The Kilmartin Museum celebrates the long and diverse history of the local area
A museum set in historic surroundings is set for a makeover.
Kilmartin Museum has received a grant of £3.2 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), it was announced this week.
A redevelopment project aims to transform the museum in Lochgilphead into a landmark venue that interprets and celebrates Kilmartin Glen, one of the most significant archaeological landscapes in Britain.
As well as becoming a significant cultural and natural tourism centre, completion of the project will enable the museum to be able to care for its collection of artefacts, many of which are of international significance.
Providing all the funding is in place, construction work will begin on the project in January 2019, with the aim of works being complete by the summer of 2020.
Since prehistoric times, Kilmartin Glen been a special to many generations. Neolithic and Bronze Age peoples built tombs to house their dead, some carved enigmatic designs on bedrock now known as cup and ring marks, others erected stone circles and standing stones, the purpose of which inspires speculation today.
Later peoples, named Scotti, chose to site the capital of this medieval sea kingdom at Dunadd, in the heart of the glen. The kingdom they created spanned whole regions of what is now Scotland and Ireland and was the dominant power for more than five centuries. In all, over 800 monuments and sites have been found within a six mile radius of Kilmartin Glen.
For 21 years, Kilmartin Museum has been discovering, caring for and sharing the stories of artefacts from this special place, which visitors can see in the context of the sites and monuments in which they were found.
The museum’s Dr Sharon Webb said: “The award means we’ve nearly reached our fundraising target, bringing the implementation of the project that much closer.
“Applications have been lodged for the remainder, but there is still a £100,000 funding gap, which we will be working on closing in the coming months.
“The project as a whole will enable us to properly care for the artefacts in our collections, and tell their stories interwoven with the sites and monuments in which they were found, as well as provide massive improvements to the visitor experience and the Museum’s education service.”
