Under threat of closure following funding cuts, the Museum is embarking on a £4M renewal project. The project will ensure the Museum is sustainable for the future and meets the expectation of today’s visitors.

Uniquely among military museums, we are setting our story against the social history of Scotland, covering such aspects as the Highland Clearances, shipbuilding and the industrialisation of the Central Belt of Scotland. The Museum will continue to provide a focal point for activities of veterans and serving soldiers.

Major Redevelopment

Support from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Environment Scotland and other donors has enabled us to start work on this major redevelopment project, but we still need your help to raise the remaining funds and ensure we can welcome you to our new Museum in 2020.

We want you to be part of this exciting journey so will keep you up to date here with news as the work progresses. We will also regularly be updating our Facebook and Twitter with images of how the work is progressing, so check there for the latest pictures.

Building update

The end of 2019 was certainly interesting as the King’s Old Building continued to throw up challenges. Perhaps the most exciting is the discovery a void beneath the kitchen which is thought to be part of a passageway dating from the time of Mary, Queen of Scots joining the Palace with the Chapel Royal. Investigations are continuing and we will keep you posted. A more mundane problem was presented by the suspension of the staircase, but that has been resolved.

Historic Environment Scotland have also been incredibly hard at work. The entire building has been replumbed and rewired; all the windows have been refurbished; the roof and exterior walls repaired.

Elmwood of Glasgow have been appointed the fit-out contractors and new cases are being produced which will improve the conservation and display of the collection.

Here’s a taster of the story boards’ new look  ……

Another busy couple of months on all fronts.

Veterans’ Foundation comes up trumps!

Our thanks to the Veterans’ Foundation and all who support this worthwhile charity through the Veterans’ Lottery. The Foundation has given out over £2 million in grants to organisations which help serving and former members of the Armed Forces and their families.

We are thrilled to be the first military museum to have received a grant. The funding will be used to develop and deliver activities, both in the museum and throughout communities across our traditional recruiting grounds. By taking the museum into local communities through pop up displays, handling sessions and other activities, we can engage more people, ensuring the legacy of The Argylls is remembered.

No time to rest….

In preparation for the museum reopening, our Volunteers have been hard at work.

Thanks to Historic Environment Scotland volunteers were able to join their staff training day – ‘Working with Family Groups’. As well as the chance to exchange ideas with HES colleagues, the day provided opportunities to develop skills and reinforce good practice. The session on using objects as a hook to help learning emphasised the value of our regular handling sessions which are held in the Castle.

Schools and community groups can also benefit from our new handling boxes which are available to borrow.  Recently staff and a volunteer hosted our first handling session for the history group with visual/hearing impairments at Forth Valley Sensory Centre. This was a great success and will be developed to suit other groups.

The boxes are in great demand. To Book your Box, contact education@argylls.co.uk for more information.

Building update

The building work continues apace. With one staircase installed, the other is about to go in, which will complete the rebuilding works. The focus is now on completing the rewiring, laying floors and plastering.

It has been a very busy couple of months, with lots going on both in and out of the Museum.

St Andrew’s Society of Upper South Carolina

We were delighted to welcome members of The St Andrew’s Society of Upper South Carolina as part of their Scottish road trip. The group, hosted by 2SCOTS, were welcomed to the Green Room at Stirling castle where the Curatorial Team had assembled some objects from the Collection for them to examine. The ram’s head snuff mull, feather bonnet and red doublet were particularly popular!

Stirling Military Show

A torrential downpour did little to dampen spirits at Stirling Armed Forces Day. It was a great day meeting old and new friends. It also provided the first opportunity to trial our new handling boxes, which proved extremely popular with young and old alike. Funding from the MacRobert Trust helped purchase the new cases.

The handling boxes were also in use at Stirling Central Library when visitors were able to learn about researching Argyll family members. The boxes can be borrowed by schools and organisations. Please contact Linda at education@argylls.co.uk for further details.

One small step for man, one giant step for mankind!

The steps (or stairs!) are finally in! The new staircase from the final gallery down to the ground floor shop will make access much easier. The original spiral stone staircase is now reserved for staff.

 Volunteer Awards

Despite the Museum being closed our Volunteers have still been busy with regular pop up handling sessions in Stirling Castle and elsewhere. We’re thrilled that their efforts have been rewarded as they have been shortlisted for an award at the Stirlingshire Voluntary Enterprise Inspire Volunteering Awards 2019! Good luck to all!

Conservation update

Thanks to our supporters, conservation work has been completed on Pipe Major McLeod’s bagpipes. These pipes inspired the 93rd Highlanders into battle at the Relief of Lucknow. The soldiers’ bravery was later recognised by the award of seven Victoria Crosses.

The work was funded in part by a donation from Armed Forces Veterans Association Dumbarton and we were delighted to be able to show their representatives how their support had helped.

Fundraising continues for the conservation of the Balaklava Pipes. You can donate here.

Arise Sir Boyd

Our congratulations go to Boyd Tunnock, inventor of Tunnock’s Teacake, and a great supporter of the Thin Red Line, who is knighted for services to business and charity. We are delighted that his amazing contribution to charity has been recognised.

