A small group set off to Dalbeattie with anticipation of an interesting time after hearing reports of the number of exhibits that were on view. We had a warm welcome from one of the volunteers as we entered the museum, who explained a little of the history of the building. As we were talking the founder of the museum, Tommy Henderson walked in. He still volunteers and is a mine of information about Dalbeattie and its history.
The museum is divided into numerous displays, each crammed with artefacts from bygone days.
Did you know that Dalbeattie used to be a port, with it's own harbour before the river silted up, and that granite was exported from there?
Do you know of the connection Dalbeattie has with the Titanic? There is an exhibition of replica artefacts on display.
There are also artefacts covering both World Wars
in the museum.
There is an old fashioned "shop" at the front of the museum stocked full of items from metal bread bins, sweets, tins of shoe polish, sauce and almost anything else you might want - including Izal toilet rolls!
This "part-time" assistant you may recognise!
They have also recently constructed a vintage toy shop, with many recognisable games and toys.
There is also a 1920's kitchen ...
a cycle workshop and a rural room.
Wonder what they were reminiscing about?
There is a viewing room where you can watch fascinating old movies of Dalbeattie.
The museum does come with its own health warnings ...
The museum continues upstairs - with a stair lift for those who need it - to find display cases full of medals, smoking paraphernalia, badges and much, much more. The shelves are full of typewriters, early televisions, crested china, old bottles, vacuum cleaners and radios.
Unlike many museums we were told that if things were on open display we could pick them up and look at them. The old cash register was full of old coins and the weighing machine downstairs was in working order if you used an old penny - supplied by the museum.
Dalbeattie Museum is a hidden gem in Dumfries and Galloway. The volunteers give it a very warm welcoming atmosphere and have so much information to share with visitors. It is easy to lose track of time while in the museum, but it leaves you with the feeling that there might have been something you missed and that a return visit may be needed. It will not be a wasted journey!
