A WIDE range of famed historical buildings and places of interest in Helensburgh will open their doors this weekend, writes David Carnduff.

The two-day “Doors Open Days” festival on Saturday and Sunday will give people the chance to see inside almost a dozen places which are normally closed to the public.

Guided tours of several locations have been arranged as well as a series of town walking tours when the history of several burgh mansions will be described.

The festival will be launched on Friday at 10am in Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre (originally Clyde Street School), followed by talk on the History of Helensburgh by Stewart Noble.

Although this is a free event, it is preferred that you book at abcdoorsopenday.eventbrite.co.uk

Included in the list of buildings throwing open their doors are the historic Lomond School buildings.

Clarendon House, or Torwood Villa, as it was originally named, was home to the Rickey family and later the Singer family until 1937 when it was bought by the Girls School Company and became home to St Bride’s School.

The two extensions built on the mid 19th century building were designed by Scottish architect, William Leiper in 1888 and 1891.

During the Second World War, it was commandeered by the Royal Navy, and Wrens were based there for five years.

In 1977 St Bride’s joined with Larchfield School to form Lomond School.

Meanwhile, news that St Peter’s Seminary, in Cardross, was opening to the public created huge public interest and a limited supply of free tickets for walking tours of the seminary were snapped up with a week.

The seminary, now regarded as one of the best examples of post-war architecture in Scotland, was designed by Andy MacMillan and Isi Metzstein of Gillespie, Kidd and Coia, and was built in 1966 as a college to train young priests.

In Helensburgh, the Mackintosh Club in Sinclair Street will also open its doors for the event. The gallery at the premises will be open from 11am-3pm on both days and will enable visitors to see a permanent exhibition on the building’s history and the work of the “Glasgow Four” – Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Herbert Macnair and their wives, sisters Margaret and Frances MacDonald.

Helensburgh’s former Clyde Street School, which was designed in 1903 by Helensburgh architect and artist Alexander Nisbet Paterson and has been transformed into the Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre will also feature.

Other locations taking part are Helensburgh Parish Church, the Hill House, St Michael and All Angels Church.

A little further afield, you’ll also be able to visit two churches in Cardros – Cardross Parish Church and St Mahew’s RC Church – along with the Royal Northern and Clyde Yacht Club in Rhu, Rhu and Shandon Parish Church, and Strathleven House in Dumbarton.

The annual Doors Open Days festival, organised by the Scottish Civic Trust, is Scotland’s largest festival celebrating heritage and the built environment.

For more information, go to www.doorsopendays.org.uk

See also www.helensburgh-heritage.co.uk