Showcases & awards

Using our sites to inspire learning.

Winter 2007

During the closing months of 2007, Arbroath Abbey was the centre of attention as pupils and adults alike sought to capture the essence of this beautiful 12th century monument during the Arbroath Abbey Photography Project.




Open to schools and community groups in Angus, the project began in September when the participants (48 individuals from Burnside Primary School, Arbroath High School and a community art group covering Angus) attended photography and darkroom workshops led by professional photographer, Malcolm Thomson.

Malcolm’s teaching inspired them to look at and consider the different textures and elevations around the abbey. After the workshops, each participant prepared and presented his or her best print for competition. An exhibition featuring each participant’s best photograph was held in Novermber at Arbroath Abbey Visitor Centre.

First Prize winners from each category (Primary, Secondary and Adult) received a £50 Jessops voucher while the runners up received a £25 Jessops voucher. All six prize winners received Historic Scotland membership for one year, allowing them to photograph over 300 sites across Scotland for absolutely free.

It is hoped that the Arbroath Abbey Photography Project will run again, so watch this space!



November 2006

On St Andrew’s Day, Waid Academy, Anstruther, undertook a charity pilgrimage, walking 5miles from Guardbridge to the cathedral. On arrival at the cathedral, the group was given a site tour focusing on pilgrims and pilgrimage, by Peter Yeoman, a Senior Archaeologist with Historic Scotland.



In the afternoon, a class from Greyfriars Primary School, St Andrews, carried out a pilgrimage re-enactment, based on 'Investigating St Andrew's Cathedral'.



Autumn 2005

Eighty pupils from Melrose Primary School were tasked with producing a leaflet to advertise a historic building as part of an enterprise project organised by Careers Scotland.



The pupils chose Melrose Abbey as their subject. They organised all aspects of the project including the visit to the abbey and production of their own information leaflets back in the classroom.

Class teacher, Beverley Sinton, said the pupils “thoroughly enjoyed finding out about the abbey and were keen to encourage tourists to the area, through designing and creating their leaflets.”



Spring 2005 - Summer 2006

The Arbroath Digital Media Project developed a DVD resource that aimed to set Arbroath Abbey and The Signal Tower Museum within their local context, support teachers during visits to these sites and encourage pupils to engage with their historic environment.

The project group included two EEBL teacher placements based at the abbey, the museum, Arbroath Townscape Heritage Initiative, teachers and pupils from Warddykes Primary School, Arbroath.

With the support of Angus Digital Media Centre, the pupils (P6 and P7) worked on the storyboards; filmed, edited and narrated the DVD and designed its packaging which encapsulates some the key locations of Arbroath. The DVD was first screened at the abbey in June 2006 and distributed to all schools in Angus thereafter