Hugh Miller's birthplace cottage in Cromarty set to be first to light up for advent window trail in Black Isle town as festive countdown begins
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AN historic venue celebrating the most famous son of a Black Isle town has been given the honour of being first to light up as part of an advent trail.
Hugh Miller's Birthplace Cottage is the first venue in Cromarty to light up for the festive season's Advent Window Trail through the town.
The trail will see 22 properties around Cromarty taking part in the living Advent calendar project which aims to spread festive cheer in the countdown to Christmas. Every evening up until Christmas Eve, each participating household will illuminate its own window design, forming the Black Isle town's very own Advent trail.
The National Trust for Scotland, which cares for Hugh Miller's Birthplace Cottage and Museum, is delighted to lend a window of the historic cottage for the trail launch. Built in the 1700s, the cottage was the childhood home of Cromarty's most famous son, the geologist, fossil hunter and writer, Hugh Miller.
Together with the next-door museum dedicated to Miller's work and times, the cottage is a major visitor attraction and at the heart of Cromarty life.
I had read a piece in a magazine about an Advent window trail and thought we could try it in Cromarty. It was so well received that lots of people asked if we were doing it again this year, so we have - Dr Alix Powers-Jones
At the launch party at dusk on Wednesday (December 1), the illumination will be lit in the window of the Church Street cottage, marking Advent and the start of the Cromarty Window Trail.
Dr Alix Powers-Jones, property manager at Hugh Miller's Birthplace Cottage and Museum, said: "We are delighted to take part in this community-wide Advent Windows Trail and honoured to be asked by organiser Becky Richmond to be the very first window on the trail. I am very much looking forward to seeing all the Advent windows going up around the town."
Organised jointly by the congregations of the West Church and St Regulus Episcopal Church in Cromarty along with the children's Sunday Club, the trail was held for the first time last year and proved a big hit, with people coming from all over the Black Isle to see the windows. It was the idea of Becky Richmond, an elder at the West Church who helps run the Sunday Club.
She explained: "Last year, due to the pandemic restrictions, we couldn't put on anything Christmassy for the children. We thought what we can do to bring some colour to Cromarty and get people out and about at a time when many were feeling isolated and get them chatting about something nice. I had read a piece in a magazine about an Advent window trail and thought we could try it in Cromarty. It was so well received that lots of people asked if we were doing it again this year, so we have."
This year's theme is Christmas Carols, and each household will create their own design, taking inspiration from a different carol. The windows are made using black card and coloured tissue paper. When they are placed in a window, a light is placed behind them, giving a stained-glass window effect.
Becky said: "Last year we encouraged members of the congregations and children from the Sunday Club to do windows, but this year it has been opened up to the whole community. It's really nice to have Hugh Miller's Birthplace Cottage and Museum in the town and for it to be taking part too."
On December 24, when the final two lights will be revealed at the two churches, there will be a community parade from St Regulus to the West Church when children will be encouraged to dress up in shepherds' clothing and Santa will be in attendance.
Watch the NTS Hugh Miller's Facebook page and the West Church, Cromarty, Facebook page
for details about the trail route.
The trail runs until January 2. People are asked to take care on the road outside Hugh Miller's Birthplace Cottage when viewing the window as there is no pavement at this point. For further information about Hugh Miller's Birthplace Cottage go to: www.nts.org.uk/visit/places/hugh-millers-birthplace
The National Trust for Scotland is the conservation charity that over 90 years has saved, maintained and shared many of the country’s most loved places, rich with history, heritage, nature and culture. The charity celebrates Scotland’s heritage and with more than one hundred places in its care, there’s a place for everyone to love.
