Museums in Annan and Dumfries

ADMISSION FREE

Exhibitions and Events October 2018 - March 2019 Welcome

We hope that something in our local programme of exhibitions and events will appeal to you. To download a PDF of this THE ARCHAEOLOGY AND KIRKCUDBRIGHT ARTISTS programme visit www.dumgal.gov.uk/artsandmuseums COLLECTIONS OF DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY COUNCIL ARE We are very excited to say that we will have a new web site coming soon at www.dgculture.co.uk Christmas Opening Hours

Please note that contrary to normal opening hours the museums will be closed on RECOGNISED AS Tuesday 25 and Wednesday 26 December 2018 and Tuesday 1 and Wednesday 2 January 2019. NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT COLLECTIONS AWARDED BY MUSEUMS GALLERIES SCOTLAND ON BEHALF OF THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT EVENTS FOR SCHOOLS AND GROUPS

For further information on school or group visits please call Dumfries Museum on 01387 253374.

Why not visit our museums in Dumfriesshire? Loans boxes Special workshops We offer special workshops The museums are free to visit and Camera Obscura We have a wide range of loans based on some of our presentations at Dumfries Museum are free to school groups boxes available for schools and temporary exhibitions - look community groups to borrow out for further information on when booked in advance. If you are studying a specific topic free of charge. These cover GLOW or through education and think that we can help please call us. We have a range of topics such as Robert Burns, email circulars. Domestic Life, Education and worksheets which may help structure your visit. Childhood and many more.

To keep up to date with our news and get additional information follow us on Facebook (@DumfriesMuseum) and Twitter (@DumfriesMuseum). Cover: Curator Alf Truckell at Dumfries Museum c1950. EXHIBITIONS AT TALKS AND EVENTS AT Annan Museum ANNAN MUSEUM ANNAN MUSEUM

Until Wednesday 31 October 2018 Roman Invaders in the Solway? Bank Street, Annan DG12 6AA. The story of the Priestside anchor and Tel: 01461 201384 the ships that carried Roman invaders Admission free to our shores 2000 years ago. We know that the Roman Army Open until 31 October 2018 was almost invincible on land of Monday - Saturday its own choosing but what is less well known is that it was closely 11am - 4pm supported at sea by a formidable navy. For many years an ancient This family friendly museum houses a permanent exhibition on iron anchor from Priestside near the history of Annan and the surrounding area. A fascinating Annan has been on display in Thursday 11 October 2018, 6.30pm journey through time takes visitors from the prehistoric period Dumfries Museum. New studies up to the era of nuclear fission. Displays include costume, have revealed that this may be What was the role of the Roman First World War memorabilia, town regalia and a remarkable one of the rarest survivors of an navy in conquering Scotland? collection of paintings depicting Annan and the Solway shore. invading Roman navy. Find out Could the Priestside anchor be a relic of Look out for a 4000 year old Bronze Age burial urn, mummified more about the anchor and this Roman invasion? Historian Dr John baby crocodiles and the 110 year old piece of chocolate! The how the Romans used boats Reid presents evidence of the Roman’s use museum also hosts a lively programme of special exhibitions to conquer and colonise. of boats around the coast of Scotland and and events throughout the season, together with visitor conservator Will Murray describes a new information and a shop stocking pocket money buys as well as study that is comparing ancient anchors, local history books and greetings cards by local artists. placing the Priestside anchor in context. Open for special events during the winter season. Museum re-opens for the spring season on Monday 1 April 2019. The first exhibition for 2019 will be Annan Amateur Art Club’s biennial display.

