Fintry’s own museum opens
A new museum has appeared in Stirlingshire.
The village of Fintry is now proudly telling its own story in a purpose built community designed multi-purpose space.
At an opening ceremony of Fintry Museum, The Edmond Gallery, Hugh Edmond MBE, aged 83, unveiled the plaque before an invited audience.
Hugh is the last in his family living in the village with a direct line going back over 500 years in Fintry.
The museum tells the story of the community from 2000 years ago to present day and has involved many local artists and building trades in its construction.
“It has been a long journey,” said David Smith, chairman of Fintry Museum Society and former learning officer at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum.
“We only set out to plan some interpretation boards around the village to tell folk what they were seeing and what our story was, but that has absolutely mushroomed into something bigger and better than we could have ever hoped for.’’
The Fintry Museum has been built in a space donated by
Photos, film and odd artefacts
Fintry Sports and Recreation Club and has been almost completely funded by local donations. Many also gave their trades and time completely free, so it has enhanced pride in the community.
“This is a totally self-sustaining museum,” said David. “As we are in partnership with the sports club it can be open from 9am-9pm seven days a week, all but two days of the year, without staffing.
“It even has a great café on site. I don’t know any other museum that can do this.
“We are planning lots of future events. It can be an art or music space. It can have new exhibitions. It will have nostalgia and storytelling sessions for young and old alike. A programme of winter talks is also being developed.”
Odd artefacts include Harry Lauder’s walking stick and stock (including gramophone needles) from the village shop in the 1930s. A remarkable 10 metrelong timeline of 47 different year dates in Fintry’s story, has been illustrated by 17 village artists.
A beautiful drone film of more than 30 village sites is being edited and a new website shows old photographs and superb wildlife photos of Fintry today.
It can be found fintrymuseum.org.uk
[It] has absolutely mushroomed into something bigger and better than we could have ever hoped for David Smith
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