LEGO® fans young and old have a chance to put their building skills to the test throughout May by taking part in a project to build 17th century Dunfermline entirely from LEGO® bricks!
Attractions in Dunfermline’s Heritage Quarter are joining together to mark the 400th anniversary of the Great Fire of Dunfermline by inviting children and adults to ‘Rebuild Dunfermline’ and to share images using #GreatFire400.
Back in 1624, during a Wappinschaw (a gathering of arms and weapons) a stray shot from a musket set fire to a thatched roof and three quarters of the then toun was destroyed and had to be rebuilt.
Throughout May, LEGO fans of all ages can book in to a variety of FREE events to recreate iconic buildings in the toun. The finale will be on the weekend of 25-26 May when Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries (DCLG) are inviting families to ‘Rebuild Dunfermline’ toun with all the features and landmarks from 1624.
The events kick off on 4 May with Build Dunfermline Abbey at the Abbey Church of Dunfermline, while Andrew Carnegie Birthplace Museum will run a Build Pittencrieff House event on the 11-12 May. Historic Environment Scotland will be running a Build Abbot House event in the Garden Workshop of Abbot House on the 18-19 May.
Details about all the events and how to book can be found at https://www.onfife.com/rebuild-dunfermline-with-lego-for-the-great-fire-of-dunfermline-400th-anniversary/ and booking is essential. There will be dedicated relaxed sessions for any families with ASN at some of the events.
Meanwhile, families can also get involved at home by using any LEGO they have to build their own versions of 17th century houses to add to the final display. A help sheet to get families started is available to collect from DCLG or can be accessed and downloaded from the website.
Pupils from Dunfermline High School will be creating the old Grammar School, while Kids’ Den LEGO clubs in Dunfermline will be building iconic features of the toun and adults can
drop in to DCLG throughout the month to get building as part of cultural charity OnFife’s Ways to Wellbeing Month.
The completed models will form a display of the ‘rebuilt’ Dunfermline in the Community Gallery at DCLG from 1 June-1 July.
Fiona Davidson, Learning Officer with Historic Environment Scotland, is co-ordinating the event and said: “We’re delighted to build on the successful partnership with OnFife in 2023 when families built Aberdour Castle in LEGO.
“This year, we’re going even bigger, and it’s great to have other heritage partners involved, as part of Ways to Wellbeing Month. Our BIG LEGO Build events are brilliant intergenerational events that have proved really popular elsewhere. They are regularly oversubscribed – so book early to avoid missing out.”
The Fire Stone displayed at Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries. The stone marks the rebuilding of a house in the town centre after the Great Fire of Dunfermline. (Pic: OnFife)
Ready to build – LEGO figures with Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries in the background. (Pic: Historic Environment Scotland)
From left, Julia Dyke, Project Support (Young People and Families) at OnFife, Fiona Davidson, Learning Officer with Historic Environment Scotland, and sculptor Alistair Jelks, who will be delivering the Family LEGO builds at the different venues, beside the Fire Stone displayed at Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries. The stone marks the rebuilding of a house in the town centre after the Great Fire of Dunfermline. (Pic: OnFife)