iii FREE FAMILY EVENTS AT ANNAN MUSEUM Suitable for aged 5 and upwards, all children must be accompanied by an adult. Please wear old clothes - workshops can be messy! Where booking is required this opens one month before each event. FEBRUARY HALF TERM Activities are free HOLIDAY 2019 Donations towards the cost of materials are always appreciated and help to make the Friday 22 February 2019 museum sustainable in the longer term. ZooLab - Animal Tracks Sessions start at 10am, 11am, 12noon, AUTUMN DROP IN FAMILY DAYS AUTUMN DROP IN 2pm and 3pm Be a real Nature Detective with ZooLab! Meet the Zoolab Thursday 18 October GALLERY ACTIVITIES animals and their intrepid rangers who will set you a Sessions start at 11am, FOR CHILDREN challenge! Can you identify all the animals’ tracks that they 12noon, 1pm and 2pm Until 31 October present you with? Romans used ceramic pots Monday to Saturday, Booking essential. Tel 01387 253374 to store and transport all Booking opens 22 January 2019 sorts of goods. Learn more 11am - 4pm from master potter Graham Gallery activities Taylor and make your own “Roman” pot to take home. inspired by the exhibition “Roman Booking essential. Tel 01461 201384 Invaders in the Solway?” • Dress up as a Thursday 25 October Roman or Iron Drop in 11am - 3pm Age local Make spooky pictures, decorations and masks for Halloween. • Make a Roman SPRING DROP IN GALLERY helmet ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN Saturday 24 November • Gallery trails, Easter egg hunt - Friday 19, Saturday 20 Drop in 11am - 3pm colouring sheets and Monday 22 April 2019 Crafty Christmas and quizzes Easter school holidays activities - Join staff and volunteers using Thursday 11 and 18 April 2019 mainly recycled materials to create cards, decorations and presents with Full details will be in our Spring 2019 programme that personal touch. available in March 2019. iv DUMFRIES MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS AND EVENTS AT DUMFRIES MUSEUM

The Observatory, Rotchell Road, Dumfries, DG2 7SW. Tel: 01387 253374 Admission free Open all year 1 October 2018 - 29 March 2019 Tuesday - Saturday Foyer Exhibition until Saturday 15 September - 10am - 1pm, 2pm - 5pm 26 January 2019 Saturday 1 December 1 April - 30 September 2019 Finding our Past Records of War Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm From prehistoric axe As the centenary commemoration of World War Sunday 2pm - 5pm heads to a post medieval One draws to a close we reflect on what people A treasure house of history in Dumfries and Galloway telling the story of the land gold ring, this exhibition from our area decided to record during and people of the region. Look out for fossil footprints left by prehistoric animals, the showcases recent 1914 -18 and to safeguard afterwards. The wildlife of the Solway, tools and weapons of our earliest people, stone carvings by archaeological finds exhibition considers, what we now understand Scotland’s first Christians and the everyday things of the Victorian farm, workshop made in our history rich from these records, and what we think may be and home. Museum activity trails and gallery investigations, visitor information and region. important in another 100 years. a shop with unusual and nostalgic toys, gifts and pocket money buys. On display are selected professional photographs from the collection of Annan photographer The windmill tower is reached via a spiral staircase - Frederick Gibbs (1888 - 1940) alongside amateur please telephone for further details. photographs, images of life at local Auxiliary The Camera Obscura at Dumfries Museum Hospitals, poignant studio portraits and powerful During the winter months (October to March), dependent on writing from the Front and the Home Front. The good weather, the Museum’s Camera Obscura can be viewed exhibition will also explore some of the less on Saturdays or during the October school holidays (Tuesday often studied aspects of the war - conscientious - Saturday, 13 - 27 October 2018). Groups of 6 or more can be objectors, trauma survivors and the role the accommodated at other times if booked in advance and staffing Royal Crichton Hospital played during this time. allows (Tel 01387 253374). Contemporary writing and photography inspired Charges apply to Camera Obscura presentations only. by the museum’s collection of war memorabilia Admission: Adults £3.40, Concession £1.70. will also be featured. v TALKS AND EVENTS AT DUMFRIES MUSEUM Booking is required unless otherwise stated. Please phone Dumfries Museum on 01387 253374 to reserve a place. Events are free unless otherwise stated. Donations towards costs are always appreciated and help to make the museum sustainable in the longer term.

