Museum Collections

1.0          Museum Collections

 

1.1          The Museum Collections are broad in scope and comprise of the types of material described below in 1.2 – 1.8.

 

1.2          Archaeology: This Collection mostly consists of archaeological material from Caithness, although there is a small Collection of material from elsewhere in Scotland and from other countries. Significant elements of the Archaeology Collection are:

  •  A small number of worked stone objects, including stone tools and quern stones from various locations in Caithness
  •  A Bronze Age clay beaker which was found near Achavanich
  •  A late Neolithic/early Bronze Age carved stone ball which was found in the Thurso River by Robert Dick
  • A Pictish standing stone which is known as the Skinnet Stone
  • A Viking cross shaped gravestone which is incised with runic letters that was found near to old St. Peter’s Church, Thurso in 1896
  • A Viking bronze axe head which was found in a barn wall at Lower Howe near Thurso
  • Bronze pins, fragments of bone comb and two spindle whorls which were found at the Norse settlement site at Freswick
  • Iron Age finds from the broch at Killmister which include a broken stone bowl, two stone pot lids, slingshots used for hunting, a spindle whorl, a piece of cooking pot and flint scrapers

1.3          Geology & Palaeontology: This Collection consists of rocks, minerals, crystals and fossils. Significant elements of the Geology and Palaeontology Collection are the examples of the fossil fish of Caithness which belong to the Devonian period about 380 million years ago and include:

  •  Dipterus valenciennesi
  • Osteolepis
  • Thursius pholidotus

 

1.4          Natural History: This Collection consists of mounted specimens representative of the birds native to Caithness and migrant species, birds’ eggs, shells and the herbariums of Robert Dick, Richard Lindsay and Mrs Horne of Stirkoke. The most significant element of the Natural History Collection is the Herbarium of Robert Dick (1811 – 1866). Robert Dick was a baker and renowned self-taught botanist, geologist and naturalist. He was born in Tullibody, Clackmannanshire. His father, Thomas Dick was an Officer of Excise. In 1826, Thomas Dick was promoted to Supervisor of Excise and moved to Thurso. In the summer of 1830, Robert Dick travelled to Thurso where he set up his own baker’s shop. Robert Dick collected fossils, shells and botanical specimens. His Herbarium contains around 3000 specimens which are mounted on around 2400 sheets of paper.

Other significant elements of the Natural History Collection are:

  • A framed example of Northern Holy Grass (Hierochloe Borealis) which was found near Thurso by Robert Dick
  • The fossils and shells collected by Robert Dick

 

1.5          Decorative & Fine Art: The Decorative Art Collection is small and contains objects made by local craftspeople. Ceramics made by the Fisherbiggins Pottery in Thurso in the 1970s and commemorative items decorated with scenes of Thurso and/or Caithness are contained within the Collection. The Collection also contains the death mask of Robert Dick. The Decorative Art Collection also contains costume and textiles. The Fine Art Collection is made up of prints, drawings, oil and watercolour paintings, many of which have a local connection in terms of subject matter or have been painted by artists that have a connection with Thurso and/or Caithness.

1.6          Social & Industrial History: The Social and Industrial History Collections are broad in scope and relate to Thurso in particular and Caithness in general and can broadly be described as covering the following subject areas:

  • Agriculture
  • Domestic life
  • Fishing
  • Medals and tokens
  • Military history
  • Social life
  • Technology and the nuclear industry
  • Thurso Burgh history
  • Trade and transport
  •  Vernacular furniture

1.7          Archival Material: The Collections contain a broad range of archival material which includes the books of Robert Dick including those given to him by his friend the geologist Hugh Miller, along with advertisements, school books and Bibles.

1.8          Photographs & Photographic Reproductions: The Collections contain photographs and photographic reproductions such as postcards which feature scenes that depict the places, people and special events associated with Thurso and/or Caithness.

2.0          Future Collecting

2.1          The collecting area for Caithness Horizons will be Thurso and the Community Council area of Caithness West.

2.2          Caithness Horizons will collect material from the end of the last glacial period to the present day.

2.3          Caithness Horizons will ensure that its future acquisitions strengthen the existing Collections and are relevant to the history of Thurso and the Community Council area of Caithness West. In order to fulfil this aim Caithness Horizons will actively collect in a number of subject areas:

Archaeology

Dunbeath Heritage Centre collects archaeological material from the County of Caithness. In consultation with Dunbeath Heritage Centre and other advisory bodies, Caithness Horizons will collect the cultural prehistory and history of Thurso and the Community Council area of Caithness West from the end of the last glacial period to the end of the first millennium AD. 

Objects from periods beyond the first millennium AD will only be acquired if they have been recovered during archaeological excavation, or are otherwise generally considered to be classified as “archaeology” rather than “social history”.  Caithness Horizons will not collect human remains.

Geology & Palaeontology

Caithness Horizons will collect specimens which illustrate the geological history of Thurso and the Community Council area of Caithness West. Further specimens will only be acquired if they have strong local significance, represent the work of a local Collector or fill gaps in the existing Collections.

There will be a strong presumption against duplication of specimens, which already form part of the Collections. However, as specimens which are duplicates become available, they will be considered in comparison to the specimens that are already part of the Collections. Specimens may replace others where they are in better condition.

Before any Geology and Palaeontology material is acquired for the Collections the Curator will consult with the other Museums and organisations who are collecting in the same or related areas or subject fields. Comparative material from outside Caithness will not be collected.

