It is hoped that the opening of the Borders Railway will encourage visitors from Edinburgh to come by train to visit Galashiels for next weekend’s Doors Open in the Scottish Borders event.
Nineteen buildings in the town will throw open their doors, offering a variety of complimentary events alongside access to some truly wonderful properties as part of the nationally co-ordinated Doors Open Days, organised by the Scottish Civic Trust and which runs throughout September each year as part of the European Heritage Days initiative.
The new Galashiels Transport Interchange will act as the base for the Doors Open Day, with information available there on participating properties.
Doors Open Day highlights include; the new Galashiels Transport Interchange, the Army Reserve Centre and Air Cadets HQ, the Lucy Sanderson Hall, the Gala Fairydean Rovers stand and Gala Mill. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are also having an Emergency Services Open Day at their station in the town.
At 2pm there will be a one-hour guided walk starting from Galashiels Transport Interchange looking at historic buildings.
The events have been organised by Energise Galashiels in partnership with Scottish Borders Council (SBC).
Ranald Boydell from Energise Galashiels said: “It’s fantastic to have so many interesting buildings in the town open to the public on a single day. The opportunity to see inside, and in some cases behind the scenes, in these properties is not to be missed.”
Councillor Ron Smith, SBC’s Executive Member for Planning and Environment, added: “Doors Open Day is a wonderful opportunity for visitors to explore Galashiels in greater depth than usual, and for local people to get the chance to see inside many well-known properties which may not normally open to the public.”
More information on opening times and the events on offer in Galashiels can be found at www.doorsopendays.org.uk
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
