NEWS
‘Highland Threads' was conceived at a Highland Heritage Café – a regular online meet-up during COVID-19 for members of Museums and Heritage Highland to share ideas and discuss issues they are facing as a sector. Discussions around the impact of COVID-19, led to plans by 14 museums and galleries for a joint online exhibition focusing on costumes though the ages, where each museum would focus on a costume from their collection. The collective vision for the project was to use collections to support museums in these difficult times: driving new and existing audiences to the museums whether they are open or closed; help museums find new ways of creating income streams; and, increase access and engagement with collections. By employing innovative digital technologies and working with sector professionals, ‘Highland Threads’ reflects the quality of museums and diverse collections that can be found across the Highlands.
Launching 1 April 2021, the exhibition can be found at www.highlandthreads.co.uk, HIGHLAND THREADS on Vimeo
Partner museums are: Glencoe Museum, Inverness Museum & Art Gallery, Gairloch Museum, Ullapool Museum, Grantown Museum, West Highland Museum, Highland Museum of Childhood, Castlehill Heritage Centre, Tain through Time, Wick Heritage Museum, Highland Folk Museum, Groam House Museum, Strathnaver Museum and Dornoch Historylinks
Grantown Museum has chosen a late Victorian cream silk wedding dress.
This Victorian ‘bustle’ wedding dress was made for Miss Agnes Helen Gordon on her marriage to Donald MacDougall in 1882. Donald was a farmer at Craggan near Grantown-on-Spey and owned a large general store in the town. Agnes’s story gives us a glimpse into life in a Highland town during the late Victorian period and the turn of the turbulent twentieth century.
Agnes was born in January 1860 at her mother’s family home in Poolewe, in the northwest Highlands. On 6th May 1882, Agnes Helen Gordon married Grantown man, Donald MacDougall. Agnes was aged twenty-two and her husband was fifty-two. Donald owned Macdougall & Co. the largest shop in Grantown-on-Spey, a thriving Victorian market town and the main centre for business in the Central Highlands. The general store was not only a grocers, but a drapers, ironmongers, furniture warehouse and even housed a hairdressing salon.
When Donald died in September 1914, Agnes continued to run the store. She became a shop owner in her own right and held a prominent position in Grantown society. The building was sold on her death in 1941 and is now the Co-op, the main supermarket in Grantown-on-Spey. Agnes and Donald had eight children, five sons and three daughters. Their eldest seven were born between 1883 and 1894 with baby Agnes arriving in 1901. All five sons served in World War One and remarkably, all survived. Three of the boys enlisted from overseas which suggests that they had already emigrated. James enlisted in Australia, Alexander in Malaya and Joseph in Canada. Agnes and Donald’s eldest daughter Helen was widowed in 1918 when her husband was killed fighting on the frontline in France.
Agnes’s wedding dress is beautifully made, perfectly fitted and the height of fashion for the period. The fitted bodice with a high neckline sits over an elaborate overskirt draped on a bustle with train of cascading ruffles. The Bustle was making a comeback in the 1880s after the large crinoline skirt had replaced the fashion of the early Victorian era. It was made by gathering the skirt fabric into a ‘bustle’ held over a pad or frame. This allowed the fabric to flow into a train that trailed behind the wearer and created a smooth slender silhouette. The favoured style of an exceedingly small waist and hourglass silhouette required a corset stiffened with bones or wire. Agnes’s dress has an incredibly tiny 23 inch waist!
The modern tradition of the white wedding dress began when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840. She wanted to make her vows as Albert’s future wife rather than in her role as the monarch. Victoria wore a cream coloured Spitalfields silk wedding gown instead of traditional red ermine robes. This romantic gesture captured public attention. Fashion plates, adverts, valentine cards and sheet music sold the image of the white dress and lace veil as a model of romance and purity. Victorian weddings were traditionally more than just ceremonies to mark the start of a formal relationship. They were important occasions for families to display their status and respectability.