Saturday 8 December - 2019 Foyer Exhibition Friday 8 February - Saturday 30 Saturday 12 January Thursday 14 February - March 2019 Collecting Culture - Dolls January 2020 Queen of the South - A privately owned collection of “Mr Museum” The First 100 years antique bisque and vintage porcelain Alfred Edgar Truckell (Alf) was born A special exhibition celebrating the dolls created by English, American 100 years ago on 14 February 1919. centenary of Queen of the South and German artists and designers This exhibition features star items Football Club, which will include items will be on public display for the collected by Alf while he was curator of historical interest and memorabilia first time. The collection includes of Dumfries Museum 1948 - 1982. from 1919 to the present day. dolls from the famous makers such During this time he expanded the as Armand Marseilles, Shoenau & museum collection, increased visitor Hoffmeister, SFBJ (Société Française numbers, opened the Old Bridge House Saturday 6 April - de Fabrication de Bébés et Jouets) and as a museum of domestic life and Sunday 2 June Madame Alexander along with vintage started a museum in Annan. He was Japanese Hina and Ishimatsu Gofun a well known figure in the town and Roman Invaders in the dolls. was awarded an MBE for his services Solway? to learning The story of the Priestside anchor and the ships that carried Roman invaders to our shores 2000 years ago. vi Thursday 4 October, Tuesday 16 October 2018, 6.30pm Thursday 1 November 2018, Sunday 11 November, 2.30pm 6.30pm Society of Antiquaries of 6.30pm War and Peace: Hindsight - National Poetry Scotland lecture: Reflecting on The Feral Choir Day: The Iron Age and Roman Dr TB Grierson’s Museum Looking back through a modern lens this Trees with the occupation of Upper and Ethos performance will explore local connections to World War One - based on local newspaper Crichton Writers Eskdale, Dumfriesshire Guest speaker: Tina Fiske, Director, Cample Line extracts of the time, Dumfries Museum’s Join the Crichton Writers Guest speaker: Professor Roger Mercer stories, memories and artefacts. “War and for an evening of arboreal (MA FSA HonFSAScot FRSE HonMCIfA) Tina will reflect on how the Peace: Hindsight” was first performed to celebration with live extraordinary collection assembled The lecture will trace the development of great acclaim in 2014. The performance has readings of poetry and by Dr Thomas B Grierson in native Society in Eskdale and the likely now been updated to trace events of 1918 as prose about trees. Ecology, Thornhill in the 1860s and impact upon it of the presence of the they unfolded in our community a hundred biology, history, folklore and the ethos of the museum he substantial garrison in the Carlisle area. years ago. Over the past 15 years The Feral memory will be explored in then established in 1872 have The speaker will discuss local excavations Choir have steadily built their reputation for a stunning live set. Souvenir influenced the early programme of and examine the economy upon which intimate, absorbing performances combining poetry postcards will be Cample Line, a new independent both Roman and native depended. carefully researched text, spoken word and available, and refreshments contemporary arts organisation songs and this performance promises to make Professor Roger Mercer retired in will be served. and venue located just outside a unique contribution to the reminiscence and 2004. He then served as President of The Crichton Writers is a Thornhill. His papers, now commemoration of World War One. the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland group of Dumfries and in Dumfries Museum, have (2008), as a Trustee of the Discovery The performance will be followed by Galloway writers who meet provided inspiration for the Arts Programme Ireland, a judge in the British refreshments and an opportunity to visit the monthly in Dumfries at the organisation’s programme and Archaeological Awards competition and museum’s “Records of War” exhibition, Crichton Campus. Member’s exhibiting artists. You can find more continues to write on issues related to work has been prize- at www.campleline.org.uk Booking essential. Tel 01387 253374 prehistoric warfare. He is affiliated to the winning, widely published Entrance by donation at the door. Universities of Edinburgh and Durham. and anthologised. vii Thursday 22 November, Thursday 29 Thursday 14 February, 2019, Saturday 2 March 2019, Saturday 30 March 6.30pm November 2018, 6.30pm 11am - 3pm 2019 Records of War - 6.30pm The history of Free drop in event 8.15pm - 10pm “Little is known…” Tales of Mettle