EVENTS 2025In this, our 26th year, we are celebrating our fascinating collection.
Our "Collection Highlights" exhibition begins in May. But first, this.. |
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Where We Stand
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Where We Stand, is an exhibition organised by Community Land Scotland, with work by contemporary artists telling the stories and achievements of the pioneers of community ownership, a movement that has transformed Scotland.
This exhibition acknowledges and celebrates the efforts, ingenuity and passion of all those involved in community ownership over the last century. The exhibition shines light on the tremendous collective effort of people across Scotland working together to make a better future for themselves and the nation; empowering communities and the land they live on, the land which they are custodians of. Artists include Virginia Hutchison, Richard Bracken and Colin Tennant & Saskia Coulson, Francia Boakye, Kate O’Shea, and Emma Duncan, Ann Little & Helen Walsh. This exhibition looks to connect the work of these artists, alongside community groups to investigate the journey of community ownership over the last 100 years, and ask what do we want next? Curated by Iain Craig, the exhibition originally toured across parts of Scotland in Summer 2024, in partnership with the Travelling Gallery and was seen by close to 2,500 people. The exhibition runs from Tuesday 8th April until Tuesday 22nd - it will be well worth a visit… |
The Jacobite Grants of Urquhart and GlenmoristonBook Launch with author Chris Grant
Thursday 1st May 2025 7pm Join us in the museum for a glass of wine as Chris introduces his mighty book that lifts the lid off the ‘45 and the Grants’ involvement on both sides. The Grants of Glen Urquhart and Glenmoriston and what befell them in the weeks that followed the Battle of Culloden hold a puzzling spot in the history of the 1745 Rebellion, which has been mentioned in literally hundreds of books over the years. What truly led to these men being hunted down, deceived and betrayed, before being treacherously and dishonourably handed over to the Duke of Cumberland in Inverness by the head of their own clan? This book explains in detail the sequence of events that ultimately led to their betrayal by Ludovick Grant, where they became sacrificial lambs for the murky conduct of their fellow Grant Clansmen in Strathspey, which had immediately attracted the displeasure of King George in faraway London. After their betrayal, these men had to endure ten months of imprisonment in the stinking, disease-ridden prison hulks at Tilbury Fort on the River Thames, existing in conditions which prematurely ended the lives of many of them. Following their incarceration, the surviving men were eventually transported as indentured slaves to the Caribbean Island of Barbados, where many more succumbed to death from tropical diseases to which their bodies had no resistance. Only a very lucky few in the decade that followed would enjoy the good fortune of surviving their grim ordeals and eventually making their way back to their homes, families and native glens. This is their story, in which the facts are brought to life for the first time since the events occurred two hundred and eighty years ago. Even to this day, there are not many books written about the Rebellion that do not mention the betrayal of the clansmen at some point, but whilst it warrants regular mention, no detailed and factual explanation for its happening has ever been given...... until now. Therefore, this book tells the story of the nine members of my family as they fought their way through the course of the 45 Rebellion in the Glengarry Regiment, when they marched to Derby and back with Charles Edward Stuart’s Highland Army, and it will, for the first time ever, explain the sequence of events which led to the betrayal of these Grants from Loch Ness side, while also exposing the real causes as to why the head of their clan sacrificed them by handing them over to the Duke of Cumberland at the end of a conflict, the consequences of which changed the history and culture of the Highlands forever. This was an infamous act which has no equal throughout the long and turbulent history of the Highlands, as never before or since has the leader of any clan acted in such a way against his own people. The book will also tell for the first time ever, the fascinating story of what became of the head of the family, Alexander Grant of Shewglie following the betrayal of the Urquhart and Glenmoriston men. On the very same day that the betrayal took place in Inverness, Ludovick Grant concluded his business by presenting to the Duke of Cumberland a letter which Charles Edward Stuart had sent to Shewglie following the raising of the Royal Standard at Glenfinnan. On reading this, Cumberland immediately ordered that Shewglie should be arrested on a charge of High Treason, after which he was sent to Tilbury Fort on the River Thames. However, soon after his arrival there, events took a totally unexpected twist when Shewglie was released from his cell in Tilbury through the influence of some of the leading Hanoverian men in Britain. His release had been orchestrated by Lord President Duncan Forbes of Culloden, with the assistance of Hew Dalrymple, Lord of the Scottish judiciary, and John Dalrymple, the 2nd Earl of Stair, who as Commander in Chief of Land Forces in England, had been largely responsible for the defence of Britain throughout the course of the Rebellion. The Earl of Stair, who was also a renowned European diplomat, personally provided legal representation for Shewglie and negotiated on his behalf with the Secretary of State, Thomas Pelham, the Duke of Newcastle, to successfully bring about his release. What was it that led these hugely influential Hanoverians to support the release of the fervent Jacobite, Alexander Grant of Shewglie, which went against the clearly expressed wishes of the Duke of Cumberland? By using many never previously published letters, the book will also show and prove in detail that the history books of the past, which had invariably presented Clan Grant as being a unified Hanoverian supporting clan during the 1745 Rebellion, have all been wrong, with the truth being that the majority of the Grants in Strathspey were actually Jacobites at heart. Finally, it tells the story of the Shewglie Grants in the decades that followed Culloden when many of them joined the ranks of the Honourable East India Company, where they played commanding roles in the Battles of Plassey and Buxar, the victories of which created the foundation for the Company’s domination of India over the following two hundred years. Its youngest son, born just prior to Culloden, even eclipsed the significant achievements of those who had gone before him by becoming the Chairman and Director of the Company when it was at the very height of its power. Others joined the famous 42nd Regiment, the Black Watch, in which they fought during the French and Indian Wars, the American War of Independence, and the Texas Revolution, during which one of them was accused of stripping the Alamo of men and supplies shortly before it fell to the forces of General Santa Anna, who personally ordered his capture and death. From Culloden to Calcutta and over the sea to America, the story of the Grants of Shewglie is a microcosm of the British Empire itself and the prominent part which many Scots played in its formation. |
Cnocan Burraidh Graveyard, Drumnadrochit, the burial ground of the Grants of Shewglie since 1628. www.soirbheas.org/cnocan-burraidh-heritage-project
Grant of Shewglie
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Members’ Preview
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Collection Highlights
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From May till October we will be bringing objects into the light in our Collection Highlights show. Our store is bursting with objects that have been donated over the decades, there is a miscellany of surprising, quirky and thought provoking treasures to share. Our objects will have a chance to shine, not only in this summer long exhibition, we will be telling their stories online and offering public stores tours for the first time. As usual we will be delivering activities based around the exhibition so look out for art workshops, creative writing, walks and talks later on in the season.
"This bar of chocolate is older than me!"
Quote from Dan, the museum manager |
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