A Catalogue of Star Objects Sharon Webb Joanne Howdle Angus Martin Roger Anderton Introduction This catalogue has been produced Museums and Libraries Association to illustrate some of the more Accreditation Scheme with the important objects in the Collections preference being that objects of Campbeltown Museum, as well should be allocated locally. For as those that are best-loved by some years now, Campbeltown the community. The latter were Museum has acted as one of the chosen during an open day in repositories of archaeological September 2008 and the top four material which is subject to the objects were chosen to appear Treasure Trove System, and here. Other objects were selected as a result, the Archaeological by the curators for a variety of Collections contain material reasons, further elucidated below. from all over Argyll. Although this catalogue concentrates on In general, the permanent exhibits objects from Kintyre, one object in Campbeltown Museum are - a fragment of a Viking arm ring illustrative of history and social found on the Island of Lismore - is history, but there can be little doubt illustrative of the regional nature that the Museum’s Archaeological of the Archaeology Collection Collection is its greatest strength. Discovered by chance or by The Fine Art Collection is made archaeological excavation, these up of prints, drawings, oil and artefacts are of local and, in some watercolour paintings, many of cases, national importance. Many which have a local connection in were collected by members of terms of subject matter or have the Kintyre Antiquarian & Natural been painted by artists who have a History Society, who were also connection with Campbeltown and active in their continued care Kintyre. Two of the most important over the many years of their and best-loved paintings in the involvement with the Museum. Fine Art Collection are illustrated in this catalogue. The Social and In Scotland, all archaeological Industrial History Collections held material, or objects found by at Campbeltown Museum are broad chance, are subject to Treasure in scope and illustrate different Trove legislation and are owned elements of Campbeltown’s by the Crown, not the finder or social and industrial heritage. landowner (although rewards The natural sciences Collections are given to finders of properly are rather eclectic and contain a reported material). These great variety of objects ranging objects are then allocated by an from geological specimens from independent panel to Museums all over the world to species of which meet the standards of the birds that are found in Kintyre. 1 Among other items there is a able to display certain objects, A Brief History of Campbeltown Museum herbarium of plant specimens although we hope to in the collected in Kintyre between 1884 future after conservation work The building which houses completion and he decided to and the 1940s, and a cabinet dating has been completed. Campbeltown Museum is build anew. The architect of the from the late 19th century which unquestionably the most admired new mansion was Burnet, but it is contains over five thousand species Museums have a vital role to play in Campbeltown, yet it is now thought that MacAlister Hall’s of butterflies, moths and beetles. in the dissemination of cultural relatively modern. It belongs to new mansion may well have been history, and we hope that, through the 19th century, but only just. designed by the younger Burnet. In the last two years, a great deal this catalogue, we are in part able of retrospective documentation to strengthen the organisation The idea of a free public library and Burnet was one of the most work has been undertaken. and gain greater and more museum was apparently mooted by celebrated architects of this time, During this process a number widely known recognition for the the Kintyre Scientific Association, and the Edward VII gallery at of conservation problems were importance of the institution. which in December 1895 initiated a the British Museum in London is identified, especially among the fund-raising appeal. The initiative among his greatest works. At the prehistoric metal Collection. Dr Sharon Webb & Ms Joanne Howdle. immediately bore easy fruit. In glorious end of the late Victorian As a result we are not always the following month, a wealthy and Edwardian redevelopment of Campbeltown-born merchant, the town itself, the architectural who had retired to Kintyre after a significance of Campbeltown career in India, offered to finance Museum is without comparison. the entire project. His name was Such is the stature of Burnet and James MacAlister Hall, and by the such is the role that Campbeltown time the project was completed, plays in his growing reputation. in 1898, he had dipped into his Of all the buildings he designed funds to the extent of £12,000, for Campbeltown, the Museum which included the building, building is the finest. It consisted, furnishings, books and