Tain & District Museum
Encyclopedia
The Tain & District Museum, part of the larger Tain Through Time centre, is located in Tain
, Ross-shire
, Scotland
, and opened in 1966, the 900th anniversary of Tain's charter.
Rosemary Mackenzie, the museum's first curator, was particularly interested in the town's history and had for years been collecting items of local interest, especially after the re-organisation of local government in 1975 when much valuable material might have been re-located away from Tain. The growing collection was held in what had been the caretaker's cottage of the Old Collegiate Church, built in the 1880s.
Perhaps the most important and certainly the rarest items are the C18 and C19 examples of Tain silver. In 1997 Tain silver was the subject of the first exhibition mounted by the museum and included not only examples from the Museum's own collection but also items from individual and corporate owners including one from the Royal Collection
at Windsor
. This example of Tain Silverwork was exhibited in the Empire Exhibition in Glasgow
in 1938.
Tain Through Time also includes an old schoolhouse, now called The Pilgrimage, with a gallery illustrating King James IV
pilgrimages to Tain as well as housing a shop and office.
Also on the Tain Through Time site is the Collegiate Church whose status was confirmed by Papal bull
from Innocent VIII issued in 1492.
The Tain & District Museum is staffed by local volunteers whose teamwork, enthusiasm and dedication was recognised by the Glasgow Herald newspaper..
Centre and assists Rosses researching their clan roots. It tells the story of the clan down the centuries and links this to Clan Ross activities today. Information on the clan is available in a selection of books, DVDs together with other Ross mementos.
There was a large and active local East Ross population in Pictish
times, (approximately 50BC to 900AD). They erected many carved stones which are now either standing in-place, displayed in Edinburgh
, or preserved in Tain in the museum, such as the Ardjachie Stone
.
Tain
Tain is a royal burgh and post town in the committee area of Ross and Cromarty, in the Highland area of Scotland.-Etymology:...
, Ross-shire
Ross-shire
Ross-shire is an area in the Highland Council Area in Scotland. The name is now used as a geographic or cultural term, equivalent to Ross. Until 1889 the term denoted a county of Scotland, also known as the County of Ross...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and opened in 1966, the 900th anniversary of Tain's charter.
Rosemary Mackenzie, the museum's first curator, was particularly interested in the town's history and had for years been collecting items of local interest, especially after the re-organisation of local government in 1975 when much valuable material might have been re-located away from Tain. The growing collection was held in what had been the caretaker's cottage of the Old Collegiate Church, built in the 1880s.
Perhaps the most important and certainly the rarest items are the C18 and C19 examples of Tain silver. In 1997 Tain silver was the subject of the first exhibition mounted by the museum and included not only examples from the Museum's own collection but also items from individual and corporate owners including one from the Royal Collection
Royal Collection
The Royal Collection is the art collection of the British Royal Family. It is property of the monarch as sovereign, but is held in trust for her successors and the nation. It contains over 7,000 paintings, 40,000 watercolours and drawings, and about 150,000 old master prints, as well as historical...
at Windsor
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
. This example of Tain Silverwork was exhibited in the Empire Exhibition in Glasgow
Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938
Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938 was an international exposition held at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, from May to December 1938....
in 1938.
Tain Through Time
The Tain & District Museum forms one part of the larger visitor centre on the site, the whole of which is called Tain Through Time.Tain Through Time also includes an old schoolhouse, now called The Pilgrimage, with a gallery illustrating King James IV
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
pilgrimages to Tain as well as housing a shop and office.
Also on the Tain Through Time site is the Collegiate Church whose status was confirmed by Papal bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
from Innocent VIII issued in 1492.
The Tain & District Museum is staffed by local volunteers whose teamwork, enthusiasm and dedication was recognised by the Glasgow Herald newspaper..
Exhibits
The Museum changes many of its exhibits each season. 2011 displays include:- local Tain involvement with Highland regiments in the 18th and 19th centuries
- Transport in the 19th and 20th centuries: railways, shipping, roads, bicycles
- TobaccoTobaccoTobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
, snuffSnuffSnuff is a product made from ground or pulverised tobacco leaves. It is an example of smokeless tobacco. It originated in the Americas and was in common use in Europe by the 17th century...
and whiskyWhiskyWhisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
, 17th to 20th centuries - Croft houses and domestic life in HighlandScottish HighlandsThe Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
homes - Tain Royal Academy & Education, 19th & 20th centuries
- New technology in the home, mid-20th century
Clan Ross Centre
The Tain & District Museum functions as the Clan RossClan Ross
Clan Ross is a Highland Scottish clan. The original chiefs of the clan were the original Earls of Ross.-Origins:Clan Ross is a Highland Scottish clan first named as such by King Malcolm IV of Scotland in 1160...
Centre and assists Rosses researching their clan roots. It tells the story of the clan down the centuries and links this to Clan Ross activities today. Information on the clan is available in a selection of books, DVDs together with other Ross mementos.
There was a large and active local East Ross population in Pictish
Picts
The Picts were a group of Late Iron Age and Early Mediaeval people living in what is now eastern and northern Scotland. There is an association with the distribution of brochs, place names beginning 'Pit-', for instance Pitlochry, and Pictish stones. They are recorded from before the Roman conquest...
times, (approximately 50BC to 900AD). They erected many carved stones which are now either standing in-place, displayed in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, or preserved in Tain in the museum, such as the Ardjachie Stone
Ardjachie Stone
The Ardjachie Stone is an uncut but decorated red sandstone boulder discovered by farmers in 1960 on the Ardjachie Farm in the Tarbat peninsula of Easter Ross. It now stands outside of the museum of Tain. On it are depicted several dozen cup or ring marks probably dating to the Bronze Age. It also...
.
External links
- Tain Through Time - official site.
- A small part of the - Nigg StoneNigg StoneThe Nigg Stone is an incomplete Class II Pictish cross-slab, perhaps dating to the end of the 8th century. The stone was originally located at the gateway to the grounds of the parish church of Nigg, Easter Ross. It is one of the finest surviving Pictish carved stones, and one of the most...
- is preserved in Tain & District Museum. - British Listed Buildings - The Tain & District Museum; Tain Through Time is housed in listed buildings.
- Walk Highlands - Tain & District Museum is an important source for telling the historical story of Tain from medieval times.
- firstfoot.com - valuable things to do in Tain.
- VisitScotland.com - showing the location of Tain & District Museum.