Museum’s hidden histories on display for Doors Open Days

As part of Doors Open Days on Saturday 1st September Inverness Museum and Art Gallery will be offering visitors a unique opportunity to view objects from the collection that are not ordinarily on display, either due to their fragile condition or the sensitive, and sometimes gruesome, associations they inspire.

National Doors Open Days is an annual opportunity for members of the public to gain free access to landmark buildings, private homes and private work spaces never normally on display.  The Highland programme is co-ordinated by The Highland Council and supported by High Life Highland.

A special pop-up exhibition entitled “100 years of Jacobean Tragedy, Intrigue and Romance” will take place on Saturday 1st September, and will include seldom seen objects such as a nightshirt purported to have been worn by King Charles 1st, and napkins- believed to have been used to mop up blood following his execution.  Also on display will be archive and artistic material relating to the Jacobite period and the romantic tradition that arose out of the aftermath of the 1745 rebellion, including a selection of firearms used during the rebellions and a first edition of the Vestiarium Scoticum published by the Sobieski Stuarts in 1842. 

Cait McCullagh, Assistant Curator – Engagement for High Life Highland said: “We are delighted to be able to give visitors an opportunity to view these special objects for Doors Open Day.  The one hundred year period leading up to the Battle of Culloden always attracts much interest. We are very fortunate to have been entrusted with the collection of Prince Frederick Victor Duleep Singh. Whilst many of the objects from  the Prince’s collection of Jacobite relics are on display in our galleries, there are some  items that because of their fragility will not survive  being on constant display.  This seems the perfect opportunity to open up the doors to our stores (as of course, the museum itself is already open) and share this Stuart Dynasty heritage with all our visitors. 

For Doors Open Days. this year, over 35 sites will be open in the Highland Council area, across 5 weekends in September, ranging from state-of-the-art modern facilities to ancient castles and nuclear bunkers. 

Buildings in and around Inverness will be open on Saturday 1st September. 
The Highland Archive & Registration Centre, which cost £10.5 million and  was opened by HRH The Earl of Wessex in 2009 is also open to the public for Doors Open Days. You can also explore Eden Court Theatre, one of the UK’s largest art multi-arts venues and Maggie’s Highland, where you can learn about the work of Maggie’s and the importance of their buildings and surroundings.
Or you can discover the historic churches along the banks of the River Ness.  Six churches are opening their doors, many offering special tours, music and refreshments.  These include the Gothic Revival style St Andrew’s Cathedral, Ness Bank Church and Free North Church, which has the tallest Spire in Inverness at 170ft.  Also open are Old High Church, which was used as a prison after the Battle of Culloden, St Mary’s Catholic Church, Inverness, which has impressive stained glass windows and Inverness Methodist Church with its distinctive bell tower.

Other historic buildings open on 1st September include Inverness Town House, a Victorian Gothic style building which contains a range of fine paintings, portraits and busts and Wardlaw Mausoleum, the late Medieval burial place of the Lovat Frasers.

For something completely different, visit the Highland Astronomical Society’s Jim Savage-Lowden Observatory at Culloden to learn about the night sky; take a guided tour of Inverness Sheriff Court which stands on the site of the Medieval castle of Inverness, discover the Highland Print Studio, an open access-studio with facilities for printmaking and digital imaging or explore the Council’s Emergency Centre – a top secret underground bunker built by the RAF during WWII.

Councillor Thomas Prag, Chairman of The Highland Council’s Planning, Environment and Development Committee said; “We are really happy to support this annual event across the Highlands.  Here is a chance to be a bit nosey and find out what happens inside these buildings.  As well as some of the oldest buildings in the Highlands, we are really pleased that visitors will be able to see round some of the more exciting and innovative new buildings, potentially our historic buildings of the future. I can personally recommend the Town House and the Old High Church in Inverness and the Methodist Church is a classic too.  We must thank all the building owners and managers who have opened their doors and made this event possible”.

The full Doors Open Day programme is now available to download from http://www.www.highland.gov.uk/, printed copies are available from libraries and service points.

28 Aug 2012