Orkney Blide Trust has opened its doors on Friday and Saturday (29th & 30th June)  at 54 Victoria Street Kirkwall to allow the public to see the archaeology and research they have been doing.

In a collaborative project led by Dan Lee and Sarah Jane Gibbon of, UHI Archaeology Institute and  Orkney College UHI a team of volunteers are researching the history of the building.  The project has also received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Working in the Orkney Archives the team will be using a wide source of materials including Peace’s Almanac, MacKenzie’s Charts and Ordinance Survey maps for 1881, 1901 and 1965.

54 Victoria Street , the premises of Orkney Blide Trust was owned by the Wishart family until 1957. The volunteers will be delving more into the history of the building and the people who lived there.

They are also engaged in the ‘dirty’ side of archaeology and have a test pit dug out in the garden.

The pit will be dug to a depth of 1.2m and finds will be sifted, cleaned and recorded.

A red block of worked sandstone has already been identified lodged in the wall. Who knows what will be found but the site will be open on Saturday if you want to pop along and see for yourself. History On Your Doorstep With Orkney Blide Trust Kirkwall

Reporter: Fiona Grahame

Orkney Blide Trust promotes mental well-being in Orkney, through active personalised support with a focus on recovery.