New “Did You Know” braille leaflets that provide a history of Caird Hall have been made available ahead of the Doors Open Day celebrations on Sunday 28 September 2025.
Funded by the William Grant Foundation via the Scottish Civic Trust – Doors Open Day, these new Braille leaflets honour Alfred Hollins, the blind designer of the Caird Hall’s magnificent Harrison & Harrison Organ and provide a history of the iconic Caird Hall venue itself. The leaflets aim to make this important cultural story more accessible to blind and partially sighted visitors.
The launch also marks the completion of restoration work on the Caird Hall Organ, carried out at Harrison & Harrison’s workshops in Durham. Originally installed in 1923 and recently celebrating its 100th birthday, the organ has undergone repairs to ensure its continued performance into its second century.
The restoration includes:
- Repair and replacement of worn-out pipes
- Refurbishment of parts of the wind system
- Significant work on the console action, including the replacement of original leather components dating back to 1923
This work was made possible thanks to the generous fundraising efforts of the Friends of the Caird Hall Organ, whose support has helped preserve the instrument’s glorious sound for future generations.
As part of Doors Open Day, the public is invited to “Come and Hear the Organ” on Sunday 28 September from 12noon–2pm. This free event offers a rare opportunity to experience the newly restored organ in full voice.
Pictured at the leaflet launch at Caird Hall L-R are Angela Doran, Music & Events Development Officer at Leisure & Culture Dundee, Emily Sherriff, Doors Open Day Manager at Scottish Civic Trust and Andrew Macintosh, Chair of the Friends of Caird Hall Organ.