endowment. originally, of a hall/‘news room’, His reward was the Freedom of museum room, library and ladies’ the Burgh in 1899, a distinction reading room, with the librarian’s bestowed only twice before, on house attached, and a garden the Duke of Argyll in 1840 and on with enclosure for the display of the Marquis of Lorne in 1868. archaeological and other exhibits ‘not requiring cover’. That garden MacAlister Hall’s choice of is now dedicated to the memory architect, John James Burnet, was of Linda McCartney, a statue of astute, but perhaps influenced whom forms the centrepiece. by an earlier association with the architect’s father, John Burnet. When, in August 1898, When MacAlister Hall bought the Campbeltown Town Council Kintyre estate of Killean in the advertised in the local weekly early 1870s, he undertook the newspapers for a librarian, ‘Curator renovation and extension of the of Museum’ was the secondary old mansion. The house, however, role. The salary was substantial burned down before reaching for the time: £80, with additional 2 3 inducements of ‘free house, sustained publishing programme coal, and gas, and allowances during its first 30 years when for cleaning’. A succession of membership was at its most librarians proceeded to function robust. Since the first librarian was as curator, aided by the Kintyre employed in the late 19th century, Archaeological Antiquarian Society. museum curation had steadily become more professionalized. The Society was founded in Although late for most museums, 1921 with the object of studying it was eventually decided that ‘the Archaeological History and a professional museum curator Antiquities of Kintyre’ and it has was necessary for not just certainly fulfilled that object, being Campbeltown Museum, but the active in initiating many valuable whole of Argyll and Bute. The projects connected with local first took up post in the 1990s. history, culture and archaeology, and combining these with a Sadly, budget cuts coincided with the move of the library to new premises at Aqualibrium in 2007 and the Museum’s Development Officer’s post was axed. For some time the Museum’s future was uncertain; however, the renovation of the Burnet Building and its subsequent re-opening as Campbeltown’s ‘service point’ has given the Museum a new lease of life and an upsurge in visitor numbers. The Museum and its Collection remain in the ownership of Argyll and Bute Council, but the Collections are now curated under a service level agreement with the curators of Kilmartin House Museum and Auchindrain Museum, who provide specialist archaeological and social historical knowledge to ensure that the objects remain safe, well cared for and in Campbeltown itself. Adapted from text by Mr Angus Martin, Former Chair of the Kintyre Antiquarian and Natural History Society. The Objects... 4 5 A Westerly Gale On The Kintyre Hills A&BMS2000.13 (Fine Art) A&BMS2000.17 (Fine Art) On the Kintyre Hills is an example of the work of John Campbell The artist William McTaggart – Although McTaggart never returned Mitchell RSA (1865-1922), perhaps widely acclaimed as Scotland’s to Kintyre to live, he was a frequent Kintyre’s most distinguished greatest landscape painter – was visitor on seasonal painting trips. artist after William McTaggart, born in 1835 into a poor family Machrihanish, with its rugged who was born a generation on the farm of Aros, where his coastline and Atlantic surf, was a before him. Mitchell was born father Dugald was a labourer. Both favourite location, and it was almost in Campbeltown and worked in of William’s parents were Gaelic- certainly there that A Westerly Gale the office of C. & D. Mactaggart, speaking and William too became a (1897) was conceived. Executed lawyers, before his father was Gaelic speaker. Indeed, his Gaelic in oil on board, this painting was persuaded to allow him to pursue background informed some of bequeathed to Campbeltown his real talents. Mitchell studied the finest of his paintings, such Town Council in 1950, along with art first in Edinburgh and then in as the late series on emigration. When the Kye Comes Hame, by Paris and made a successful career With the encouragement of a McTaggart’s daughter, Lady Annie for himself as a painter, admired local doctor, William was enabled Mary Caw. The stature of the artist for his portrayal of wide expanses to develop his creative talents and the location of the subject of sea and sand. This painting, under formal tuition, and was combine to make this painting the executed in oils on canvas, enrolled at the Trustees’ Academy best-loved, and probably the most evokes the windswept beauty in Edinburgh in 1852. His valuable, of the fine art works of Mitchell’s native landscape. distinguished career had begun. held by Campbeltown Museum. 6 7 Campbeltown Fair MacKinnon was born in (Fine Art) Campbeltown in 1849, but spent the latter part of his life in Unlike his illustrious compatriot England and died there in 1935.