Launching 1 April 2021, the exhibition can be found at www.highlandthreads.co.uk, HIGHLAND THREADS on Vimeo
Partner museums are: Glencoe Museum, Inverness Museum & Art Gallery, Gairloch Museum, Ullapool Museum, Grantown Museum, West Highland Museum, Highland Museum of Childhood, Castlehill Heritage Centre, Tain through Time, Wick Heritage Museum, Highland Folk Museum, Groam House Museum, Strathnaver Museum and Dornoch Historylinks
Grantown Museum has chosen a late Victorian cream silk wedding dress.
This Victorian ‘bustle’ wedding dress was made for Miss Agnes Helen Gordon on her marriage to Donald MacDougall in 1882. Donald was a farmer at Craggan near Grantown-on-Spey and owned a large general store in the town. Agnes’s story gives us a glimpse into life in a Highland town during the late Victorian period and the turn of the turbulent twentieth century.
Agnes was born in January 1860 at her mother’s family home in Poolewe, in the northwest Highlands. On 6th May 1882, Agnes Helen Gordon married Grantown man, Donald MacDougall. Agnes was aged twenty-two and her husband was fifty-two. Donald owned Macdougall & Co. the largest shop in Grantown-on-Spey, a thriving Victorian market town and the main centre for business in the Central Highlands. The general store was not only a grocers, but a drapers, ironmongers, furniture warehouse and even housed a hairdressing salon.
When Donald died in September 1914, Agnes continued to run the store. She became a shop owner in her own right and held a prominent position in Grantown society. The building was sold on her death in 1941 and is now the Co-op, the main supermarket in Grantown-on-Spey. Agnes and Donald had eight children, five sons and three daughters. Their eldest seven were born between 1883 and 1894 with baby Agnes arriving in 1901. All five sons served in World War One and remarkably, all survived. Three of the boys enlisted from overseas which suggests that they had already emigrated. James enlisted in Australia, Alexander in Malaya and Joseph in Canada. Agnes and Donald’s eldest daughter Helen was widowed in 1918 when her husband was killed fighting on the frontline in France.
Agnes’s wedding dress is beautifully made, perfectly fitted and the height of fashion for the period. The fitted bodice with a high neckline sits over an elaborate overskirt draped on a bustle with train of cascading ruffles. The Bustle was making a comeback in the 1880s after the large crinoline skirt had replaced the fashion of the early Victorian era. It was made by gathering the skirt fabric into a ‘bustle’ held over a pad or frame. This allowed the fabric to flow into a train that trailed behind the wearer and created a smooth slender silhouette. The favoured style of an exceedingly small waist and hourglass silhouette required a corset stiffened with bones or wire. Agnes’s dress has an incredibly tiny 23 inch waist!
The modern tradition of the white wedding dress began when Queen Victoria married Prince Albert in 1840. She wanted to make her vows as Albert’s future wife rather than in her role as the monarch. Victoria wore a cream coloured Spitalfields silk wedding gown instead of traditional red ermine robes. This romantic gesture captured public attention. Fashion plates, adverts, valentine cards and sheet music sold the image of the white dress and lace veil as a model of romance and purity. Victorian weddings were traditionally more than just ceremonies to mark the start of a formal relationship. They were important occasions for families to display their status and respectability.
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NEW ACQUISITIONS
PAST NEWS STORIES
Dan performs White Christmas for "A Very Strathy Christmas"
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Dan recently recorded a version of Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" for "A Very Strathy Christmas". This was an online concert organised by StrathFest (The Badenoch & Strathspey Music Festival) to cheer everyone up a bit as there has been no live music or performances this season - check it out on YouTube here - or search YouTube for A Very Strathy Christmas. Dan's is the penultimate performance. The show runs for around an hour and features a broad range of performers - singers, musicians, dancers, cheerleaders - at all levels, from beginners to professionals - there is something for everyone, so check out a local show made up of local talent. Grantown Primary and Alvie Primary also contributed songs, and since they are not allowed to sing in schools, they signed them instead.
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Christmas Arts & Crafts Fair 2020
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This was our 2nd year of putting on a Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair and it was even more successful than 2019. We had a tie-in with "Grantown Does Christmas", which brought lots of people to town on the weekend of 5-6 December. Many of these folks also visited the museum to check out the crafts on offer - lots of gifts were purchased raising funds for the museum and helping local artists. Thanks to everyone who participated and helped run the event. See you again in 2021!
