The West Highland Museum,Taigh-tasgaidh na Gàidhealtachd an Iar, tells the story of the Scottish Highlands and the Islands. It aims to cover every aspect of West Highland history, including the that of Fort William, where it is located in a listed building in the centre of the town. It also hosts other exhibits for archaeology and wildlife. The museum, which has always been independent, is a member of Museums Galleries Scotland.
History
The West Highland Museum was founded in 1922 by Victor Hodgson, who gathered exhibits and books and displayed them in the PublicReading Room in Monzie Square. In 1925 funds were raised and the following year part of the present premises in Cameron Square, the British Linen Bank, was purchased. After more fund raising in the 1960s, an adjacent building to the south was purchased. The Museum is B listed and one of the oldest buildings in town.. In response to declining visitor numbers, the museum ceased charging for entry in 2011. It now has three part-time paid staff who operate with the support of approximately 40 volunteers. In 2010 the museum had 9152 visitors. This rose to 31315 the following year on abolition of entry charges and has increased annually to 60806 in 2019. The museum recorded a million visitors between 1979 and 2014.
Collection
The museum has eight rooms on three floors, with an extensive collection of exhibits relating to the Jacobites, including the 18th century "secret portrait" of Bonnie Prince Charlie which Victor Hodgson found in a London junk shop. Apparently random marks on the base were focused by the cylindrical mirror to show the Prince's image, a painting technique known as anamorphosis. The mirror would be removed when the owners needed to hide their loyalty. Later royalty is represented by a collection of Victoriana, including the regalia gifted by Queen Victoria to her favourite servant, John Brown. The museum covers military history, with a focus on the Commando Basic Training Centre, set up during the Second World War at Achnacarry Castle near Spean Bridge. In 1936, during the demolition of the fort, the museum was gifted the pine panelling of the governor's room, which it used to create its own Governor's Room. This room also contains the birching table belonging to the burgh of Fort William, used to restrain people subject to judicial corporal punishment; birching was last used to chastise an offending youth in 1948. The round, mahogany wine table in this room is reputed to have belonged to of the fort at the time of the Massacre of Glencoe in 1692. Hill met MacIain, chief of the Glen Coe MacDonalds, in the fort prior to the massacre. The museum displays the material artefacts collected by Alexander Carmichael, the Gaelic folklorist best known for his six-volume Carmina Gadelica, an influential but controversial compendium of edited Highland lore and literature.The museum has a collection of bagpipes of interest to scholars. The oldest of these are claimed to have been played at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, while another pair was said to have been given to Bonnie Prince Charlie. The experts are sceptical.The Rough Guide describes the museum as "splendidly idiosyncratic".
Accessibility
Sited in an old building, the museum does present challenges to people with mobility problems. There is, however, a stairlift which enables many visitors with limited mobility to visit both floors of the display area. This can make it possible for wheel chair users to get to the upper floor.
Governance
The West Highland Museum Trust was incorporated as a company limited by guarantee on 15th November 2017 and has company number 581556. It was also registered as a charity on 24th November 2017 and has the Scottish Charity number SC 047954. The West Highland Museum Trust commenced operating the Museum from 1st January 2018, prior to which the governing body was the West Highland Museum, which was administered through a trust deed and had charity number SC 014287.
