What is the purpose of museums?

close
more_vert
drewbhoy D
drewbhoy Jun 19, 2013 00:47:26
Replying to tjj

I went recently to a wee museum in Methlick (a wee village fairly close to Turriff) after a heritage meeting to publicise a map of an area I'm involved with. I thought I knew about that area as I spend more time there nowadays, as you know, but I was wrong. Some of the old maps made by locals are certainly worthy of further investigation and mention places not on any OS/Philips map. So I'll follow up this new knowledge in the hope of finding more stuff up here along with the more usual 'drewbhoy' haunts. But I seem to be attached to shovels and trowels...............................Wee local museums and a natter to the old folks, perfect :-)

M moss
moss Jun 19, 2013 08:32:39
Replying to drewbhoy

Three museums come to mind, the small Wells Museum on the green by the cathedral, full of bits and pieces of prehistoric stuff, visited years ago.

Single issue museum; here of course the new Seahenge museum, altered mind view whilst gazing on the 'upside down tree', even now visioning it I feel its age and history pulling at my soul.

Thirdly, Whitby museum, a glorious hodge podge of everything, grandchildren love it, two galleries of paintings, fossils, ammonites, hideous Victorian stuff, especially the jet. Rock art under the tables, prehistoric axes on top; scrimshaw and boats in bottles, its the sheer ingenuity of people celebrated here. Also fabulous lecture on the Loftus A/S princess last time we were there, the burial ground near the neolithic barrow.

But I would also take children to Butser Farm for real hands on experience and Castell Henllys, sitting round a smoky fire in a roundhouse, perhaps learning to dye and weave. Outdoor museums are just as important for energetic creatures....