David Livingstone Birthplace Museum facts for kids
The David Livingstone Birthplace Museum is a special place in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is a biographical museum dedicated to the life of David Livingstone. He was a famous Scottish explorer and missionary. The museum is run by the David Livingstone Trust. It is located in an old building called Shuttle Row. This building is very important and is a category A listed building. The museum is part of the larger David Livingstone Birthplace site. This site includes historic grounds and the museum itself.
The museum is in old textile mill buildings. These buildings once housed 24 families, including Livingstone's family. David Livingstone was born here on March 19, 1813.
The museum's collection explores David Livingstone's life. It also covers his work and what he left behind. You can learn about his family and the history of the Blantyre Mills and Village. The museum shows Livingstone's journey from his childhood. He worked in the mill when he was young. Then, it follows his travels through Southern Africa. You can see his navigational tools and medical equipment. There are also items from his family and people he met in Africa.
Contents
History of the Museum
How the Museum Started
People wanted to create a special place to remember David Livingstone. So, a committee was formed in 1925. They bought the building where Livingstone was born in 1927. A famous architect named Sir Frank Mears helped plan the project. The museum officially opened to the public in 1929.
The idea for the museum came from concerns about the old Blantyre Cotton Spinning Works. This included David Livingstone's birthplace in Shuttle Row. The buildings were in bad shape. In 1913, which was 100 years after Livingstone's birth, the buildings were said to be unsafe to live in.
This led to a movement to save Shuttle Row. Sir Frank Charles Mears and Rev. James I. MacNair were key leaders. They formed a special committee in 1926. That same year, they decided to turn Shuttle Row into a museum. They asked for help from people all over the world.
On June 5, 1927, the committee successfully bought the site. With the buildings secured, work on Shuttle Row began. The museum's collection also started to grow. The official opening ceremony was on October 5, 1929. The 'Scottish National Memorial to David Livingstone Trust' became a legal organization in 1930.
New Beginnings for the Museum
Since April 2017, the David Livingstone Trust has been running the museum. The Trust received a large grant of £6.3 million. This money is for updating the museum, its collection, and the cafe buildings. This big project is called the Birthplace Project. It has received funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, Historic Environment Scotland, and the Scottish Government.
Museum Collection Highlights
Objects from Southern Africa
David Livingstone wrote and drew many things during his travels. These writings tell us a lot about the cultures and people he met in Southern Africa. Diaries and writings from people who knew Livingstone also give us clues. For example, Jacob Wainwright wrote an inventory of Livingstone's belongings after he died. This was written in Livingstone's last field diary.
Blantyre Cotton Works Items
The museum also collects items related to the Blantyre Cotton Works. This helps us understand David Livingstone's early life. It shows where he lived and worked. Collecting these items started in 1927. They acquired books from the 19th-century Blantyre Works Library. They also collected objects from the mill itself. These include bobbins used in the mill. There's also a handkerchief made at the Blantyre Works. Other items are the Works Bell and the boardroom table. The museum also has many old documents. Some objects represent the mill, like a model of Blantyre Works. There is also a spinning jenny, which is a machine used for spinning thread.
Art by Pilkington-Jackson
Charles D'Orville Pilkington Jackson was an artist. He was asked to create several bronze sculptures for the museum grounds. These sculptures show scenes from Livingstone's life. He also made a World Fountain. These were ready before the museum opened in 1929. After the opening, Pilkington-Jackson made another sculpture. It was carved from oak and called "The last Journey." It was put on display in 1930.
Art by Haswell-Miller
The museum's early founders wanted to show Livingstone's life through art. They wanted displays that told stories. Archibald Eliot Haswell Miller was chosen for this task. He created artworks to fit each gallery's theme. He made 8 wall panels using tempera paint. These panels told the story of David Livingstone's early life. They were installed before the 1929 opening. Later, four more murals were added in 1932. Many Christian, youth, and educational groups in Scotland helped pay for these murals. Since 1932, the museum has collected 19 works by Haswell Miller. These are paintings on canvas and board. They show themes and stories related to David Livingstone.
Blantyre Works Library Books
The Blantyre Works Library is a special collection of books. These books are from the 18th century to the early 20th century. Workers at the Blantyre Works Mill could read these books. David Livingstone and his family would have had access to these books when they lived in Shuttle Row in the 1800s.
See also
- List of Category A listed buildings in South Lanarkshire
- List of listed buildings in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire
- List of museums in Scotland
