Korean. The congregation comes to Kirkcaldy every Sunday morning from all over Scotland…

There are records of a church at Markinch dating from the time of MacBeth but the present church tower was built in the first half of the 12th century. Pieces of Norman decoration still survive. It is believed to be one of the oldest buildings in…

The history of the building is bound up with Dysart House as It once served as offices and laundry for the Sinclair and Nairn families. From 1930 it was the laundry for the Carmelite Monastery. Kirkcaldy Art Club bought the building in 1970 for £150!…

Built between 1592-1595, this is the oldest post reformation church still in use in Scotland. Burntisland Parish Church is also known as the 'Kirk of the Bible' because King James VI of Scotland held the General Assembly here in May 1601 where he…

There is only one example of Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s work on the east coast of Scotland and it can be seen in Dysart St Clair Church of Scotland. The murals will be on show from 12 noon, after the morning service.

Monimail Tower Project is a small charity and community living in a beautiful walled garden and orchard set around a medieval tower dating to the 13th century. Monimail was an estate belonging to William Lamberton (Bishop of St. Andrews 1298-1328)…

Earthship Fife is the only building of its kind in Scotland – a sustainability model made from car tyres and waste with renewable energy, self contained water and sewage systems. Needs to be seen to be believed!Tours of the Earthship will take place…

The Museum Bus will be on site and open for Doors Open Day at Lochore Meadows Country Park and will have a Museum Exhibition on the recently opened Fife Pilgrim Way. https://www.onfife.com/museums-galleries/schools-and-groups/mac-fifes-mobile-museum

Started in 1876 by Dora, the eldest daughter of James Hay Erskine Wemyss, of Wemyss Castle, the school was modelled on the Royal School of Needlework in London; but with a partisan purpose. The Wemyss School sought to teach a skill to local girls…

Wheelchairs are welcome and disabled parking will be provided close to the amenities. Wheelchair access to toilets, tearoom, platform, station building and workshop. However our heritage coach on the train unfortunately does not have wheelchair…

The Centre currently offers a wide variety of activities to include:• Learning for Work (Adult Certificated Courses) • Learning for Leisure (Adult Non-Certificated Courses) • Sport and Fitness Classes • Learning for Fun (Children's Classes) •…

The original Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court building was built in 1894, and opened in May of that year. A modern extension was added in 1982, providing additional court rooms, chambers and a room (with library) for the use the local faculty of solicitors.

Come and see the largest collection of Pictish carvings anywhere – still in the place where they were made over 1500 years ago. As well as telling the story of the caves our brand-new Museum & Visitor Centre has displays and information on local…

PLEASE NOTE COLLESSIE WILL TAKE PART IN THE EAST AREA EVENTS ON SUNDAY 1st SEPTEMBER AND NOT 8th SEPTEMBER AS ERRONEOUSLY LISTED IN THE PRINTED BROCHURE

Come to the University's Archaeology Room to see and handle examples of prehistoric worked flint and Cypriot artefacts such as pottery vessels, lamps, figurines and votive offerings. The objects, dating from the Palaeolithic to the Byzantine period,…

Cults Kirk is a well preserved 18th century Presbyterian Church (‘B’ Listed) in a beautiful location. Christian worship has taken place on this site for more than one thousand years. Sir David Wilkie R.A., born in the manse, was a child when the Kirk…

Housed in weavers’ cottages and the historic Weigh House, in the beautiful village of Ceres, the Fife Folk Museum has over 10,000 objects and artefacts on display. Our small independent museum is manned by volunteers and offers a warm welcome. This…

Over the weekend, we’ll be opening buildings normally kept under lock and key on the island. This includes access to the main Stevenson lighthouse (access to the top), the 1634 Beacon (Scotland’s oldest lighthouse), the Low Lighthouse (access to the…

The King James Library was founded in 1612 with the patronage of James VI & I. The Library is in the north range of St Mary's College quadrangle, above Parliament Hall. Distinguished scientist James Gregory, first Regius Professor of Mathematics…

You will be given a warm welcome to this old village church, which dates from 1631. Come to enjoy short organ recitals or ask to hear your favourite hymn. Explore the historic churchyard with our quiz. Refreshments served for a donation to church…

The current building of Largo Parish Church dates from 1620 with a number of alterations over the years. Major restoration in 2015-17 involved external stonework repairs and work on the stained glass and leaded windows. There is a wealth of local…

Standing on the site of the University's oldest college, this impressive wood-paneled room was originally used for classes and examinations. It was renamed ‘Parliament Hall’ after the Scottish Parliament sat here in 1645-1646 during an outbreak of…

Discover the charm of this 15th century Gatehouse rebuilt by Bishop James Kennedy. The Priory of Pittenweem thrived from the 13th century until the Reformation. Let your steward explain its links with the Isle of May and St Andrews Cathedral. Efforts…

This room is named after the Senatus Academicus, the supreme body of the University responsible for regulating teaching and discipline and approving degrees. The interior was re-designed by Sir Robert Rowand Anderson in 1897-8. It contains fine…

Enter this deceptively large interior and admire the wood carvings by Robert Lorimer, who lived at nearby Kellie Castle, as well as the splendid stained glass, both old and contemporary. Younger visitors may enjoy counting how many angels they can…

A picturesque red-brick church with a vaulted interior, designed in late Victorian Gothic style by eminent Dundee Architect Thomas Cappon in 1896, and featuring a variety of texture and colour, use of timber, and intricate window tracery. The church…

This has been a religious site since 1607 but the present structure dates from 1794. It is a distinctive local landmark, particularly because of its leaning tower. The church contains a Miller pipe organ installed in 1899. Auld Kirk is developing as…

The old Tayport Burgh Chambers are opened especially for Doors Open events. Take the opportunity to visit the old JP Courtroom and view pictures, historical maps, information, regalia and documents. The garden will also be open for you to enjoy.