Natural History

 

Mounted specimens representative of the mammals and birds native to Caithness and migrant species of birds are reasonably represented in the Collections and will only be collected in particular circumstances. Further specimens will only be acquired if they have strong local significance, represent the work of a local Collector or fill gaps in the existing Collections.

There will be a strong presumption against duplication of specimens, which already form part of the Collections. However, as specimens which are duplicates become available, they will be considered in comparison to the specimens that are already part of the Collections. Specimens may replace others where they are in better condition and do not eliminate specimens of historical significance to the Collections. 

Before any mounted specimens of mammals or birds are acquired for the Collections the Curator will consult with the other Museums and organisations who are collecting in the same or related areas or subject fields. Comparative material from outside Caithness will not be collected.

Caithness Horizons will not collect birds’ eggs or spirit-preserved specimens. Further specimens of shells will only be acquired if they have strong local significance or represent the work of a local Collector. Herbarium specimens will only be acquired if they have strong local significance or represent the work of a local Collector.

Decorative Art

 

Every effort will be made to locate and acquire examples of locally manufactured decorative art. Decorative art of a general social history character will only be collected if it is illustrative of local life and has a well-documented connection with Thurso or the Community Council area of Caithness West either in manufacturing or ownership.

Caithness Horizons will collect examples of occupational costume and military uniforms that relate to the people of Thurso and the Community Council area of Caithness West. Examples of flat textiles of local manufacture and those associated with local political or religious groups e.g. Trade Union banners, society pendants etc will also be collected.

 

Fine Art

 

Caithness Horizons will collect fine art produced by artists based in Thurso or the Community Council area of Caithness West. Caithness Horizons will also collect fine art which depicts the places, personalities and special events associated with Thurso and the Community Council area of Caithness West.

 Social & Industrial History

Caithness Horizons will collect material relating to the areas outlined below, which are illustrative of the social and industrial history of Thurso and the Community Council area of Caithness West.

           

Agriculture

Caithness Horizons will collect material that is unique or peculiar to local farming practices. It will not collect large pieces of agricultural equipment or machinery.

 

Domestic Life

The Collections contain a large number of domestic objects. Further domestic objects will only be acquired if they are illustrative of local life and have a well-documented connection with Thurso or the Community Council area of Caithness West either in manufacturing or ownership.

 

Fishing

In consultation with Wick Heritage Museum, Caithness Horizons will collect material relating to sea fishing and river fishing and the maritime industries, trades and activities that are associated with Thurso and the Community Council area of Caithness West. It will not collect large pieces of equipment, machinery or boats.

Medals & Tokens

Caithness Horizons will collect medals and badges that relate to attendance at school, Sunday school, church or local clubs and societies by the people of Thurso and the Community Council area of Caithness West.

Military medals that were awarded to people from Thurso or the Community Council area of Caithness West who participated in British Armed Forces campaigns will also be collected as will examples of local trade and advertising tokens.

 

Military History

Caithness Horizons will collect material that relates to the history of the Rothsay and Caithness Fencibles; Artillery and Rifles Volunteers and the 5th Seaforth Highlanders Battalion.

Caithness Horizons will also collect material that illustrates the role played by Thurso and the Community Council area of Caithness West during World War I and World War II in regards to supplying the great naval base at Scapa Flow, Orkney. Caithness Horizons will not collect large pieces of equipment or machinery.

Social Life

Caithness Horizons will collect material that relates to local cultural life, sports teams, clubs, societies, youth and adult organisations and the education of the children who lived/live in Thurso or the Community Council area of Caithness West.

Items used locally to maintain law and order will be collected e.g. uniforms, badges and punishment equipment. Caithness Horizons will also collect material that relates to organised religion and non-institutional religion, superstitions and the practice of herb lore in Thurso and the Community Council area of Caithness West. 

 

Technology & The Nuclear Industry

Caithness Horizons will collect material that relates to the development and use of technology in Thurso and the Community Council area of Caithness West from the 19th century to the present day. It will actively collect material relating to local inventors.

Caithness Horizons already holds a small but nationally important Collection of material from the nuclear research facility at Dounreay. Caithness Horizons will work in partnership with the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), Nuclear Decommissioning Agency (NDA) and Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL) to further develop this Collection. Caithness Horizons will also actively collect material relating to the nuclear research site at Dounreay from members of the public in order to be able to fully interpret for the benefit of the public the history of Dounreay and its impact on the town of Thurso and the county of Caithness.

Caithness Horizons will actively collect material relating to the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment (NRTE) which researches and develops nuclear propulsion systems for the Royal Navy’s nuclear submarine fleet. Caithness Horizons will not collect large pieces of equipment or machinery or objects that pose a threat to health and safety i.e. objects containing asbestos or objects that have chemical/radioactive contamination etc.

 

Thurso Burgh History

Caithness Horizons will collect material relating to Thurso Burgh history.

Trade & Transport

Caithness Horizons will collect material relating to the development of trade and transport in Thurso and the Community Council area of Caithness West.  Caithness Horizons will not collect large pieces of equipment, machinery, boats or vehicles.

Vernacular Furniture

Caithness Horizons will collect vernacular furniture that is illustrative of local life and has a well-documented connection with Thurso or the Community Council area of Caithness West either in manufacturing or ownership.

 

Archival Material

Caithness Horizons will collect archival material that relates to the history of Thurso and the Community Council area of Caithness West in consultation with the North Highland Archives.

Photographs & Photographic Reproductions

Caithness Horizons will collect photographs and photographic reproductions such as postcards which feature scenes that depict the places, people and special events associated with Thurso and the Community Council area of Caithness West in consultation with the North Highland Archives.