Dumfries Museum and Finds day with the Earth Hour 2019 Writing inspired by and the Kinmont its collectors Treasure Trove Unit - Celebrating the Willie Sword Diversity of Life the Records of War A talk by David Lockwood, Chance discoveries of artefacts Project Guest speaker: Dr recently retired curator. by members of the public on Earth Valentina Bold, University Dumfries Museum started have the potential to make a Join us for the global For the Records of War of Stirling soon after the Maxwelltown significant contribution to our Earth Hour party, project, local writers were To launch a new Astronomy Society opened understanding of Scotland’s past. highlighting the need invited to respond to exhibits publication, ‘Swords in the refurbished 18th century The role of TTU is to ensure that for action on climate in Annan and Dumfries the Stories’, this talk windmill tower as an observatory finds of cultural significance change. After the lights museums that told the story continues a tale begun in in 1836. Many changes have are protected for the benefit go out at 8.30pm join of World War One. 2017 with the exhibition taken place and the collections of the nation and preserved in us for refreshments and Join us for a celebration around the ‘Kinmont have developed over the years. museums across the country. If a candlelit storytelling of this writing as it is read Willie’ Armstrong sword. One of the museum’s curators, you have found an artefact while session inspired by the aloud. Refreshments will Dr Valentina Bold will Alfred Edgar Truckell (Alf), farming, gardening, or through diversity of life on earth. be served and there will be consider the significance was born 100 years ago on 14 hobbies such as metal detecting, Stories and readings on an opportunity to view the of swords as items of February 1919. bring it along. TTU staff will be the theme of animals by Records of war exhibition. record, representing visiting and will be delighted to Tom Hughes and JoAnne This writing project was led violent aspects of discuss your finds and answer McKay. Suitable for all by Vivien Jones, whose poem Scotland’s past, and any questions you may have ages. in the Imperial War Museum’s their afterlife in national about the Treasure Trove system. 100 Writers exhibition will consciousness. also be read. viii FREE FAMILY EVENTS AT DUMFRIES MUSEUM Suitable for aged 5 and upwards, all children must be accompanied by an adult. Please wear old clothes - workshops can be messy! Where booking is required this opens one month before each event. To reserve a place please phone Dumfries Museum on 01387 253374 during normal opening times. Activities are free Donations towards the cost of materials are always appreciated and help to make the museum sustainable in the longer term. Thursday 11 April 2019, 7pm Yuri’s night - Incoming AUTUMN DROP IN AUTUMN DROP IN GALLERY ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN Asteroid! What Could We FAMILY DAYS Until 1 December Do About It? Tuesday 16 October Tuesday to Saturday, Guest speaker: Duncan Lunan, Drop in 10am-12noon or 2-4pm 10am-1pm and 2-5pm full-time writer on astronomy and Make collage pictures inspired by the Drop in activities inspired by spaceflight, and a former Curator of beautiful embroidered postcards sent exhibition Airdrie Public Observatory. home to friends, family and loved “Records of War” Intercept and destroy or mitigate ones 100 years ago. Include messages • Choose words the effects - which scenario of hope for the future. from our might we adopt if a rock asteroid Tuesday 23 October word bank to was on a collision course with describe the Drop in 10am-12noon or 2-4pm 8 December 2018 - Earth? Duncan Lunan describes photographs 12 January 2019 the possible responses to this Make spooky pictures, decorations in the exhibition hypothetical threat. and masks for Halloween. Tuesday to Saturday, • Use our World War 10am-1pm and 2-5pm This annual event celebrates Yuri Saturday 24 November One props to take Drop in winter activities inspired by Gagarin’s first space flight which 10am-12noon and 2-4pm your own photo - took place on 12 April 1961. The our exhibitions and winter season. Crafty Christmas what story do you Yuri’s night talk is hosted by the Join staff and volunteers using mainly want to tell? • Make chilly snow scene pictures Dumfries Astronomy Society at recycled materials • Gallery trail and • Make masks inspired by our Dumfries Museum. to create cards, colouring sheets migrating bird visitors decorations and • Design a doll or dude outfit presents with that • Gallery trails, colouring and quiz personal touch. sheets

