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The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum

The Smith Institute opened its doors on the 11th of August 1874, making it one of Scotland’s oldest public museums.

Thomas Stuart Smith, a local artist whose work was admired by contemporaries including Sir Edwin Landseer, left a bequest for the creation of The Smith Institute. He also left his own collection of over 1,000 paintings to be displayed in the Institute’s gallery. Smith was going to supervise the construction of his Institute personally, but he died just two months after creating his will in 1869.

The building, now known as The Stirling Smith Art Gallery & Museum, was designed by Edinburgh architect John Lessels and originally contained accommodation for the curator. During the First World War the main picture gallery was requisitioned and was used as a factory for producing military uniforms, and until the Albert Halls opened in 1883 the gallery was also used as the town’s main concert hall.

The Smith now contains a café, lecture theatre, temporary exhibition space and main gallery and hosts events throughout the year. 

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Explore Historic Stirling

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King’s Knot

King's Knot was a constructed for Charles I between 1627-9. The area is covered in grass now, but it was originally an ornamental garden.
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Kings Park

Constructed on part of the King’s Royal Park below Stirling Castle, Kings Park is one of Scotland’s most important Victorian suburbs.
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Albert Halls

Designed by Stirling architect William Simpson (senior) and opened in 1833, the Albert Halls were built by public subscription as the growing population of Stirling wanted a large concert hall.
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Stirling War Memorial

Erected in 1922 and designed by Stirling architect George R Davidson to commemorate those who fell during World War I.
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The Municipal Buildings

Stirling’s Municipal Buildings were designed by John Gaff Gillespie in 1908, but World War I interrupted construction, and it was only partially completed by 1918.
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Stirling Central Library

Stirling’s Central Library is a Carnegie Library, designed by Harry Ramsey Taylor in the Scottish Baronial style in 1904.
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Wolfcraig

Designed by Stirling architect John Allan in 1897 for grocers Robertson & MacFarlane. It is an early example of a partially steel framed building.
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Stirling Train Station

In 1912 a new station building was designed by Glasgow architect James Miller, replacing the first station building built in 1848. Miller designed c.70 train stations across Scotland.
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King Street

Known in medieval times as the High Gait, by the 18th century it was called Quality Street. In 1821, it became King Street in celebration of George IV’s coronation.
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Stirling Arcade

One of only five 19th century shopping arcades in Scotland, built for William Crawford, a china merchant and Stirling councillor.
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Athenaeum

The Athenaeum opened in 1817 as a private library and meeting rooms for Stirling’s wealthier inhabitants. It was designed by architect William Stirling I from Dunblane.
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55 Baker Street

Built in 1890 and designed by Stirling architect John Allan, this English Tudor style corner tenement was his first building in brick.
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Stirling High School

Built in 1854-6 as a school and converted into a hotel in 1990, this Gothic Revival building was designed by the Hays of Liverpool.
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Top of the Town

Between 1936-1953 the Top of the Town was redeveloped in a style sympathetic to the vernacular architecture by pioneering town planner, Sir Frank Mears.
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John Cowane’s House

John Cowane’s House is a Category A Listed ruin situated on St Mary’s Wynd below Stirling Castle. It is one of the Stirling CARS Priority Projects.
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Broad Street

Broad Street was the commercial and administrative heart of the medieval Burgh. The Tolbooth was built in 1705, and the unicorn of the Mercat Cross dates to the 16th century.
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Cowane’s Hospital

John Cowane was a wealthy Stirling merchant. When he died in 1633 he left a bequest for the creation of an almshouse/hospital for older Guild Brothers, establishing Cowane’s Hospital.
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Church of the Holy Rude & Cemeteries

The oldest part of the Church of the Holy Rude dates to 1456. It has an important medieval oak roof and late 19th century stained glass.
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Argyll’s Lodging

Argyll’s Lodging is the best surviving example of a 17th century aristocratic townhouse in Scotland. It has been in the care of Historic Environment Scotland since 1996.
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Stirling Castle

One of Scotland’s most important Castles. Successive monarchs have adapted the castle to suit their changing needs, culminating in the Palace built by James IV in the 1500s.
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Bridgehaugh

A Conservation Area which contains the Old and New Stirling Bridges, as well as the Bridge Street Clock Tower.
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Cambuskenneth Abbey

The ruins of a large Arroussian Monastery which was founded by King David I (1084-1153) in 1140 AD. It fell into disuse during the 16th century and the Scottish Reformation.
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Bannockburn House

A 17th century mansion house with ornate plaster ceilings. Once owned by the Wilson’s of Bannockburn, wealthy tartan manufacturers, it is now owned by the local community.