Glenesk Folk Museum facts for kids
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| Established | 1955 |
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| Location | Tarfside, Angus, Scotland DD9 7YT |
The Glenesk Folk Museum is a cool place to visit in the Glen Esk valley, Scotland. It's in a village called Tarfside in Angus. This museum is special because local people from the community help run it. It's about 9 miles (14 km) north of the village of Edzell.
The museum is inside an old building called 'The Retreat'. This building used to be a special house for hunting trips, owned by the Earls of Dalhousie. Inside, you can see old items and papers that tell the story of the area. The museum also has a shop with gifts made by local artists and a cozy tearoom. They even show how old skills and crafts were done!
Contents
Discover the Museum's History
How the Museum Started
The Glenesk Folk Museum first opened its doors in 1955. A local schoolteacher named Greta Michie had the idea. She was inspired by other folk museums she saw in Scandinavia. She wanted to create a place where the history and traditions of Glenesk could be kept safe.
The Story of 'The Retreat' Building
The building where the museum is, 'The Retreat', has an interesting past. It was built in the 1840s by Captain J.E. Wemyss as a small house for retirement. Later, it was made bigger and used as a "shooting lodge" for hunting. The Earls of Dalhousie used it as a summer house too.
After a while, the building wasn't used much. But then, Lord and Lady Dalhousie helped Greta Michie set up the museum there. This gave the old building a new life! The museum was updated and made even better in 2007.
Explore the Museum's Collections
What You Can See Inside
The museum has many interesting items arranged in different rooms. Each room shows a different part of local life. You can find displays about music and old clothes (costumes). There are also rooms set up to look like they did in the 1850s, including a children's room!
Researching Family History
If you're interested in your family's past, the museum has a special room. It's an archive with old documents for finding out about your family tree (genealogical research). You can look at Census records from 1841 to 1891. There are also some records of births, marriages, and deaths from Glenesk and nearby areas like Edzell and Lethnot. This room has computers to help you with your research.
Unique Musical Instruments
The museum also has a small collection of musical instruments. One cool item is a special violin that was played for many years by a street musician in Aberdeen. Another interesting piece is a coach horn. This horn was used as late as the 1930s on one of the last horse-drawn stagecoaches in the United Kingdom!
Enjoy Facilities and Events
Shop and Tearoom
Since it first opened, the museum has sold items made by local people. You can still find these unique gifts in the museum's gift shop today. There's also a lovely tearoom where you can enjoy tasty home-cooked food. It's a great spot to relax after exploring the museum.
Activities and Workshops
The Retreat building also has rooms for meetings and events. Outside, you can walk along a nature trail and there's a play area for children. The museum often holds craft workshops where you can learn new skills. They also have other fun events like music shows and storytelling sessions.