DIGITISING THE COLLECTION
We have been keeping busy during lockdown, even though we have been unable to open. We've been working on digitising our collection (this is an ongoing project that will take some time). You can view some objects and photos via our new website -
grantownmuseumcollection.co.uk
We have also started using a new online cataloguing and publishing website where eventually all our collection will be available to view online. We have many more objects in our collection that we would ever be able to show, so eventually you will be able to see all that we have amassed. We only started this process a few weeks ago, so have about 100 objects photographed and uploaded so far, but we are adding to it all the time. It can be viewed here -
ehive.com
It's not just Grantown Museum on this website, you can also browse objects from other museums around the world.
grantownmuseumcollection.co.uk
We have also started using a new online cataloguing and publishing website where eventually all our collection will be available to view online. We have many more objects in our collection that we would ever be able to show, so eventually you will be able to see all that we have amassed. We only started this process a few weeks ago, so have about 100 objects photographed and uploaded so far, but we are adding to it all the time. It can be viewed here -
ehive.com
It's not just Grantown Museum on this website, you can also browse objects from other museums around the world.
REPRODUCTION COSTUMES
The museum is in the process of having reproduction costumes made. So far we have the "Outlander" costume (think Claire in 18th century Scotland), an 18th century girls dress, a 19th century girls dress and a Victorian ladies dress. We plan on being able to offer the experience of trying on these costumes (including the appropriate undergarments, including corsets for ladies) in 2021.
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15 February 2020
"Overlander"
Another packed house at the museum for the author Alan Brown, who visited the museum to give a talk about his book "Overlander", covering his coast to coast journey on his mongrel mountain bike. Marjorie (The Bookmark) introduced the author and then handed over to Emma Holgate (mountain biker - Glenmore Lodge) who chatted to Alan about his experience on a less than perfect bike traversing the Cairngorms mountains. Alan described his stay in various bothies along the way - he did not even bring a book on his journey, so he could send his time looking out at the landscape (and inward), and not down..... (also, books are heavy!). When his journey was over (at Findhorn) he found it difficult (and sad) to transition back to "normal" life, after spending time alone, away from modern life and all that it entails.
At the end there was a Q & A with the audience, and then an opportunity to buy a signed copy of the book.
"Overlander"
Another packed house at the museum for the author Alan Brown, who visited the museum to give a talk about his book "Overlander", covering his coast to coast journey on his mongrel mountain bike. Marjorie (The Bookmark) introduced the author and then handed over to Emma Holgate (mountain biker - Glenmore Lodge) who chatted to Alan about his experience on a less than perfect bike traversing the Cairngorms mountains. Alan described his stay in various bothies along the way - he did not even bring a book on his journey, so he could send his time looking out at the landscape (and inward), and not down..... (also, books are heavy!). When his journey was over (at Findhorn) he found it difficult (and sad) to transition back to "normal" life, after spending time alone, away from modern life and all that it entails.
At the end there was a Q & A with the audience, and then an opportunity to buy a signed copy of the book.
BURNS SUPPER
Duncan Grant (addressing the Haggis) & Lyall Kinnaird (Piper to the Haggis)
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Rev. Gordon Strang delivers The Immortal Memory
24 January 2020
This year's Burns Supper was held in the newly re-vamped YM Community Centre's Theatre Room - this was another sell-out event for the museum - in the end we had to turn away requests for tickets. A lovely evening was had by all - everyone dined on wonderful food supplied by Jon Woods of Woods Family Dining, & we were lucky to have some really sparkling speakers who kept everyone amused. More than a few drams were downed and to close the evening Seonaid thanked everyone for coming and supporting the museum, and to finish up we had a sing-a-long led by Davie Calder. Master of Ceremonies: Duncan Grant Selkirk Grace: Angus Miller Piper to the Haggis: Lyall Kinnaird Address to the Haggis: Duncan Grant Immortal Memory: Rev. Gordon Strang Toast to the Lassies: Matthew (Bob) Davies Reply: Lucy Davies Songs & Music: Dave Calder |
Caorunn Gin Talk & Tasting
Aleta Shaw explains the infusion process to a packed house
9 January 2020
Caorunn Gin - Talk and Tasting
The museum was packed for a deconstructed nosing, talk and tasting by Aleta Shaw from Balmenach Distillery. Aleta explained the distilling and infusion process and brought along a sample of the locally foraged, hand picked botanicals that the distillery use in their process - the audience members were invited to smell the botanicals that Aleta had brought, including heather, rowan berry and apple. Apparently, the workers at the distillery are sent out to forage on the moor when they have nothing else to do! Then they got down to the serious business of tasting the gin and charting the strength and mix of flavours.
