Lossiemouth has been selected as the hosts for the 2014 ‘Doors Open’ day celebrations in Moray.
Fourteen sites in the town will throw open their doors to the public on Saturday, September 6, allowing people to explore a variety of places of interest.
These will include one of Lossiemouth’s oldest houses, visit the imposing St Gerardine’s High Church or find out about the town’s fishing heritage at the Community and Fisheries Museum.
The Moray public will also be able to visit the Covesea Lighthouse, which only recently has been saved from falling into private hands when people in the town moved to raise sufficient funding to purchase the buildings and open it as a heritage site.
One of the most recent industries in the town will also throw open their doors to the public, with tours of the Windswept Brewing facility included on the day. Entry to all attractions will be free to all as will a ‘walking tour’ of Lossiemouth.
The event is being organised by the Lossiemouth Heritage Association with a spokesman commenting: “This is a great opportunity to promote the rich history and heritage of Lossiemouth.
“Our chairperson Iona Kielhorn will also be opening her home for people to visit – ‘The Hillocks’ was the Lossiemouth home of former Labour Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald and Iona, his granddaughter, is delighted to be able to give people in Moray and beyond the opportunity to see inside his home.”
Open times vary for the individual properties but all will be at some point between 10am and 4pm. Several of the properties are ‘Tours Only Access’ and people need to book a place on a tour in advance for these properties.
Full details are available on the Doors Open Day website www.doorsopendays.org.uk. Leaflets can also be collected at the Elgin and Lossiemouth libraries or by calling 01343 813076 or email to lossiemouthheritageassociation@hotmail.co.uk
Doors Open Day is a Scottish wide initiative to encourage people to explore and discover the architecture, design, buildings, places and spaces right on their doorstep or other parts of Scotland.
The days are coordinated nationally by the Scottish Civic Trust and runs throughout Scotland each September as part of European Heritage Days.
Lossiemouth Doors Open Day – facilities on show:
1. Lossiemouth House (gardens only) 11am – 4pm
2. Lossiemouth Library – history, old maps & plans – 10am – 2.30pm
3. Lossiemouth Town Hall – Old Lossie photos and exhibition of David West paintings – 10am – 4pm
4. Lossiemouth Baptist Church – with coffee morning, 10am – 12noon.
5. St James Church – with soup and sweet, 12noon – 2pm.
6. St Gerardine’s High Church – 10am – 4pm
7. Community and Fisheries Museum – 11.30am – 4pm
8. Lossiemouth Golf Club, family activities at Marine Park – 11am – 4pm
9. St Margaret’s Church – 12noon – 4pm
10. Windswept Brewing Company – tours only, call 01343 814310 to book – 12noon – 4pm
11. The Hillocks, home of Ramsay MacDonald – 10am – 4pm
12. Covesea Lighthouse – tours only, call 01343 810664 to book
13. Lossiemouth Waste Water Treatment Works – tours only, call 01343 815672/815055 to book after 22 August.
14. Lossiemouth Heritage Walks – 11am to 2.30pm meeting at Lossiemouth Library.