Decades old tin of peas removed from museum
◆ The peas were used to tell the story of a former supermarket giant, writes Alison Campsie
It might not be the most important exhibit in a Dundee museum but in terms of creating a sense of nostalgia, it certainly held its own.
Now, a 30-year-old tin of William Low’s peas on show at The Mcmanus in the city has come off display after concerns were raised about the ageing contents of the tin.
The peas were used to tell the story of the former supermarket giant that was once a mainstay of Scottish high streets.
Julie Mccombie, curator of social history at the museum and art gallery, said the tin decorated with the ‘iconic’ William Low’s logo was at risk of damage after a small piece of corrosion was detected.
When the nineties classic was opened, staff said the peas “smelled fine” decades later, and scotched rumours the move was due to health and safety.
Ms Mccombie said the decision to remove the tin of peas, which had a best before date of August 1995, was taken in order to save the label and tin for the collection.
The supermarket – which was usually just known as ‘Willie Low’s’ - was founded in Dundee in 1868.
Ms Mccombie said: “The label and tin are iconic, that is what brings back the memories.
“It’s not really about the peas. “There was a little bit of corrosion on the label which we were concerned about. If any of the rust had gone into the peas it could have really damaged the tin and the label, so the decision was made to remove the peas.
“When we opened up the peas, they looked good and they smelled fine. You probably could have eaten them.
“This really was about preservation – it wasn’t a health and safety issue.”
Ms Mccombie said the empty tin could go back on display in the future but that a re-organisation of exhibits was now under way.
The firm was founded by William Rettie and James Low with the chain expanding through small Scottish towns, particularly in the North East, and later taking a foothold in Yorkshire and Cumbria.
William Low was bought out by Tesco in 1994 in a deal worth £257 million.
At the time, Tesco only had 17 stores in Scotland with 57 William Low shops taking on the name of their new owner.
The Mcmanus, which is managed by Leisure & Culture Dundee, tells the story of Dundee and its rich history.
It has eight galleries laid out on two floors, taking visitors on a journey through 400 million years to witness how a small settlement developed into the City of Dundee as it is today.
Exhibits relate to the life of early man in the area, stunning paintings and decorative art through to artefacts from industries past and present, giving an insight into Dundee and its people.
Recent exhibitions featured a major sculpture installation by Doug Cocker, a rare studio portrait by John Duncan and work by Joan Eardley, Alberta Whittle and Katie Paterson amongst many other artists. Meanwhile, Hidden Histories: Exploring Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in Dundee’s art collection is running throughout 2023.