Hope Behind the Lens at Dunollie
Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds heralds the start of its 2022 visitor season focusing on a first showing of images captured on camera by one of its clan.
When doors open on Sunday April 3, visitors to the museum will be able to view a series of photographs taken by Hope MacDougall, the aunt of Clan MacDougall's present and 31st chief.
Hope, who died in 1998, never married and spent a large part of her life collecting and documenting a disappearing way of life in rural Scotland.
Hope Behind The Lens will stay on show until the visitor season ends on Monday October 31.
Oban Railway Station and a fisherman on Loch Feochan are among just some of the images on display.
Dunollie's Florence Menard explained: 'Hope travelled all over Scotland and took thousands of photographs, some as far away as Shetland, but we chose to focus on places people here might be able to recognise or perhaps even remember today.'
The museum has several thousands of Hope's photographs digitalised in its archives but has brought just a selection back to view in print.
Rooted in Argyll by her deep family history, Hope's teenage diaries showed a talent for observation and recording that would go on to define her life.
She went on to become part of a notable group of Scottish women collectors in the 20th century, amassing more than 10,000 artefacts accompanied by detailed research into the crafts, livelihoods and lives of people across rural Scotland.
Her photography is less well known but she travelled widely with her camera from the 1940s onwards.
Although Hope was organised with her photographs there was one of a farmer in a field that she only described as 'agricultural'.
The image of a farmer spreading lime is believed to have been taken at Dunollie Beag Farm, with the side of Battleship Hill in the background.
'Some of us in the office thought it was Dunollie Beag but we weren’t sure, so I shared it on Facebook and Twitter and eight other
people suggested it must be that farm,' said Florence. A new ticketing system will start on Sunday April 3 at the museum, castle and grounds. All tickets will be annual tickets which means they can be used as many times as visitors want, right up until Monday October 31 - 'great news' for people who live on the doorstep and price-wise not making much difference to one-off visitors from a far.
They will cost £8 for adults, £7 concession, £4 for children and free for tots aged three and younger as well as for carers.
'This means people in the area who visit once this summer can come back any other time without having to pay again, they will also have access to the Kettle Garden Café and would be able to come by even just to walk their dog or for stroll up to the castle ruin and enjoy the view anytime Sunday-Friday between 11am4pm,' said Florence.
A call has also gone out for more help from volunteers. Anyone interested is invited to go along to an open day on Thursday March 17 between noon and 2pm to find out more. 'We are particularly in need of museum stewards and gardening volunteers but we would encourage anyone to come by even if there interests lie somewhere else.
'Someone interested in a more social role could get involved with one of our other groups and give us a hand during some of our events or someone trying to gain experience in marketing or tourism would also be welcome to come along to our open day for a chat. It’s a chance to really get a feel of Dunollie, meet part of our team and find out more about what opportunities there are,' added Florence.