Tain museum's shared gripping stories from times gone by strike a chord with fans as it announces closure for season
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THE Tain and District and Clan Ross Museum has closed for the season.
The museum has paid tribute to everyone who visited during the season and said that all being well, it hopes to begin welcoming visitors again in March 2021.
It said the staff will continue to work part-time behind the scenes and can be contacted on email at info@tainmuseum.org.uk
It added: "We have really enjoyed sharing our collection and stories using Facebook this year and will try and continue with our regular posts over the winter."
The museum's most recent series of shared stories include some blood curdling accounts of crime and punishment locally in days gone by to coincide with the Halloween season.
The shared stories have been appreciated by local history buffs, several of whom have already been in touch to voice their thanks.
"Thank you so much for sharing stories, mystery items and all your artefacts," wrote Lynne Maclennan. "It’s been fascinating and educational."
John Ross wrote: "Thanks for all the stories, really enjoyed them. Hoping to visit the Museum again sometime soon. All the best."
One recent entry stated: "Prisoners in Tain were kept in the Tolbooth only until their punishment was carried out unless they were imprisoned for debt, in which case they had to stay in jail until they had paid their original debt plus the costs of keeping them in jail.
"Some crimes were less usual than others; in 1766 an ox was charged with eating a lady’s gown (value 15s). This was not the ox’s first offence. Unfortunately, we do not have a record of the sentence passed.
"Normally punishments were handed out at the Mercat Cross which now stands at the tolbooth door. These punishments were harsh to discourage others from breaking the law."
An example from Tain and Balnagown documents included the 1687 case of Donald Pender "a common notorious thief". It said: "After drinking all day with Andrew Bain he returned that evening and broke in and stole 80 merks from their chest. The court ordains that you are to suffer punishment instantly, today, be taken by the hangman to the Meikle tree standing next to the schoolhouse and your ear to be nailed to it with one double-ended nail by the hand of the hangman."
