Over the past couple of months the THI Heritage Engagement Officer has been working with Falkirk Community Trust on an exhibition to commemorate the Steeple’s 200th anniversary, focusing on the buildings history. The final preparations for this are underway with the exhibition due to open this week before the Steeple 200 Celebrations at the weekend.
Based in the Howgate, the exhibition is free and will feature objects from the historic Steeple including doors, keys and other interesting items.
Four local primary schools took part in ‘Picturing Our Steeple’ project, exploring the history of the Steeple through art. Their artwork will be on display in the exhibition, alongside information on the building’s history through the ages.
For over 400 years Falkirk has had a town steeple dominating the skyline and the current Steeple was completed in 1814 to a design by David Hamilton of Glasgow. Standing at 140ft tall it was used as the town’s prison and the ground floor was a shop. The current Steeple is the third to be built with the earliest being built sometime in the late 16th or early 17th century however its exact location is unknown. In 1927 the top 40 feet of the Steeple was damaged during a lightning storm. Outwardly the Steeple has changed little since it was repaired following this.
Both the interior and exterior of Falkirk Steeple will be restored as part of the Falkirk Townscape Heritage Initiative (THI). This work will help ensure that the Steeple standing in the centre of Falkirk town will remain a prominent icon for Falkirk’s Bairns for many years to come. Keep checking the website for updates on this.
The THI Team have developed an Steeple Education Pack for Schools and other groups. You can download a copy via this link. For more information please contact the Heritage Engagement Officer.
The exhibition is open from 18th September until 13th November in the Old Pure Unit in the Howgate at the following times:
Monday – Saturday 10.00am – 4.00pm
Sunday 12.00 – 4.00pm
Come along and explore the history of this local icon.
