Exhibits and Collections

Members of the Historylinks Trust and Heritage Society continue to work on the cataloguing of museum artefacts, documents and photographs.

The museum catalogue includes images, captured by digital photography or the scanning of documents.

Flavour of Exhibits

A flavour of the objects on display in the museum is provided in 'Museum Exhibits' and 'From our collection'

In March 2008 the 'Scottish Museums Council' (now Museums Galleries Scotland) included the Historylinks website in the European 'Multilingual Inventory of Cultural Heritage in Europe' (MICHAEL) database www.michael-culture.eu , as a "good example of a small museum using online digital images and descriptions to increase access to stored collections".

2008 Project

Historylinks Image Library

To provide even greater public access to the complete museum collection in June 2008 the museum launched the Historylinks Image Library.

The image library provides access to descriptive data and images of the complete museum collection. It is interactive, allowing users to add comments concerning any image. Since launch in June 2008 image library comments have provided factual and background information to enhance our catalogue records.

2009 Projects

Dornoch War Memorial Project

A project to add personal details and images to Dornoch's World War 1 and 2 Rolls of Honour was undertaken as part of the museum's contribution to Scotland's 2009 Year of Homecoming.

The project led to an exhibition in the museum and the addition to the Historylinks website of a War Memorials page, launched 26 May 2009, which provides access to World War 1 and 2 Rolls of Honour and details of military graves and headstones in local cemeteries.

A page commemorating each individual serviceman and woman can be accessed from the Rolls of Honour lists. Where available photographs have been included and, with the kind permission of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, a copy of the CWG certificate recording the location of burial or, where there is no known grave, the memorial on which the indivual is listed.

Inevitably there are some details which remain unknown. In particular, we would like further information concerning:

Capt Ronald Hugh Walrond Rose, Cameronians, World War 1 Collection

At the end of 2008 Historylinks Museum was fortunate in acquiring, on 5 year loan, a collection of objects recording the military service of Captain Ronald Hugh Walrond Rose, 1st Battalion Cameronians (Scottish Rifles). We are most grateful to Mrs Carol Haq and other descendants of Captain Rose for permission to use his war diary, photograph albums, documents, uniform and accoutrements in displays and exhibitions.

Capt. Rose was the son of Katherine Gilchrist of Ospisdale (Sutherland), who commissioned the stained glass window in his memory (along with one to his brother) in Creich Parish Church in Bonar Bridge. Capt Rose name is included in the Roll of Honour in Dornoch Cathedral.

The war diary of Captain Rose is of great historical interest, particularly as it is complemented within the collection by photographs of places and incidents recorded in the text. The diary covers a relatively short period, from the Cameronians mobilization in late July 1914 to 22 October 1914 when Captain Rose was killed in action near Ypres, but it records the epic initial period of the war - the BEF retreat from Mons, the subsequent BEF counter offensive to the River Aisne, and the race to the sea, to fill the open flank, with the Cameronians redeployed to the area of Ypres.

An edited version of the war diary has been produced with expansion of military abbreviations and the addtion of maps, historical context and relevant photographs and extracts from documents within the Capt Rose collection. The diary may be accessed from the link at the beginning of this paragraph or from the right navigation panel.

In February 2011, as a result of viewing the war diary, Mrs Stella Barber contacted Historylinks Museum seeking contact with the descendants of Capt Rose. Her father, who served in the Cameronians during WW1, was actually holding Captain Rose, trying to move him to safety after he was first injured, when the Captain got the second shot that killed him. Her father was then shot and injured and whilst convalescing in Scotland he was able to write an account of what happened on Oct 22 1914 from his diary. Mrs Barber was linked with the Mrs Carol Haq and provided Historylinks with a copy of 'My Life & Experience in the Army 1906 ….1918' by her father Arthur Charles Honeyball. With her permission an extract from her father's account has now be added as a postscript to the War Diary of Captain Rose.

The Capt Rose collection photograph albums and other documents *** can be viewed in the Historylinks Image Library (link at left navigation panel). It is recommended that the 'Groups' drop down menu (see banner tag on Image Library homepage) is used to access the first image of a photograph album or set of documents. Once the first image has been displayed, the 'previous next' facility at top left of the Picture Page can be used to 'turn the page' within an album or document set.

*** It is acknowledged that the majority of, the photographs in the three photograph albums were taken by a fellow Cameronians officer, Lieutenant Robert Cotton Money, who later served with great distinction retiring in the rank of Major General. Copyright of the Money photographs is now held by the South Lanarkshire Council Museums Service, which has granted permission to Historylinks for website and museum display of the photographs on the premise that the albums, with their handwritten descriptive detail, were given by Lieut Money to the Rose family without precondition.

