Forres Heritage Trust

Hidden in the depths of Forres Tolbooth are the town’s old police office and cells. In this tour as part of Doors Open Day, Trustee Sandra MacIver will turn you into a virtual criminal as you are taken from the historic police office to the cells! This tour has not yet opened to the public so this is your chance to get a first look at this exciting piece of Forres’ history. Ideal for kids!

Standing high on Cluny Hill, Nelson’s Tower looks down, with some presence, over Forres. And because the building is closed right now, the Forres Heritage Trust which looks after the monument wanted to ensure that you can still get a chance to take in the stunning view from the top of the tower in the virtual tour. Learn about how and why Nelson’s Tower was erected as a memorial to Admiral Lord Nelson. Get a look into each of the Tower’s rooms before emerging from the staircase to that breath-taking landscape. Delve into its history in a virtual tour …

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The Forres Heritage Trust is going virtual to ensure it still has a role in Doors Open Day which will take place online this weekend. Doors Open Days is a Scotland-wide event run throughout September and usually buildings open their doors to the public. However, this year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the event is going online and the Trust was delighted to work with local film company Flying Mirrors to create three tours. The short films will feature Trustees doing tours of Nelson’s Tower, the Tolbooth and its ongoing clock tower project, and the Tolbooth police office and …

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A fresh lick of paint is being applied to the famous cannons which stand proud either side of the entrance to Nelson’s Tower. The decision to repaint the cannons was taken some time ago, but due to Covid-19, the project was put on hold. However, volunteer Jim Grant has now got the painting off the ground with the cannons being repainted black and an undercoat has been applied to the trolleys. The plan to make the trolleys similar to the cannon on HMS Victory – a yellowish gold colour, however supply of this specialist paint is difficult, again due …

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A WORKMAN who installed a new stairway in the Forres Tolbooth has signed his name as a legacy, just like his counterparts who did the same thing hundreds of years ago. New steel stairs have been installed as part of a project to open up access to the clock tower which will become a new attraction for locals and tourists alike. When the work began on the project, volunteers who removed the old wooden staircase discovered signatures from tradesmen who had worked in the building over the years. And those involved in the project thought it was only right …

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RENOVATIONS to one of the region’s most historic buildings are finally finished after intricate paintwork on four pilasters was completed. After four years of hard work, mainly from volunteers and thousands of pounds worth of investment the court room in the Forres Tolbooth now has a new lease of life. The finishing touches were completed by interiors decorator Jeremy Taylor who restored the four pilasters which stand proudly over the court room with a marbling affect. The work to restore the paintwork took a painstaking 44 hours, 11 hours for each of the pilasters. The court room has undergone …

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A PROJECT to develop the clock tower in one of the town’s most historic buildings is ticking along thanks to an injection of cash. The Forres Heritage Trust has received £20,000 in funding from the Berry Burn Community Fund which will be used to help an initiative at the town’s Tolbooth move forward. Forres Heritage Trust which looks after the Tolbooth and also Nelson’s Tower plans to upgrade the walkway around the clock tower turning it into a tourist attraction. George Alexander, chairman of the Trust said: “Our plans are very ambitious and this funding is now going to …

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New stairs which will give access to the walkway around the clocktower at the Tolbooth could be installed by the end of June. It is hoped that the development will become a visitor attraction with the opening of the walkway providing views across the town. AJ Engineering has designed the stairway and fabrication is underway. Graham Alexander, general manager of AJE said: “It’s all drawn up and the fabrication of the stairway is about to start. Depending on the government restrictions regarding essential work, we hope that we will be able to have the stairs installed by the end …

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Nelson’s Tower will not re-open as planned next month, but custodians of the building are still encouraging people to enjoy its environs whilst they can. The opening of Nelson’s Tower which was due to take place on April 3 will now be postponed until further notice following UK Government advice that all non-essential contact and travel should be prevented. The Tower is looked after by the Forres Heritage Trust and other events the Trust had planned have also had to be put on a backburner. George Alexander, chairman of the Trust which also owns the Tolbooth explained: “The decision …

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