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Douglas Heritage Museum

Learn our story here and come visit us soon.

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Museum Building

The Museum first opened in 1993 in one of the villages oldest buildings: the former Dower House of the now demolished Douglas Castle.

Situated only a few yards from the ancient kirk of St Bride the Dower House was restored to form the Parish School and Schoolhouse.

Later it became the village “Poor’s House” and then, later, it was converted into dwelling houses.

The building remained a dwelling (2 dwellings, in fact) until 1961 when it was restored by the Earl and dedicated as the Episcopal Chapel of St Sophia (replacing the chapel at Douglas Castle which had been demolished the year before).

Services ran in the chapel until 1993 when the building was converted to a heritage museum.

The interior of the building retains much of the character of the chapel with the triptych christening font and stained glass windows (which depict coats of arms of the Earls of Douglas). These all originally came from the private chapel of the Douglas-Home family at the former castle.

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Opening Times

14:00-17:00 Saturday and Sunday from the first weekend in April to the last weekend in September.

Outside of these hours we can open up by appointment.

Please note that St Bride’s Kirk, managed by Historic Environment Scotland, has been closed since 2022 and we remain unaware of when it will reopen.

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