Issued: 17 December 2003
Milestone For Kirriemuir Gateway
Next year is a very important one for Kirriemuir Gateway to the Glens Museum - it is the 400th Anniversary of the museum's home - Kirriemuir Townhouse.
Although the building has changed a lot over the years, a townhouse has stood on this spot since 1604 and fragments of the original building remain in the charming red sandstone heart shaped building of today.
There will be lots of events next year to celebrate the birthday kicking off in May with a historical day and the start of an exhibition about the building.
Museum curator Fiona Guest said: "To make the exhibition really special we would like to find photos of the townhouse, inside or out, and any other images from the building's long history.
"For instance we know that once upon a time there was an official town baton, which had on it the earliest image of the townhouse - what it looked like before the changes made in Victorian times.
"We think that the baton must have been around in the Edwardian period as there is a drawing of it in the history book of that time - The Regality of Kirriemuir - but since then it seems to have been lost. It would be a real highlight of the exhibition if it was found!"
In the meantime, even before the dawn of 2004, the Friends of the Gateway to the Glens have been busy commemorating the quarter centenary by producing a marvellous richly illustrated calendar telling the story of the building.
They have kindly donated a copy to the museum and a display has been produced about the making of the calendar including the original drawings and some of the fascinating photographs that were used - it seems an appropriate display for the upcoming New Year!