The Stewartry Museum was founded in 1879. As the collections grew, the present purpose-built museum was opened in 1893. In recent years, the interior has been considerably upgraded whilst retaining its charm as a traditional late Victorian museum.
Museums
Museums
What are they and what do they involve?
Museums are venues with the primary purpose of exhibiting items of interest, often of a historical nature. The exact focus of a museum will vary, but they always offer educational insights into their artefacts and can include extra activities such as workshops and guided tours! Nationally-recognised museums dominate the school trip agenda and often feature amongst the most visited venues in Britain.
Incredibly there are museums for pretty much everything you can think of in the UK - from Prams to Anaesthetic, Radar to Pencils, Locks to Lawnmowers, Mustard to Surfing, Straw to Dog Collars (the canine kind), Teapots to Gas, or Magic to Embroidery. Search our list of venues for topics these fantastic, quirky places feature and you'll be surprised what pops up! It might inspire a new approach to a curriculum topic or a different slant on your locality.
What are the benefits?
A museum can be a highly educational place, especially for those with prior interest in the subjects on display. Taking a student group that have been covering a specific historical event or time period to a relevant museum will enable them to really connect with the subject and create an extra dimension to their education.
What students is it suitable for?
Provided the content of the museum is suitable for the age group, all students can benefit from a trip to a museum!
Costs?
Some museums are free for the public to access but there are some venues that have admission costs due to the specific nature of the exhibit – make sure to thoroughly check out the prices of museums in your area.
Safety Implications?
Museums can be quite large and confusing venues, so make sure your group of students is properly supervised to ensure nobody gets separated from the group!
Accreditations?
There is a national accreditation scheme in operation for museums - find out more HERE about Accredited Museums.
Venues for this Category
Newton Stewart is the gateway to the Galloway Hills and the Museum is an exciting place to visit in this fascinating region.
A fascinating journey through time takes visitors from the prehistoric period up to the era of nuclear fission. Displays include costume, First World War memorabilia, town regalia and a remarkable collection of paintings depicting Annan and the Solway shore. Look out for a 4,000 year old Bronze Age burial urn, mummified baby crocodiles and the 110 year old piece of chocolate!
Stranraer's historic Old Town Hall, built in 1776, is the home of Stranraer Museum.
Step inside and discover Wigtownshire's fascinating past. See one of Scotland's oldest ploughs, look at Victorian Wigtownshire in 3-D photographs and follow in the footsteps of Stranraer's own Polar explorers.
Discover Sanquhar's world famous knitting tradition and the story of the mines and miners of Sanquhar and Kirkconnel. What was it like to be a prisoner in Sanquhar jail? How did the ordinary people of Upper Nithsdale live and work in times past? All this and more can be found in the town's fine 18th century tolbooth.
Something for Everyone...
There are four exhibition areas on the ground floor and an outside yard where you will see agricultural tools and exhibits relevant to Moffat's railway history.
The traditional Scottish cottage in which John Paul Jones was born in 1747: exhibition on the life of “The Father of the American Navy”; video in the reconstructed cabin of Jones’ ship “Bonnhomme Richard”.
A treasure house of the history of south west Scotland, Dumfries Museum is centered around the 18th century windmill which stands above the town. On the topmost floor of the museum is the Camera Obscura – this historic astronomical instrument gives fascinating panoramic views over the town and on clear days the range is many miles.
The group aims to promote awareness of the history of the Eastriggs and Gretna townships, and their importance with the 1st world war munitions factory HM Factory Gretna in turning the tide of war in the allies' favour.
This gem of a place must not be passed by. It is not its size but the warm welcome and friendly folk that you will enjoy. Come and see for yourself what Granny used in the past and compare it with today. Enjoy the town heritage, peep into the past. You may come as strangers, you will leave as friends.
This local museum has a regular display which includes social history, trades and craft implements, dolls, toys and a large collection of Ayrshire lace embroidery and local Paisley weaving. There are also regular exhibitions held on specific topics.
Opened in 1901, the Dick Institute is one of the most important cultural venues in the south-west of Scotland, featuring the largest museum and galleries space in Ayrshire as well as East Ayrshire's central library.
The Baird Institute lies in the centre of the town of Cumnock and was opened in March 1891 to provide leisure facilities for local people and included a museum, billiard room and reading rooms.
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum offers a truly unique encounter with Scotland's favourite poet.
North Ayrshire Heritage Centre shows the history of North Ayrshire with displays of archaeology, costume, transport, and popular culture. A photographic archive of the local area is available for reference.
The museum has displays on the history of the town and the surrounding area, local family history, overseas links especially with Australia, the ship HMS Largs, and so on. Each year a special themed display is prepared for the museum’s opening in June, July and August.
Built in 1776, the former parish church in Saltcoats, houses our principal museum collection.
The Doon Valley Museum is located in a conversion of one of the oldest buildings in Dalmellington (dating from 1744). It was saved from demolition in the 1980s and now serves the community as a museum, art gallery and meeting place. Our permanent museum displays explore some of the rich heritage of the Doon Valley – with a focus on mining and how it affects the communities of the area.
A fascinating and very important collection of over 30 Pictish carved stones housed in a cottage in the charming village of St Vigeans. Access can be arranged by phoning 01241 878 756.
A wide range of objects of artistic, historical and scientific interest
The University has over 30,000 historic artefacts, artworks and specimens acquired during the 134 years of the institution's existence. These are cared for by Museum Services, which has been awarded Full Accreditation as a public museum service.
Exhibitions and Displays
The museum holds significant Neolithic and bronze age artefacts, and from Montrose’s later history the collection includes examples of Montrose silver and Dryleys pottery.
A lively art gallery and museum
The Meffan Museum and Art Gallery collects objects, photographs and archive material relating to the history of Forfar together with the work of past and contemporary artists reflecting the rich art heritage of Angus.
The collection consists of several thousand objects, paintings and drawings gifted or bequeathed to the museum.
Located in the old Town House in Kirriemuir, the museum describes the social, architectural and political history of the town and the Angus glens, using touch screen technology and CD-ROMS.
A richly diverse collection forms an encyclopaedic view of past Glen life: a kitchen; dairy and farming equipment; a parlour; costume display; children’s room; bothy; and superb archives covering every aspect of the Glen’s social history.
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