Day of celebration as Historylinks Museum in Dornoch opens its new Heritage Hub
On Saturday, September 21, the newly completed Historylinks Heritage Hub welcomed visitors with a soft opening. The official opening of the extension to the museum will take place at the beginning of the new season in 2025.
The project was funded by the National Heritage Lottery Fund, Museums Galleries Scotland and many other organisations who are credited in the museum.
Members of the Dornoch Heritage Society and the local community of Dornoch gave generously throughout the project, and work on the building began in November last year.
The Heritage Hub features new exhibitions about archaeology, locally made crafts, childhood and education, wool working, Dornoch Highland Gathering and the Dornoch Pipe Band.
The railway exhibition has been relocated from the existing museum and features a section of a Highland Railway carriage where visitors can sit and soak up the nostalgia while watching a selection of films about the Dornoch Light Railway.
The Hub is host to a tapestry created by Sutherland Stitchers as part of a NatureScot project ‘Species on the Edge’. The tapestry will be on display until the end of October.
Also on exhibition is the history of the East Sutherland Rescue Association and the silver trophies of the SWRI Sutherland Federation.
Historylinks’ community curation co-ordinator, Flora Lindsey, worked with the Cheryl Heggie School of Dance to interpret a dancing costume held in the museum archive for many years. The costume is now part of a display dedicated to Highland dancing.
Throughout the day, visitors enjoyed refreshments including freshly cooked crepes donated by Dornoch Co Op, and prepared by their staff, Louisa and Sean.
At 2pm the gathered crowd were treated to a Highland dancing performance by Charlotte Kavanaugh, Emma McKellaich and Alayna Ross accompanied by Piper Iain Hamilton. In between dances, Cheryl Heggie explained the fascinating history of Highland Dance.
Later on, members of Dornoch Heritage Society enjoyed an evening of food and wine while browsing the displays.
Curator Lynne Mahoney said: “The Heritage Hub is a dream come true for the Trustees, sub-committees, staff and volunteers of Historylinks who have worked so hard to complete the project. We are delighted with the new space and are looking forward to welcoming visitors and groups to our community room.”