ix Robert Burns Centre, Dumfries SPRING DROP IN GALLERY ACTIVITIES FOR CHILDREN Robert Burns Centre, FEBRUARY HALF TERM Mill Road, Dumfries DG2 7BE. 8 February - 30 March HOLIDAY 2019 10am - 1pm and 2 - 5pm Tel: 01387 264808 Thursday 21 February Tuesday - Saturday Admission free Zoolab - How our bodies move • Make fitba figures with designer Sessions start at 10am, 11am, Open all year strips 12noon, 2pm and 3pm 1 October 2018 - 30 March 2019 • Gallery trails quizzes and colouring Meet the Zoolab insects, spiders and Tuesday - Saturday sheets snakes and learn about how they 10am - 1pm, 2pm - 5pm move compared to how we move. 1 March - 30 September 2019 Booking Essential Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm Tel 01387 253374 Sunday 2pm - 5pm Booking opens 22 January 2019

Friday 19 - Monday 22 April Situated in the town’s eighteenth century watermill Find the Easter Ducklings on the west bank of the River Nith, the Robert Burns Find all of the ducklings hidden Centre tells the story of Robert Burns’ last years around the museum and answer the spent in the bustling streets and lively atmosphere of Easter quiz questions to win a wee Dumfries in the late eighteenth century. The exhibition chocolate egg and lots of satisfaction. is illuminated by many original manuscripts and belongings of the poet. Easter school holidays activities There is a fascinating scale model of Dumfries in the will take place on Tuesdays 9 and 1790s and a haunting audio-visual presentation. Test 16 April 2019 - details will be in our your powers of observation with a gallery investigation, Spring 2019 programme available in discover Dumfries and Galloway’s Burns connections March 2019. and browse around the shop. x Sunday 27 January 2019, 3pm - 5pm Robert ROBERT BURNS CENTRE Burns Centre celebration FILM THEATRE

In 2018 The Robert BOX OFFICE 01387 264808 Burns Centre was Mill Road, Dumfries DG2 7BE awarded a grant by Museums Galleries Tel 01387 216688 Scotland to refurbish the exhibition area, The Robert Burns Centre (upstairs at the Robert bringing to life the Dumfries collections Film Theatre has provided Burns Centre) relating to the bard.The Centre is an alternative film-going celebrating the 260th anniversary of experience for over 30 Robert Burns’ birth with a free event to years and screens a diverse Please check The Willows launch the redisplayed gallery. range of films including Facebook page for 3-4pm, Robert Burns Centre foreign language films, low- current opening times. auditorium: Robert Burns - The Dumfries budget independent films, Years. Hear about the life and works documentaries, animations and short films. Our diverse of Robert Burns from Professor Gerry Going to the cinema programme is complemented Carruthers, School of Critical Studies, at the by activities which will appeal University of Glasgow and Chair of Burns Robert Burns Centre? Scotland and Fred Freeman, Professor of to a range of audiences Why not book a pre-film Traditional Music, Royal Conservatoire of and age groups. We look to Scotland. This will be followed by a short collaborate with community meal with us in The Willows performance of some of Burns best known groups, local and national Restaurant from works by local school children. bodies, and individual 5pm to 6.30pm? practitioners to create special 4-5pm: Refreshments in the foyer and Please book your table early, events tailored to specific an opportunity to visit the new displays as our meals are freshly made audiences and age-groups. with the curator and our visiting experts. Contact [email protected] to order. Free event. Booking is essential - or call on 01387 263094 for telephone 01387 264808. more details. THE ROBERT BURNS COLLECTION CARED FOR BY THE MUSEUMS OF THE BURNS SCOTLAND PARTNERSHIP IS The Willows Restaurant

RECOGNISED AS A NATIONALLY SIGNIFICANT COLLECTION AWARDED BY MUSEUMS GALLERIES SCOTLAND www.rbcft.co.uk ON BEHALF OF THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT xi Old Bridge House Museum and Sanquhar Tolbooth Robert Burns House, Museum will open for the 2019 summer season on 1 April 2019. Dumfries

Robert Burns House, Burns Street, Dumfries DG1 2PS. Tel: 01387 255297 Admission free Open all year 1 October 2018 - 30 March 2019 Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 1pm, 2pm - 5pm Old Bridge House, Sanquhar Tolbooth 1 April - 30 September 2019 Mill Road, Dumfries DG2 7BE. Museum Monday - Saturday 10am - 5pm High Street, Sanquhar DG4 6BN. Sunday 2pm - 5pm Tel: 01387 256904 Tel: 01659 50186

It was in this simple sandstone house in a quiet Dumfries street that Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet, spent the last years of his life. He died here in 1796 at the age of just thirty seven. The house shows us how the poet and his family lived in the late eighteenth century, and is now a place of pilgrimage for Burns enthusiasts from around the world. The sales area has books, gifts and keepsakes, all with a Burns connection. Robert Burns House is accessed via steps - please telephone for further details.

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