Caorunn Gin - Talk and Tasting
The museum was packed for a deconstructed nosing, talk and tasting by Aleta Shaw from Balmenach Distillery. Aleta explained the distilling and infusion process and brought along a sample of the locally foraged, hand picked botanicals that the distillery use in their process - the audience members were invited to smell the botanicals that Aleta had brought, including heather, rowan berry and apple. Apparently, the workers at the distillery are sent out to forage on the moor when they have nothing else to do! Then they got down to the serious business of tasting the gin and charting the strength and mix of flavours.
Audience members nosing and tasting
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Dan and Suzi busy mixing and pouring
Cocktails were mixed and invented - a Grantown Sunrise anyone?......Caorunn Gin, orange juice and grenadine with a slice of apple.
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Winter Concert
Braeriach Quartet
Winter Concert
14 December 2019
Members enjoyed a thrilling concert last Saturday - firstly the newly formed "Braeriach Quartet" (Grantown's only string quartet) entertained everyone with a selection of classical, pop and Christmas tunes. Then after a short break for refreshments, Paul Anderson and his wife, Shona Donaldson, delivered an amazing set of traditional fiddle playing and singing. All the performers agreed to come and play for free as this was a fundraising event for the museum. Members were very generous and dug deep to fill the donation boxes...and also did a bit of last minute Christmas shopping. Dan thanked everyone involved for contributing to the evening and everyone went home thoroughly impressed by the depth of talent we have on our doorstep!
14 December 2019
Members enjoyed a thrilling concert last Saturday - firstly the newly formed "Braeriach Quartet" (Grantown's only string quartet) entertained everyone with a selection of classical, pop and Christmas tunes. Then after a short break for refreshments, Paul Anderson and his wife, Shona Donaldson, delivered an amazing set of traditional fiddle playing and singing. All the performers agreed to come and play for free as this was a fundraising event for the museum. Members were very generous and dug deep to fill the donation boxes...and also did a bit of last minute Christmas shopping. Dan thanked everyone involved for contributing to the evening and everyone went home thoroughly impressed by the depth of talent we have on our doorstep!
Paul Anderson and Shona Donaldson
Christmas Arts & Crafts Fair
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The museum held it's first Christmas Arts and Crafts Fair this past week (9-15 December 2019) - 27 artists and crafts people displayed their work and the museum had lots of members, locals and visitors through the doors. Many Christmas cards and gifts were bought - lots of mince pies were consumed and everyone had a great time!
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The museum manager (Dan Cottam – centre) chatting with Carsten Flieger (the photographer) and Sophia Sheppard from Art UK.
Lady Caroline to be on Art UK
Art UK visited Grantown Museum this week to photograph the marble bust of Lady Caroline, Countess of Seafield. This will appear on their website very soon.
Art UK is the online home for every public art collection in the UK (artuk.org), as featured on BBC4’s “Britain’s Lost Masterpieces”. (We love this show! The art detectives track down previously unknown paintings by some of the world's great artists).
Art UK visited Grantown Museum this week to photograph the marble bust of Lady Caroline, Countess of Seafield. This will appear on their website very soon.
Art UK is the online home for every public art collection in the UK (artuk.org), as featured on BBC4’s “Britain’s Lost Masterpieces”. (We love this show! The art detectives track down previously unknown paintings by some of the world's great artists).
