27 September 2025 (10:00 - 17:00)
Located in Edinburgh's historic Old Town, Dovecot Studios is a renowned tapestry studio set in a former Victorian bathhouse. Established in 1912, Dovecot continues its century-long tradition of creating exceptional handwoven tapestries and gun-tufted rugs in collaboration with international artists. All activities support the Dovecot Foundation's mission to preserve and promote tapestry weaving in Scotland.
Alongside the tapestry studio, Dovecot run an exciting programme of exhibitions and events to further explore contemporary art, craft, and design.

Activities
Join us at Dovecot for a special Doors Open Day event featuring the remarkable Golden Thread Tapestry, proudly displayed on the balcony throughout the day.
This unique tapestry is the heartfelt creation of a group of amateur tapestry weavers in Edinburgh, who have brought new life to golden threads collected over 70 years ago by Hedwig Philip, a German Jewish needlewoman whose family narrowly escaped the Holocaust. The threads, kept hidden for decades, have been transformed into a striking, modern tapestry that weaves together themes of Jewish heritage, refugee journeys, survival, and hope for a brighter future. The tapestry consists of 16 beautifully crafted panels, each designed by a different weaver, creating a powerful, secular homage to resilience and community.
Two free talks will be held in the Meeting Room at 11:00 am and 3:00 pm, exploring the tapestry’s rich story, its creation process, and the legacy it celebrates.

2025 Theme Architectural Heritage: Windows to the Past, Doors to the Future
Originally the building was known as the Infirmary Street Baths, which were the first public baths in Edinburgh, built in 1885 by Robert Morham to provide accessible washing facilities to improve public health.
The Infirmary Street Baths officially closed in 1995 and the building, despite being B-listed, fell into disrepair. The bathhouse was on the Buildings at Risk Register when it was bought and refurbished by the Salvesens, restoring the building and opening as Dovecot Studios in 2008.
A women's baths was included in the original Infirmary Street Baths design, as until the 1870s, women had to attend bathhouses at different times to men. The women's baths sadly suffered a fire in the 1950s and was not repaired; the roof was damaged, and the space became littered with debris. The renovated Ladies Baths is now an event space at Dovecot Studios.
The main baths were on the balcony above the swimming pool and were in constant use from the 1880s to the closure of the bathhouse in 1995. This space is now the Viewing Balcony, overlooking the weaving floor which was built on top of the old swimming pool.

Image Credits

Please visit https://dovecotstudios.com/visit/access for Dovecot's accessibility guide.

Address
Dovecot Studios, 10 Infirmary Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1LT