2011 Postscript to Capt Rose War Diary

As a result of viewing the Capt Rose War Diary on the Historylinks website, on 7 February 2011 Mrs Stella Barber (nee Honeyball) contacted the museum seeking contact with the descendants of Capt Rose. She said that her father, who served in the Cameronians during WW1, was actually holding Captain Rose, trying to move him to safety after he was first injured, when the Captain got the second shot that killed him. Her father was then shot and injured and whilst convalescing in Scotland he was able to write an account of what happened on Oct 22 1914 from his diary.

Mrs Barber was linked with the Mrs Carol Haq and later provided Historylinks with a copy of 'My Life & Experience in the Army 1906 ….1918' by her father Arthur Charles Honeyball. With her permission an extract from her father's account has been added as a postscript to the War Diary of Captain Rose. The account includes a sketch showing Arthur Honeyball's route back to the British lines after he was wounded.

Memories of Childhood in Dornoch 1939-45

A short book by Lorna Currie (nee Macrae) about her Memories of Childhood in Dornoch 1939 - 1945.

This is one of the publications available in the museum reference library. (Heritage Society members can also gain access to a loan copy) .

It is well illustrated and a fascinating insight into life in Dornoch seen through the eyes of a child during the war years.

2010 Projects

Armorial Stone Carving

This beautiful armorial stone of Sir Robert Gordon of Embo was on loan to Historylinks for a few months in 2010, provided are opportunity for public viewing.

This stone from Embo house, dated 1677, shows the initials of Sir Robert Gordon and his wife Dame Jean Leslie. It also shows heraldic symbols of both the Gordon and Leslie families.

At the end of June 2010 the museum embarked on a project to carve a replica of an armorial 'Marriage Stone'.

Stone mason, Joanne Coombs, of Dornoch, was commissioned by Historylinks Museum.

Joanne had two three day sessions at the museum working on the replica attracting an appreciative number of local residents and holiday visitors.

To launch the project primary five pupils from Dornoch Primary School were invited to come along to the museum on 21st July to see Joanne at work and to learn more about the local coats of arms found in this part of Sutherland. They then made their own Coats of Arms and these were displayed in Dornoch Cathedral throughout the summer months.

At the Annual General Meeting of the Dornoch Heritage Society on 30 September 2010 the replica armorial stone carved by Joanne Coombs was officially unveiled. .

Left to right: Peter Wild, Curator Historylinks, Joanne Coombs, Joe and Louise Lafferty of Embo House owners of the orginal stone

Field Walking

On the 30th April 2010 Primary Six pupils from Dornoch Primary School took part in a field walking exercise arranged by Jacquie Aitken, Historylinks Outreach Officer. Walking in lines across a field on the edge of Dornoch the children picked up over 1000 finds ranging from Medieval to 20th century pottery, animal bone, slate roof tiles, glass and metal objects. Two workshops followed at the school and the children were able to clean their finds and then draw the one which most caught their imagination.

2011 Exhibition - Dornoch Lives

Dornoch Lives

An exhibition produced for the Spring opening of the museum featured five noteworthy residents of Dornoch who each contributed to the heritage of the area.

Simon Bain

Simon Bain was a man of many parts, not least in his role as the Town Crier

Simon Bain's son Edwin visiting the Spring Exhibition and holding the bell used by his father when town crier.

Murdo Macpherson

Murdo Macpherson is remembered as a very courteous man, always ready to have a chat. He served in the Seaforth Highlanders during World War 1 and although he was a war hero, awarded the Military Medal, he was reluctant to talk about his war experience.,

Miss Kathleen Lyon

Miss Kathleen Lyon, a member of the Gilchrist family of Ospisdale became a skilled photographer and painter, She spent the last years of her life living in Dornoch

Robert Hamilton Bruce

Successful Glasgow businessman Robert Hamilton Bruce built 'The Grange' in Dornoch to house his art collection. The house later became the Royal Golf Hotel.

Miss Margaret Davidson

Miss Margaret Charlotte Davidson 1879-1978 taught at Dornoch Burgh School, Schoolhill in 1905 and moved to the new school site in 1913 where she taught until at least 1945 having obtained the status of head of her subject (she taught Modern Languages). She was active in the Guides movement and went to France in the First World War as an orderly at Royaumont 23 May 1915- 29 Aug 1917 and subsequently she became an auxiliary nurse. The image of the kitchen at Royaumont was extracted from a museum document about Miss Davidson,

2011 Projects

Dornoch Heritage Trail Guides

The museum has recently produced versions of the popular Dornoch Heritage Trail Guide in five languages, English, French, Spanish, German and Gaelic. This is the first time that the museum has produced a new publication in Gaelic and we are most grateful fo the Highland Council for providing the translation services.

