Courts across Scotland have again been taking part in Doors Open Days this September
Doors Open Day is an all-day event which gives the public a chance to see inside buildings, or parts of buildings which are not normally accessible to them. As in the past courts have provided the visiting public with a range of activities to view or take part in.
The final weekend of the 2022 Doors Open Days takes place on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 September.
Elgin Sheriff Court, Stirling Sheriff Court and Parliament House are all taking part on Saturday 24th September.
Guided tours begin at 10am and will be supported by Sheriff Court staff who will provide information about the building and the work that goes on inside. There is also the opportunity to see the cell block! No advance booking required.
Doors open 10am - 3pm
Elgin Sheriff Court
Sheriff Courthouse,
High Street,
Elgin,
IV30 1BU
An opportunity to visit the cells! Popular with all the family, the Category B Listed Sheriff Court is not to be missed. Originally designed by Thomas Brown in 1864 then modified by Wardrop and Reid in 1874-76. Court Room One contains an impressive hammer-beam roof, original seating and hooded canopy above the judge’s bench.
Tours of the court rooms and cell area will last approximately one hour and will take place every half hour. This building is very popular and the tours can be extremely busy, please be aware that you may have to queue and that tours may be closed if maximum numbers are reached.
Doors open - 10am - 4pm
Stirling Sheriff Court
Sheriff Court House,
Viewfield Place,
Stirling,
FK8 1NH
Parliament House is once again hosting a doors open day event where people can visit the historic Parliament Hall. As in prevbious years people will be able to see the re-enactment of an historic trial. This year it is the trial of Madeline Smith.
There will be organised tours of the building covering:
- Parliament Hall,
- Justice and Mercy,
- the box corridor,
- the Laigh Hall,
- old cells including the cell William Burke was held in,
- the condemned cell,
- the rotunda
- the library
The hidden gem exhibition will be on display as well as wigs and robes for people to have their photos taken. There will also be activities for children where they can make their own mace.
The Scottish Sentencing Council will be hosting an interactive quiz to test your knowledge about sentencing in Scotland, and the Scottish Civil Justice Council will have an information stall to find out more about its work.
Doors open 10am - 4pm
Parliament House,
Parliament Square,
Edinburgh,
EH1 1RQ
More information is available on our Doors Open Days webpage.
Even if you can't make it along to one of the court buildings a virtual doors open day which was created during the pandemic and has some exciting online activities and resources for everyone to enjoy.