Stirling’s military museum wins top status
Stirling’s Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum has received a special accolade.
The collection at Stirling Castle is among 10 regimental museums around the country to have collectively won `national signficance’ status.
It was awarded by Museums Galleries Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Government.
And it adds to the profile of the attraction which is embarking on a £2.6 million development project following a fundraising drive under the patronage of Prince William, the Earl of Strathearn.
Wednesday’s announcement of the award, marking the 10th year of the MGS scheme, was made by Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop and MGS chief executive Joanne Orr.
Chief executive of the Argylls museum Rob Layden said: “This award provides the museum with national accreditation status that will help secure its sustainable future.
“The endorsement of the Scottish Government enables us to form partnerships that will help encourage visitors to see our unique and fascinating collection for themselves.
“National significance also underlines the historical and cultural value of the collection here at Stirling Castle, reinforcing our case that the regiment’s story is closely intertwined with the history of Scotland. We hope it will encourage more people to come and see the unique collection we have here.”
Other collections to be included in the award are those of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, Royal Regiment of Scotland, Royal Scots, Royal Highland Fusiliers, Kings Own Scottish Borderers, Cameronians, Black Watch, The Highlanders (Queens Own Highlanders Collection) and Gordon Highlanders.
Those collections are held at Fort George, Aberdeen, Perth, Glasgow, Hamilton, Edinburgh Castle and Berwick Upon Tweed.
The regimental museums award is only the second distributed collection application to be successful following the award to National Burns Collection held by eight different institutions.
As well as military material such as uniforms, insignia and weapons, the regimental museums also hold fine and decorative art, rare manuscripts and original photographs.
An MGS spokesperson said: “Their combined collection comprises over 160,000 objects which together tell a part of Scotland’s story, crucial to the nation’s identity, which spans from before the Act of Union up until the present day. The recent centenary commemorations associated with WWI have underpinned the importance of the collective memories preserved within the collection.”
We hope it will encourage more people t o come