Dornoch museum's Sutherland Longhouse project underway
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A Sutherland museum curator’s curiosity about life in a pre-Clearance settlement has led to a project that it is hoped will come up with some answers.
Lynne Mahoney of Historylinks in Dornoch, felt that, although the Clearances have been extensively documented, little was know about the years earlier in the 18th century.
She was keen to find out more and Historylinks’ approach to the Heritage Lottery Fund resulted in a £15,400 grant for the Sutherland Longhouse Project.
Project manager Caroline Seymour and sessional worker Kerri Stevens were appointed to oversee the project which runs until the end of March.
An important aspect of the work is the involvement of the local community and in particular pupils at Dornoch Academy.
The focal point is the pre-Clearance settlement of Dalnamain, located close to the A9 at Dalnamain, on the road to Loch Buidhe.
Year two pupils from the academy have already been involved in an archaeological and geographical walk-over of the site, led by local archaeologist Anne Coombs. They have also paced out some of the walled structures there.
Young Curators’ Club members have also visited the site and are now working with volunteer Dave Mahoney to construct a scale model of the site.
This will form the centre of a project exhibition at Historylinks.
Project manager Ms Seymour said: “Further surveying of the site will take place over the next two months.”
Running in tandem is a programme of free workshops aimed at immersing participants in different aspects of the culture of the time.
Silversmith Peter Rowland gave a demonstration on January 11 of his ancient craft, working scrap silver by hand into a beautiful silver spoon.
And on January 18 Pippa Tran held a workshop on coppicing and willow weaving.
A host of further workshops are planned ranging from working with wool, creative writing for adults and children, leather craft, digitising the past and building construction and thatching to domestic food production and cooking.
In addition a group of young musicians from Dornoch Academy will be working with Gordon Gunn to produce a new piece of music for Dalnamain.
Also on the programme is a story night at Dornoch Castle Hotel on Sunday March 16 when award-winning author Janis Mackay will tell tales from the 18th century with traditional fiddle music from local musicans Tricia Andrew and Heather Muir.
Finally a project conference, entitled Changing Perceptiosn: Let’s talk about Dalnamain, is scheduled to take place on Saturday, March 28.
Ms Seymour said: “The conference will include a morning site vitis to Dalnamain and a full afternoon programme including a drone record of the site, film footage of the workshops, an unveiling of the site model in photos and presentations.”
All workshops have limited places. To book, call 01862 11275 or email: historylinksmanager@btconnect.com
