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Brechin Town House Museum

Brechin Waterson Gallery

About the museum

The museum is located within the old Town House in the centre of Brechin. A Tollbooth was first mentioned on this site in 1450 but was replaced in 1789-90 by the present building. At that time the ground floor contained a shop, a courtroom, a debtors’ prison and two cells for criminals. An elegant upper hall, known as the Guild Hall was also used as the Council Chamber. By the end of the 19th century it was considered too small for Council business and the administrative functions of the burgh were relocated to newly completed Municipal Buildings in Bank Street.

The Brechin Museum Collection was first gathered together by Brechin Town Council and in 1846 became housed in the nearby Mechanics Institute. The collection relocated to Brechin Library in 1976 and since 2003 has been located in the ground floor of the present building.

Gifts, souvenirs and publications are available from the small giftshop at the museum reception desk. Toilet facilities are available and are suitable for disabled access.

Exhibition photograph

Current display

From January 2008 the Friends of Brechin Town House Museum will be based in the museum as part of a project to acquire photographic images which capture the built and cultural heritage of the city.

Anyone will be welcome to contribute photographs to the project and all contributions will be scanned, a printed copy produced for display in the museum and a digital record retained. In this way anyone with an interesting photograph can become part of the exhibition.

The exhibition, entitled ‘Brechin: A History in Pictures’ will run until June 2008, and it is intended that it will result in a sizeable photographic archive adding to our existing collection. This archive will become an important resource for the Brechin Town House Museum.

Museum Collection

Although not at present on display some of the most significant items in the collection of the Brechin Town House Museum are:

  • Brechin Town Drum - This venerable drum bears the Brechin Town Arms with the inscription “Sig: cibatis de Brechin”, (symbol of the City of Brechin). It would have been used by the town drummer to mark out special occasions and other civic events.
 photo of Brechin Town Drum
  • Highland Bagpipes - This set of highland pipes probably dates from the second half of the 18th century. The drones and chanter are of laburnam wood with rings of walrus ivory.
 photo of Highland Bagpipes
  • Jacobite Sporran - Owned by David Mitchell of Lethnot, a sergeant in the rebel army and probably worn at Culloden.
 photo of Jacobite Sporran
  • Jet Necklace - Jet necklace from a short cist found at Mains of Melgund in 1980 and dated to around 1800 BC. Necklaces like this were a sign of affluence in the Bronze Age and a number have been found in the Brechin and Forfar area
 photo of Jet Necklace
  • Flintlock Pistol - A fine steel eighteenth century flintlock pistol by James MacKenzie of Brechin, manufactured from the time when Scottish pistol making was at its height.
 photo of Flintlock Pistol

How can I find out more?

Museum staff will be pleased to answer enquiries about our collections.

A supporting friends organisation (Friends of Brechin Town House Museum) also affords local people the opportunity to volunteer to help the museum in various ways: research, oral history, helping in the museum, fund raising etc.

© Angus Council 1998 - 2008