Wigtown’s community hub — saved, restored, and open for everyone
The Merse is Wigtown’s community hall and creative hub — a warm, flexible space in the heart of town that belongs to the people of Wigtown and Bladnoch.
It was originally built with funds raised by the local community. We made sure it stayed that way.
When the Church of Scotland announced that Wigtown Church Hall was to be sold as part of a national restructuring programme, the community response was immediate. The hall had served Wigtown for generations — used by church and community groups alike for meetings, recreational activities, a toddlers’ playgroup, the local flower and produce festival, and occasional performances. Losing it would have left a gap at the very heart of community life.
W&BCI, working alongside individual members of the church congregation, moved quickly to make the case for keeping the building in community hands. The goal was clear: acquire the hall and develop it into a sustainable, permanent community asset — not just preserving what was there, but building on it.
In March 2025, that goal became a reality.
The Merse is a large, welcoming community hall with a main hall, kitchen, meeting rooms, storage and accessible toilet facilities. It hosts a wide and growing range of activities — from regular classes and community meetings to events, performances and creative workshops.
Every week, more than 150 people come through its doors. It is run by a dedicated volunteer subcommittee, in partnership with W&BCI, and managed entirely for the benefit of the local community.
The Merse is managed by a volunteer subcommittee of local people who give their time to keep it running and growing. If you’d like to find out more or get involved, get in touch via The Merse website or drop us a line at secretary@wigtownandbladnoch.co.uk .