Seonaid McLaren introducing the musical duo, Emma & Robin Versteeg
Museum Celebrates 20 Years
Last Friday (8 November) the museum celebrated our 20th anniversary in style - cocktails were served, and guests were entertained by Emma & Robin, who performed a selection of songs by Cole Porter and George Gershwin. There were speeches by Seonaid (the chair) thanking everyone for coming, and Dan (the manager) thanking our members & sponsors for supporting the museum over the years, for without their support, we would not be open.
A fantastic evening of entertainment was had by all - Tom from the Stathy was in attendance taking pictures for the paper, so check out the next issue for more coverage of our spectacular event!
Last Friday (8 November) the museum celebrated our 20th anniversary in style - cocktails were served, and guests were entertained by Emma & Robin, who performed a selection of songs by Cole Porter and George Gershwin. There were speeches by Seonaid (the chair) thanking everyone for coming, and Dan (the manager) thanking our members & sponsors for supporting the museum over the years, for without their support, we would not be open.
A fantastic evening of entertainment was had by all - Tom from the Stathy was in attendance taking pictures for the paper, so check out the next issue for more coverage of our spectacular event!
Surprise visit brings link to Canadian First Nations
Canadian visitors brought a flurry of excitement when they revealed their family heritage to Grantown Museum last Friday. On coming to visit Scotland, they were considering a visit to Grantown because of their Grant ancestry and on checking the museum’s website, were convinced that the trip would be worthwhile. The Museum’s annual exhibition is entitled Canadian Cousins, and this mother and daughter could safely say that they have close family ties to an important story told in the show. They are directly related to Cuthbert Grant of Cromdale who left for Canada in the 18th Century and whose son would become leader of the Métis Nation, Cuthbert Grant Jnr. His story is described in the exhibition which finishes on October 31st. His great-great-great granddaughter (pictured right), and her daughter Nicole bought a ceremonial sash used by the Métis Peoples, a nation formed from the descendants of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples and early immigrants. The Métis Nation promoted their distinct identity in 1812, when Cuthbert Grant led a battle in the Pemmican War, flying the Métis flag. The sash was donated to the museum as a symbol of the connection between the people of Strathspey and the Métis.
Canadian visitors brought a flurry of excitement when they revealed their family heritage to Grantown Museum last Friday. On coming to visit Scotland, they were considering a visit to Grantown because of their Grant ancestry and on checking the museum’s website, were convinced that the trip would be worthwhile. The Museum’s annual exhibition is entitled Canadian Cousins, and this mother and daughter could safely say that they have close family ties to an important story told in the show. They are directly related to Cuthbert Grant of Cromdale who left for Canada in the 18th Century and whose son would become leader of the Métis Nation, Cuthbert Grant Jnr. His story is described in the exhibition which finishes on October 31st. His great-great-great granddaughter (pictured right), and her daughter Nicole bought a ceremonial sash used by the Métis Peoples, a nation formed from the descendants of Canada’s Indigenous Peoples and early immigrants. The Métis Nation promoted their distinct identity in 1812, when Cuthbert Grant led a battle in the Pemmican War, flying the Métis flag. The sash was donated to the museum as a symbol of the connection between the people of Strathspey and the Métis.
Busy Weekend at the Museum
This past weekend (11-13 October 2019) was very busy, with a book launch on Friday and a live concert on Sunday. This meant we had to take the current exhibition (Canadian Cousins) down Friday afternoon, set up for the book launch, then put the exhibition up again afterwards, ready for visitors on Saturday. Then we had to do that all again on Sunday! But what a wonderful weekend we had - both events were very well attended - we were really packed Sunday night and had to search for every last chair in the building.
Frank Bardgett's book launch and talk on the Grants of Tulloch was riveting, and then on Sunday Hamish Napier and Adam Sutherland brought the house down with a foot stomping set. Lots of books and CD's were sold and everyone went home well entertained.
Frank Bardgett's book launch and talk on the Grants of Tulloch was riveting, and then on Sunday Hamish Napier and Adam Sutherland brought the house down with a foot stomping set. Lots of books and CD's were sold and everyone went home well entertained.
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Grantown MotorMania
1 September 2019
The museum was on the square for Grantown's classic car show this year. There were a few showers, but the weather was not as bad as the day before, so it could have been worse. It's Scotland after all!
