Applegarth Hall

06/10/2026

Hedgehog house, flatpack from Dumfries Car Boot Sales. Might make a tunnel tomorrow, but it has a baffle inside, so may not be necessary

01/10/2026

When operated at full capacity this data centre would use the energy equivalent to over two million homes.

Its emissions would exceed the legal limit in Dumfries and Galloway by almost double.

This application must be rejected.

29/09/2026

Wow.

This picture sums up the composite feeling of:
Excitement
Dread
Relief
Awe
Fear

SPAB | The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings expect a morning call to your wonderful free helpline very soon!

27/09/2026

SHUTTLE STORIES is a new venture by Wigtown Book Festival where passengers travel to and from Wigtown on a shuttle bus with storytellers or performers entertaining them on their journey.

I had the delightful privilege of travelling with Scots poet, children’s author, singer, and ghost whisperer Susi Briggs (here signing the copy of her book ‘Wheesht!’ which I purchased from publisher Foggie Toddle Books for the children’s section of Applegarth Hall’s Library of Alternative Realities), and storyteller DJ McDowall DJ McDowall - community development practitioner, creative provocateur and - with Pride of Place Dumfries & Galloway - reclaimer of Scottish histories, in particular those of the Scottish women executed as witches. Fascinating stuff, particularly the evidence-based approach using archive material that suggests far more intent than simply a product of quaint old-fashioned superstition.

If you want to book a ticket for one of the next Shuttle Stories, there is a 10% off discount code on the DG Unlimited dg_unlimited1 website

23/09/2026

More excitement at Applegarth Hall… the cement pointing on the solid wall store building is going to come off easily. What a relief to see the lime mortar in behind!

19/09/2026

Return visit today, to MERZ Gallery in Sanquhar, who had a stall at our Doors Open Days Scotland exhibition. ‘Heroes’ is an exhibition by Monika Skarzynska whose art is inspired by the heroism of Palestinians in Gaza, and an exhibition of zines by Coastal Lines Press who disseminate art produced by artists and writers in Gaza, to allow their work and words to be heard, despite the destruction and chaos.
You can find them in Substack - or, better still, go to the exhibition yourself. It is on tomorrow (Sunday 20th September) 11am-4pm. There you can buy them direct from Gaza with nothing but a QR code

16/09/2026

DOORS OPEN DAYS
EXHIBITION OF LIVING ALTERNATIVES

A very big THANK YOU to everyone who contributed to Applegarth Hall's first Doors Open Days - Exhibition of Living Alternatives event at the beginning of September, and helped to make it a success.

Thank you to Doors Open Days for organising such a cool event, making it inclusive, making it free, and inadvertently making it dovetail so closely with Applegarth Hall's alternative and cultural heritage philosophies.

Thank you to the visitors who came to the event, all of whom provided fascinating input about their own living alternatives, joined the mailing list, signed the visitors book, bought refreshments, etc. You brought the event to life, and we hope to see you all again soon. Please keep in touch! You can Like and Follow this page, and also follow on Instagram.

Thank you to the Faslane Peace Camp representatives who travelled all the way from Helensborough, set up a beautiful colourful stall heralding PEACE, and also helped with the vegan catering.
Promoting peace is enough in itself, but as the longest-running peace camp in the world, Faslane represents a unique element of Scotland's cultural heritage, and is the epitome of the 'living alternatives' we wanted our exhibition to showcase. Follow their updates by joining Faslane Peace Camp Revival 2026, and if you are in the area, there is a weekly vigil outside the base (north Gate) every Wednesday from 4-5pm.

Thank you to MERZ Workshop, who, like Applegarth Hall, are combining heritage buildings, upcycling and repurposing, and the arts. Their stand showcased past events at MERZ Gallery in Sanquhar. This weekend (this weekend (19th-20th September) they have an exhibition of zines from Gaza 'Words That Break the Siege'. This is a perfect opportunity to see their interesting and versatile space.

Thank you to Lockerbie Men's Shed, who came for both days, with a display of information about this valuable organisation and what they do in Lockerbie, and provided an interesting account of how the Lockerbie group began, finding its current premises, and setting up as a charity. They are open every Wednesday and Friday 2pm-4pm at their shed in Kirk Lane (behind the no longer-existent Halfords).

Thank you to the The Lodge Arts Collective who assembled a suitably artistic wall display: it is beautiful (and hopefully on display permanently at Applegarth Hall!). It showcases their community as artists, including their award-winning progressive rock band EBB and their quirky Friday night Live at the Lodge events, taking place at the former Dinwoodie Lodge Hotel (just past no longer-existent lorry park).

Thank you to Writers who compiled a wall display showcasing information about the local group, and some works of poetry. They meet at the Somerton Hotel on alternate Thursday mornings.

Thank you to Reforesting Scotland who supplied copies of their journal and permitted us to use materials from the Reforesting Scotland's Thousand Huts Campaign website in our in-house displays.

Thank you to all the individuals and groups who shared our event posts, to those who displayed our posters (expecially Eskdalemuir Community Hub & Old School Cafe and Dumfries Car Boot Sales.
Last but not least, thank you to Rhiannon Ashley who helped with the marketing and invitations, and retaining the sanity of the exhibition organiser.

If you would like to sign up to our (not very regular and therefore not at all spammy) newsletter, you can find it here: https://substack.com/

We welcome guest posts and invite permanent wall displays from any Scottish projects, organisations, businesses that identify as 'alternative'. Web are also looking for vegetarian and vegan caterers interested in running a pop-up cafe from our registered kitchen.

14/09/2026

A nice feature on Applegarth Church, following the story of how Kirsteen and Andrew Mitchell from Applegarth House rallied the Jardine clan, and in 24 hours raised the funds to buy Applegarth Church, formed Friends of Applegarth Church,.and at their Open Gardens event welcomed Jardines from all over the world to their spiritual home .

(It's about 15 minutes in )

The story of the world-famous Melrose Rugby Sevens.For more of ...