A CHAIN of light is to be formed using 25 historic sites across the Scottish Borders in a signature event for Scotland’s Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology.
Lighting the Borders will re-enact the lighting of signal fires from the time of the Border Reivers and will see sites such as the Border Abbeys, Mary Queen of Scots House and Floors Castle flooded with blue light for three nights from September 1-3.
The event will open this year’s Scottish Borders Heritage Festival and 11 of the flood-lit sites will host special free and ticketed events over the three days, including music, theatre and living history.
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As part of Lighting the Borders the Scottish Vocal Ensemble will perform at Neidpath Castle, near Peebles, a lantern parade and Covenanter’s Conventicle will take place at Duns Law in Berwickshire, and a Norman feast and music will be held at Riddell Tower, near Lilliesleaf.
To light Floors Castle, Scotland’s largest inhabited castle, every shutter will be closed and special film placed over the floodlights. It will be the first time the castle, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe, has been lit in this way.
“In addition to the lighting element, this opening event sees a remarkable variety of events taking place in historic sites across the Borders, including mass choirs, re-enactments and torchlight parades,” said Ewan Jackson, chief executive of Live Borders.
“This will highlight in so many ways the rich history, heritage and archaeology of the Scottish Borders and we hope to welcome visitors from across Scotland and beyond for the start of the Borders Heritage Festival, and right throughout September at the numerous events taking place.”
Those attending the events and capturing the unique lighting of sites are encouraged to share their images using the hashtags #BheritageF17 and #HHA2017.
The Scottish Borders Heritage Festival, which runs throughout September and includes over 200 events, is being delivered by Live Borders in partnership with Scottish Borders Council and the Borders Heritage Forum. Funding for the festival has been provided by Creative Scotland, Museums and Galleries Scotland, EventScotland as part of the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology, as well as the Fallago Environment Fund.
A full programme of events, including details of all the sites taking part in Lighting the Borders can be found online by clicking this link.
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