History Lesson
A New Museum for Linlithgow
A West Lothian group has been given a £ 240,000 Lottery boost.
Linlithgow Heritage Trust (LHT) received the grant from The National Lottery for the “A New Museum for Royal Linlithgow” project.
The project aims to enable community involvement in the development, delivery and interpretation of heritage and provide opportunities for local people to find out about the history of Linlithgow.
Work will start on the project early in the new year and the museum will open its doors in January 2019.
The project will relocate Annet House Museum to a new space in West Lothian Council’s new £4 million Linlithgow Partnership Centre, Tam Dalyell House in the heart of town.
The Partnership Centre will open in early 2018 and provide a host of local services such as a library, Customer Information Services, Local History Library, Family History Society and Linlithgow and District Community Day Care Centre. There will also be accommodation for Police Scotland who will be relocating from nearby.
The museum will also feature three new galleries and a bespoke community space.
Volunteers from across the area will develop a range of heritage-based skills, while locals will have a chance to take part in exciting activities from art workshops to a community archaeology dig.
The £733,000 project to relocate Annet House Museum has received match funding from a number of organisations, including West Lothian Council, LEADER, and Museum Galleries Scotland.
Willie Morrison, chair of LHT, said: “We’re absolutely delighted the Heritage Lottery Fund has given us this grant. This project means we can create a new home for Linlithgow’s museum which will be enjoyed for generations to come.
“It also provides a great opportunity to get local people involved in heritage, meaning our museum will really belong to the local community.”
Lucy Casot, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund in Scotland, added: “We are delighted to give support to the Linlithgow Heritage Trust. They have recognised the value of the museum and its artefacts, not just as an important record of the town’s past which needs to be kept safe but as a focus for community activity today.”
Linlithgow has a unique place in Scottish history. Its associations with the Scottish Royal family especially Mary, Queen of Scots, makes it worldfamous, while its traditions such as the Marches dating back to the 16th century add to its significance for locals and visitors alike.
The objects and displays in the museum will tell these stories, but also show how ordinary people helped create this extraordinary place.
Councillor Lawrence Fitzpatrick, leader of West Lothian Council, added: “This is wonderful news. The new Partnership Centre in Linlithgow will harness civic pride and provide customers and visitors with a fantastic facility, which has been transformed into a modern, vibrant local facility.
“Linlithgow Museum is an important part of the facility and we’re delighted the HLF have awarded Linlithgow Heritage Trust this funding.”
It’s a great opportunity for locals