The Heritage Trail Guide takes visitors on a tour of the historic landmarks of Dornoch and in the process of producing the French, Spanish, German and Gaelic versions the opportunity was taken to introduce line drawings relating to the text and provide a glossy, colour cover.

The guide is priced at £1.99, to cover printing and production, and is available in the museum shop and at a stand in the Dornoch Tourist Information Centre.

Museum Curator Peter Wild is seen holding copies of the five versions of the guide at the recently re-landscaped Mercat Cross in the High Street, Dornoch which is one of the locations featured in the guide.

Games and Songs Project

This project sought to explore, collect, document and re-enact through the medium of film, the old games played in the Parishes of Dornoch and Embo. The museum continued its successful collaboration with the local school, as well as developing the community intergenerational aspects of project activities. The outcome of the project was a short narrated film showing re-enactments of the old local games and rhymes from this area and a local games and rhymes booklet produced by the participants . The museum used this opportunity to enhance its childhood collection and construct a permanent games area outside the museum.

At the end of the project the film was shown to the participants, Dornoch Primary School Class P5 and each child was given a copy of the DVD.

2011 Events

Armed Forces Day flag raising ceremony - Presentation of DVD and CD pack to Heritage Societies and Centres

'Armed Forces Day', which is now celebrated UK wide on the last Saturday of June, is the opportunity for everyone to join together to pay tribute to our Armed Forces, past, present and future. On the day itself, and in the period leading up to it, events take place across the UK, ranging from national and regional celebrations, to local events. One of the official activities which occurs to observe the start of the week, is the raising of an unique Armed Forces Day flag within all the Boroughs, Districts and County Council areas in the United Kingdom.

Since 2009, on the Monday preceding Armed Forces Day, a flag raising ceremony has been held at the Highland Council Offices, Drummuie, Golspie. under arrangements by the Lieutenancy of Sutherland in conjunction with the Highland Council . The impressive Highland Council office building, originally the Sutherland Technical School, stands adjacent to the A9 in a prominent position overlooking the North Sea, and provides a splendid backdrop for the flag raising event.

At the Flag Raising Parade held at Drummuie on Monday 20 June 2011 Dr Monica Main, Lord Lieutenant of Sutherland, presented the Queen Elizabeth Cross to Mrs Olive Kinnear of Brora in respect of her son Sergeant Donald Bruce Kinnear, Royal Army Pay Corps, who was killed during the 1991 Gulf War. Mrs Kinnear was accompanied by her daughter Hazel. The Elizabeth Cross and Memorial Scroll are granted to the next of kin of UK Armed Forces personnel, who have died on operations, in national recognition of their loss and sacrifice. The Elizabeth Cross is not a posthumous medal for the fallen but an emblem demonstrating tangible national recognition of Service families for their loss.

Following this special presentation, Mrs Flower Thomson Deputy Lieutenant presented veterans with their badges and, to mark the 2009 and 2010 Drummuie ceremonies, representatives from all the Heritage Societies and centres in Sutherland were presented with a pack containing a booklet, CD and two DVDs for preservation in their archives. The pack presented to Dornoch Heritage Society now features on the Historylinks Image Library so that the contents may be made available to the widest possible audience. (Enter 10260 in the Image Library search box and then use the next button below the image description view successive images)

Cycling legend Lance Armstrong's invitation cycle ride from Dornoch 17 July 2011

Cycling legend Lance Armstrong's open invitation on Twitter for a bike ride in Dornoch, Sutherland met with a fantastic response. The seven times Tour de France champion led a 30-mile (48km) round route starting at The Eagle Hotel, Dornoch shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday 17 July 2011.

A large following of cyclists, estimated at between 500 - 1,000, and a large crowd of spectators gathered in Castle Street, Dornoch for the event. The ride, blessed with a sunny late afternoon, took a circular route from Dornoch, via the Embo Road to Loch Fleet, then crossed the A9 short of The Mound to take the Loch Buie road to Bonar Bridge, thence returning via Spinningdale and Clashmore.

The large gathering demonstrated the power of the internet and 21st century communication, with one Dornoch resident alerted to the event by a mobile text from a friend in Italy who had seen the 'tweet' on twitter!

A set of photographs can be viewed by inserting 10408 in the search panel on the homepage of the Historylinks Image Library (link in left panel)

Last updated: 19 January, 2012