Everyone admired the vintage cars (and some tractors as well), and wandered around the stalls. We sold lots of retro and vintage merchandise, and had fun with "Guess the Object" again - Dan had dug out a few more "treasures" from the archive.....there were some items that even we weren't sure what there purpose was, but we had lots of suggestions. Chatted with the members and recruited some new folks to join the museum. A good day was had by all and everyone enjoyed the final parade led by the pipe band.
The museum was on the square for Grantown's classic car show this year. There were a few showers, but the weather was not as bad as the day before, so it could have been worse. It's Scotland after all!
Everyone admired the vintage cars (and some tractors as well), and wandered around the stalls. We sold lots of retro and vintage merchandise, and had fun with "Guess the Object" again - Dan had dug out a few more "treasures" from the archive.....there were some items that even we weren't sure what there purpose was, but we had lots of suggestions. Chatted with the members and recruited some new folks to join the museum. A good day was had by all and everyone enjoyed the final parade led by the pipe band.
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Grantown Museum at Abernethy Highland Games
The museum had a stand at the Nethy Games on 10 August - great fun was had by all, with a welcome respite in the weather, and no rain!
After the recent downpours, everyone was very concerned about the level of mud that was going to be encountered, but luck was with us and it was a lovely day. The sun even shone for a while.
Lots of Clan Grant merchandise was sold and lots of members stopped by for a wee chat with Seonaid and Suzi who were manning the stand.
We didn't even need all those extra socks we brought.....
After the recent downpours, everyone was very concerned about the level of mud that was going to be encountered, but luck was with us and it was a lovely day. The sun even shone for a while.
Lots of Clan Grant merchandise was sold and lots of members stopped by for a wee chat with Seonaid and Suzi who were manning the stand.
We didn't even need all those extra socks we brought.....
Opening of
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The museum manager, Dan Cottam (right), chatting with Sir James Grant of Grant, Lord Strathspey, at the opening. Sir James very kindly lent the museum several artifacts that are included in the exhibit.
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Open Gardens Day
16 June 2019
Open Gardens Day brought out many folks in the community to tour the 7 gardens on display - an excellent day was had by all, which included a lunch at Nethy Community Centre and a Strawberry Tea at the museum - funds were raised for the museum and Cairngorms Riding for the Disabled. Thanks to all involved, including the wonderful gardeners and all the volunteers who made this happen.
30th March 2019
The Museum’s Mystery Gentleman
To mark the opening of the new summer season, Grantown Museum recently hosted an event to unveil its latest acquisition - a 300 year old portrait by the chief’s of Grant favourite artist, Richard Waitt. But intriguingly, no-one can say with certainty who the gentleman in the portrait is. It was traditionally thought to be James Ogilvie, 1st Earl of Seafield. His grand-daughter married Sir Ludovick Grant and was mother to The Good Sir James (he who founded Grantown). However, it has been argued that the sitter bears a striking resemblance to other known portraits of Sir James Grant of Grant, the paternal grandfather to Grantown’s founder.
The purchase was made possible through help from the National Fund for Acquisitions, and the Art Fund; also, a gift in memory of George Rafferty a former Vice-president of the Museum.
We are greatly indebted to these organisations and to the Rafferty family for their generosity.
The Museum’s Mystery Gentleman
To mark the opening of the new summer season, Grantown Museum recently hosted an event to unveil its latest acquisition - a 300 year old portrait by the chief’s of Grant favourite artist, Richard Waitt. But intriguingly, no-one can say with certainty who the gentleman in the portrait is. It was traditionally thought to be James Ogilvie, 1st Earl of Seafield. His grand-daughter married Sir Ludovick Grant and was mother to The Good Sir James (he who founded Grantown). However, it has been argued that the sitter bears a striking resemblance to other known portraits of Sir James Grant of Grant, the paternal grandfather to Grantown’s founder.
The purchase was made possible through help from the National Fund for Acquisitions, and the Art Fund; also, a gift in memory of George Rafferty a former Vice-president of the Museum.
We are greatly indebted to these organisations and to the Rafferty family for their generosity.