Doors Open Days Comes of Age 


This year’s Doors Open Days in Dumfries and Galloway is officially open with the countdown to the popular weekend event later this month now underway following the celebratory launch at the Mill on the Fleet, Gatehouse of Fleet. Over 34 places to visit will be unlocking all manner of doors throughout the region on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th September, from historic houses to spiritual sanctuaries, museums to lighthouses, archaeological digs to a botanic garden, and working water mills from the past to 21st century sustainability, arts and fun – all offering a varied and fascinating mix for all ages. This year’s ‘Key of the Door’ theme marks the 21st anniversary of Doors Open Days in Scotland, which is co-ordinated nationally by the Scottish Civic Trust. 


Joining GCAT Chairman Cathy Agnew at the special cake cutting ceremony were Maggie Gordon from Barfil Farm, Crocketford, who along with Bob Lee took up the reins of traditional farming 21 years ago, and 21 year old Aaron Edgar, from New Galloway. Aaron is Doors Open Days’ first ever intern as part of two new pioneering initiatives for young people. Recognising the event’s important contribution, Cathy Agnew of the Glenkens Community & Arts Trust (GCAT) said: “As well as inspiring our sense of discovery and civic pride locally, every year Doors Open Days attracts new and returning visitors to the area, which in turn makes a very real contribution to the region’s economy.” 

A former pupil of Kells Primary School, Dalry Secondary School and Castle Douglas High School, Aaron Edgar recently graduated from Stirling University with a BA in Crime and Society and celebrated his 21st birthday less than two weeks ago. Aaron said: “I am grateful for the opportunity to work on the Doors Open Day project and gain valuable experience. It’s a great honour to have been selected as the first DOD intern and I am looking forward to meeting and working with people throughout the region.” Doors Open Days provides free access to buildings, cultural and archaeological sites that members of the public would not normally gain entry to, or where a charge is usually made. 


The event was started 21 years ago by John Gerrard, the former Technical Director at the Scottish Civic Trust, and from early beginnings in Glasgow and Ayr, has snowballed into a Scotland-wide celebration. This year’s event in Dumfries and Galloway was rescued just over two months ago following eleventh-hour funding from Dumfries and Galloway Council and the Holywood Trust and is being delivered by GCAT. 


Full details about this year’s weekend event in Dumfries and Galloway can be found in the new brochure, hot off the press and available at locations throughout the region, or can be downloaded at www.gcatscotland.co.uk. 


Follow Dumfries and Galloway’s Doors Open Days on Facebook and Twitter too. Doors Open Days is part of the European Heritage Days network, which sees similar events take place every September in all 49 European member states, coordinated by the Council of Europe. Information about Doors Open Days in Scotland can be found at www.doorsopendays.org.uk