Aberdeen Doors Open September 2026
Cover: Roger Hinton Above: Andrew Christie 2
Doors Open Days is an annual Scotland-wide initiative providing free access to buildings not normally open to the public. It is intended to promote architecture and heritage sites to a wider audience. It provides an opportunity to discover hidden architectural gems and to see behind doors that are rarely open to the public. In 2026 Doors Open Days in Aberdeen were on 5 and 6 September. A group of members of the Royal Photographic Society from north east Scotland photographed in three participating buildings: - Society of Advocates - Central Mosque - Trinity Church
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Society of Advocates – Advocates’ Hall Advocates’ Hall was built in 1870 to house the Society of Advocates, a professional body of legal practitioners based in the city of Aberdeen and its surrounding area. The Category A listed building was designed by James Matthews, and features a legal library with custom built bookshelves, stencilled ceilings, and a stained-glass window produced by Daniel Cottier.
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Central Mosque The Central Mosque is in a former school building built in1905 which was opened as a mosque in 2022. It provides a place for worship for Muslims, hosting daily prayers, Friday congregational prayer and Eid prayers.The building also contains facilities for education, lectures, weddings and community events.
Trinity Church Built in 1904,Trinity Church was designed by William E Gauld who drew inspiration from the contemporary stylings and functionality of the Neo-Classic Methodist halls that were being constructed elsewhere in the country. In 2018, the building was acquired by the Trinity Church, members of the International Presbyterian Church, who restored and renovated the building, updating and refurbishing its interiors.
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Andrew Christie
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Andy Reader
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Dave Shillabeer
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David Drage
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Jackie Riach
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Kevin Flanagan
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Nigel Corby
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Roger Hinton
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Stephen Lynch
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Back cover: Dave Shillabeer 41