In 2025 the museum were gifted Alexander Finlayson Beaton’s wartime medals by his daughter Maggie Hardy (nee Beaton) and granddaughter Tracy Anderson. This fascinating account of Grandpa Beaton’s wartime experiences was written by his granddaughter and has also been gifted to the museum. It is published here by kind permission of Tracy Anderson. Alexander Finlayson […]
Grandpa Beaton’s World War II Story Read More »
This is the fascinating story of a Victorian oil painting that was bequeathed to the West Highland Museum in 1999, but an object that has never been inside the museum building. Letters and News at the Loch Side was given as a wedding gift to Gertrude Astley (1849 – 1920) from her sisters, Constance (1851
Letters and News at the Loch Side Read More »
Objects from the Drambuie Collection have been on loan to West Highland Museum since 2018 and can be viewed in our Jacobite Gallery. Following on from our highly successful “An evening with Drambuie” event, Andy Fairgrieve from William Grant and Sons Ltd has written a blog for us focusing on the history of Drambuie liqueur.
A History of Drambuie Read More »
The museum has six objects in its collection that once belonged to Colonel John Cameron of Fassifern (or Fassiefern), these include a childhood toy, a love token, and objects associated with his military service. Cameron was a cousin of the Camerons of Lochiel and educated partly at the grammar school in Fort William, but also
Military Stories: Colonel John Cameron of Fassefern (1771–1815) Read More »
A tropical palm-leaf hat with a wide brim and shallow crown is displayed discreetly on a wall in the museum’s Victorian gallery. The hat once belonged to the infamous big game hunter Roualeyn George Gordon-Cumming (1820-1866). The museum once also had his walking stick, which was iron shod with a plaster head of lion separately
Empire Stories: The Lion Hunter of Fort Augustus Read More »
West Highland Museum is hosting its “Camanachd: Geama Aosda nan Gleann Abrach” (Shinty: Ancient Game of the Lochaber Glens) exhibition this autumn. In this third of a series of blogs, shinty expert and broadcaster Dr Hugh Dan MacLennnan explores the history of Kilmallie Shinty Club. Kilmallie Shinty Club, currently based at Canal Parks, in Caol, was
Shinty Memories: Kilmallie Shinty Club Read More »
West Highland Museum is hosting its “Camanachd: Geama Aosda nan Gleann Abrach” (Shinty: Ancient Game of the Lochaber Glens) exhibition this autumn. In this second of a series of blogs, shinty expert and broadcaster Dr Hugh Dan MacLennnan explores the history of Fort William Shinty Club. Formed in February 1893, Fort William Shinty Club has
Shinty Memories: Fort William Shinty Club Read More »
West Highland Museum is hosting its “Camanachd: Geama Aosda nan Gleann Abrach” (Shinty: Ancient Game of the Lochaber Glens) exhibition this autumn. In this first of a series of blogs, local historian Kenny Mackintosh explores the history of the Lochaber Camanachd Club. Lochaber Camanachd The present club play at Spean Bridge and are currently
Shinty Memories: Lochaber Camanachd Club Read More »
This weekend the first Clan Cameron Gathering since 2009 will take place at Achnacarry between 1st and 4th August 2024. Clan Cameron Association define their gatherings as follows: The Chief of Clan Cameron “calls” his clansfolk to gather (or in the past, muster for military action). In centuries past this was done by sending runners
Clan Cameron Highlights at West Highland Museum Read More »
The Clan
The Highland Clan System and our way of life eventually gave way to Feudal tenure and Oighhread (pronounced owruck), which was introduced to
The Hero of High Bridge Read More »