Selfies in Stirling

Despite the Museum being closed for building works, there is still plenty going on. The team took ‘Hamish’ and some items out into The Thistles shopping centre. Visitors had the opportunity to try on head gear from the Museum, including a feather bonnet made from ostrich feathers. At our Easter Crafts in Stirling Castle there were plenty of volunteers who had a go at making their own glengarries. 

When you can’t come to the Museum, the Museum can come to you!

The first of our new handling boxes are nearly ready for use by schools and community groups. There are 4 new themed boxes:

• WWII Home Front
• WWII On the Front
• WWI
• Victorian Soldier

These should be available from June and can be booked by contacting education@argylls.co.uk. It may be possible for one of our staff or volunteers to come and present a workshop.

WW2

WW1

Victorian Soldier

The Building

Nothing about a building project is straightforward, and when you’re dealing with a 15th century scheduled monument, the challenges increase ten-fold! Every aspect of the building works understandably requires close scrutiny by Historic Environment Scotland to ensure that it complies with the scheduled monuments consents. It is a painstakingly slow progress, but one which is necessary to preserve this amazing building. We all sighed a breath of relief when a main load-bearing wall was successfully removed.

Now you see it…

…. now you don’t!

And the Collection

We’ve been making the most of the museum closure to get conservation work done on some collection pieces. The Balaklava and New Orleans Colours have undegone extensive work to stabilise the fabrics, along with Campbelll of Lochnell’s kilt.

The pipes are calling!

We are now trying to raise £3000 to allow us to ensure bagpipes played at the Battle of Balaklava and the Relief of Lucknow can be conserved. Pipers have always played an honoured role in regimental history, inspiring soldiers on in the face of battle. If you can help, please donate at our JustGiving page

Fascinating!

Hard hats (and a Glengarry!)

The King’s Old Building which houses the Museum dates from 1496 and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and an A-listed building. In 1987 it was converted internally to house the Regimental Headquarters and Museum. Considerable work has been done to remove the 1987 interventions, including removing blockwork walls, plaster finishes, mechanical and electrical services and staircases.

Opening up First Floor

Ground floor vault

The impressive vaulted ground floor is being opened up for the first time and will house the new Highlights Gallery and Associations Room. The Highlights Gallery will showcase key items and allow those visitors with access issues or limited time, the opportunity to get a taste of Regimental history and the new Associations Room will tie in with affiliated organisations, whilst also providing a focus for our Veterans’ Association.

Out with the Old

Taylor and Fraser have been busy stripping the old museum bare in preparation of the demolition of walls next week. The logistics of clearing the rubble has proved a challenge as access to the 15^th century building at the top of the Castle is hampered by narrow gateways. Protective cladding of the stone gateways and some very skilled driving means that the rubble is able to be removed.

Staircase removed

Meanwhile the Museum team are getting their breath back after decanting to our temporary location. It has been a massive effort but the 12,000 objects in the collection are now safely installed in their new home. We’re taking this opportunity to get conservation and preservation work done on some of the items, including some which have not been exhibited before.

Last chance to see WW1 Remembrance Exhibition in Helensburgh

The Museum has recently supported a number of exhibits commemorating the end of WW1. The final exhibition, in partnership with Helensburgh Heritage Trust, is running until 28 February in Helensburgh and Lomond Civic Centre. Further details available HERE.

Sounds from Stirling Castle –  “Summon The Heroes” Concert on Saturday 16th March, 19.30 pm

Tickets are selling fast for what promises to be a great evening supporting two military charities. To book your tickets click the link HERE or contact Jennifer Campbell on 0141 814 4729 / Jennifer.campbell@erskine.org.uk.

The King’s Old Building

The King’s Old Building has seen many changes over the last 500 years and has now started its latest transformation as work progresses with the dismantling of galleries, making way for additional storage, and in preparation for buildings works. Clearing the Shop and 91/93 Gallery has allowed us to open up windows previously covered over to protect our objects, and expose parts of the King’s Old Building long since forgotten.

The building, which dates from c1496, is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and an A-listed building, and has been altered on a regular basis over the centuries. Much has been changed but a surprising amount has survived from the earliest period. In our new displays we aim to piece together the building’s story in a meaningful way for visitors.

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders connection with Stirling Castle dates back to 1794 when the 91st Argyllshire Highlanders were raised there. Stirling Castle was the Regimental Depot between 1873-1964, and remains the Regimental spiritual home. Since the 1980s the Museum has been housed in the King’s Old Building.

The new galleries provide the opportunity to incorporate the story of the Castle from a Stuart palace, to a Regimental depot to its current state. It is still possible to interpret many of the original features and understand how the building evolved from being a Royal residence. The King’s Old Building’s roof is considered original and project-related investigations have exposed the original floor levels, doors and windows. One of the main drivers for the project is the opening of the ground floor space to the public. This is where the majority of the historic fabric remains and will enable the visitor to follow the development of the Castle through its many phases of occupation.

Further trust funding success.

We are delighted to announce continuing success on the funding front this month. Particular thanks go to the Swire Charitable Trust for a further donation of £10,000 and the 51st Highland Division and Ross Bequest Trust. We would also like to thank Museums Galleries Scotland for their ongoing support.

Through their Skills for Success programme we are delighted to welcome Craig to the team, who joins us on a year’s learning placement.

Progress continues but we are still working hard to reach our target.