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Old Gala House

Art museums and galleries in ScotlandCategory A listed buildings in the Scottish BordersGalashielsHouses in the Scottish BordersListed houses in Scotland
Local museums in ScotlandMuseums in the Scottish Borders
Old gala house by night
Old gala house by night

Old Gala House is a museum and conference centre situated in the Old Town area of Galashiels in the Scottish Borders. The building was originally built as a tower house in 1457 by the Hoppringill (Pringle) family, who had been granted the lands of Gala by the Earl of Douglas. In 1583, Andrew Hoppringill carried out much improvement and extended the house as his family home. Further expansion took place in 1611, before Andrew returned to live at the family seat of Smailholm Tower in 1635, when his daughter, Jean, married Hugh Scott. A ceiling painting was rediscovered in 1952 celebrating that marriage. Hugh Scott, the new laird, carried out more improvements and extended the house. Further extensions were carried out in the 17th and 18th centuries, completing the edifice we see today. The five bay, U-shaped house is built of rubblestone and is embraced on three sides by gardens complete with water features. In 1872, Hugh Scott 9th of Gala commissioned Scottish architect David Bryce to design and build a new house. On completion the family moved to New Gala House, abandoning the old house. New Gala House was demolished in 1985 around the time the Scottish Borders Council renovated the old house and converted it to a venue. As well as being a museum and conference centre, the house plays a role in the graduation ceremonies of the local university and also caters for all forms of meetings including marriages. The house also holds the archives of Borders Family History Society.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Old Gala House (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 55.6139 ° E -2.8089 °
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Address

Old Gala House

Scott Crescent
TD1 3JU , Old Town
Scotland, United Kingdom
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Website
liveborders.org.uk

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Old gala house by night
Old gala house by night
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Nearby Places

Borders College
Borders College

Borders College (Scottish Gaelic: Colaiste nan Crìochan) is a further education institution in the Scottish Borders, Scotland. Its main campus is located in Galashiels. Additionally, the college maintains secondary campuses at Hawick, Tweedbank and Newtown St. Boswells. The college was founded in 1984, by a merger of four pre-existing institutions: the Agricultural Centre at Newtown St. Boswells, Duns Agricultural Centre, Galashiels Technical College, and Henderson Technical College. The Galashiels campus has a Technology Enhanced Care Hub and the Hawick campus has a Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) Hub.Borders College former Principals: Angela Cox (30/01/2017 – 4/09/2022). Elizabeth Anne McIntyre (14/08/2006 – 04/12/2016). Dr Robert Boyd Murray (01/04/1997 – 02/08/2006). Robert Campbell Pearson (16/8/1980 – 31/03/1997). Borders College Honorary Fellows: Jodie Millar (2022). Virginia Grant (2021). Ross Dickinson (2020). Nick Bannerman (2019). Doddie Weir OBE (2018). David Stevenson CBE (2017). Wilma Gunn MBE (2016). Rosamund de la Hey (2015). Catherine Maxwell Stuart (2014). Chris Paterson MBE (2013). Andrew Grant (2012). John Collins (2011). John Alistair Buchan (2010). Gregor Townsend (2009). David A G Kilshaw OBE (2008). Ian Stark OBE (2007). Tony Taylor OBE (2006). Bob Kay CBE (2005). Jill Douglas (2004). Andrew L Tulley MBE JP (2003). Sir David Steel (2002). Sir Archy Kirkwood (2001) Barbara Baker (2000). John Cleland (1999). Keith Geddes CBE (1998).