Dozens of places in Dumfries and Galloway are taking part in this weekend’s Doors Open Days.
It is the chance to visit historic sites, museums, castles, religious sites, arts, cultural and visitor attractions for free and some also have online contributions for those who can’t travel.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is hosting a tour of Troqueer Cemetery in Dumfries – between 10am and 3pm tomorrow and on Sunday – which is noted as the resting place of a number of Norwegian soldiers billeted in the town during the Second World War.
Adjacent to the River Nith, it is the final resting place of 62 First and Second World War service personnel, 18 foreign nationals, two Italian and eight German prisoners of war.
There will be the chance to find out more about the history and works of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and there is a 10-minute talk about those buried.
The Scottish Military Vehicle Group will be in attendance with three WW2 vehicles and Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum has provided photographs taken of the cemetery during some of the burials.
Tickets to attend can be booked at wwww.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cwgc-tours-troqueer-cemetery-tickets-167484108477
Lincluden Collegiate Church, which is cared for by Historic Environment Scotland, is also open on both days.
Originally founded as a Benedictine nunnery in the 1160s, the existing building dates to 1400 and is thought to have been constructed for Archibald The Grim, Lord of Galloway, by Frenchman John Morrow, one of the finest master masons in Scotland.
Although the church is in ruins, it still represents some of the best Gothic architecture in Scotland and contains the monumental tomb of Archibald’s wife, Princess Margaret, who died in 1450.
Also in Dumfries are behind the scenes tours, between 10am and 1pm tomorrow, of Scotland’s oldest working theatre built in 1792 in Shakespeare Street which has links to Robert Burns and JM Barrie.
Bought by the Guild of Players in 1859, the Theatre Royal underwent a complete refurbishment in 2015.
JM Barrie also has strong links to Moat Brae, Scotland’s National Centre for Children’s Literature and Storytelling in George Street, Dumfries, and there will be free entry to the Neverland Garden and bistro for Doors Open Days.
Gracefield Arts Centre will open tomorrow from 11am to 4pm with artists from the printmakers workshop offering a chance to explore their studio.
The gallery will be also be showing: Kate Downie: Between Season and 20/20 Re:Vision, A Retropsective by Freda Blackwood. Half hour timed visits must be booked in advance online at dgculture.co.uk or at 01387 262084.
Other venues in Nithsdale are the category A listed rare Cruck Cottage at Torthorwald – from 11am to 4pm both days – cared for by volunteers on a heritage committee who will be giving guided tour of the cottage and hope to provide live music, and demonstrations of local crafts.
Also, the Dunscore Heritage Centre – 10am to 5pm tomorrow and 1pm to 5pm on Sunday – houses a touch-screen interactive display, photos and articles about the village history and WWII Hero of the Holocaust, Jane Haining.
Tomorrow, at 2pm, there will be a talk in the church about Haining and on Sunday, also at 2pm, a guided walk round the village Memory Trail including the site of the library started by Robert Burns, the Hearse House, and the Auschwitz Oak.
HES are opening Morton Castle at Morton Loch, Carronbridge, Thornhill, on both days.
There are also six places to visit in Annandale with the Annan Harbour Trust tomorrow – from 10am to 4pm – providing tours of the harbour and short talks on local clipper ship buildings, Solway salmon fishing, development of the shell fisheries and fish processing in Annan.
In Lockerbie, Dryfesdale Cemetery Lodge Visitor Centre trustees will be available from 12pm to 2pm on both days providing information on the Lockerbie Air Disaster Memorial and Garden of Remembrance.
Also near Lockerbie is the Hallmuir Ukrainian POW Chapel which is open both days from 11am to 5pm with guided tours. Built in 1942, the prefabricated hut is adapted from barracks to a place of worship with a simple screen enclosing the altar and tabernacle of a Ukrainian type cathedral.
A second barrack has been upgraded to provide facilities to visitors.
The shattered remains of Lochmaben Castle,built by an English occupying force in the 1300s under Edward 1, can also be visited on both days to be viewed from the outside only.
The castle withstood several sieges and attacks before falling to the Scots in 1385 and became a royal possession in 1445. Abandoned in the 1700s, its stones were taken for use in local buildings and today stands among attractive woodland next to a loch.
Another Annandale historic property to visit on a tour by request, between 10am and 3pm tomorrow and Sunday, is the Thomas Carlyle birthplace museum. One of the most prolific writers and social commentators of the 19th century. Carlyle was born and raised in the Arched House on the High Street in Ecclefechan in 1795, which was constructed by his father and uncle – both local stonemasons.
There is also the Merkland Cross at Woodhouse Farm, Kirkpatrick Fleming, to visit on both days. It is one of the best preserved medieval wayside crosses in Scotland with a range of local traditions regarding its origins.
Doors Open Days is Scotland’s largest free festival of places, history and culture.
And according to Dumfries and Galloway co-ordinator Mick McLeod there will be 37 sites across the region taking part with the full programme online at www.facebook.com/doorsopendaysDG/.
“It’s truly fulfilling to engage with visitors.”
