Tweed Cottage is latest addition to Highland Folk Museum

To coincide with the national ‘Festival of Museums’, at 2pm on Saturday May 14th, 2011, the Highland Folk Museum will be opening Craig Dhu Tweed Cottage, its newest building.

The building was originally sited on Craig Dhu Road, Newtonmore where during the 1950s it was converted from a dwelling into a weaver’s workshop by David and Alison Gowans.

The building was donated to The Highland Folk Museum by Mrs Karen Thompson Jones, grand-daughter of the Gowans.

The museum has relocated, re-erected and restored the building which has been interpreted for the 1950s and includes original artefacts including the Gowns’ loom.

Bob Powell, Highland Council’s Principal Museums Officer said: “Craig Dhu Tweed Cottage is a fantastic new addition to our 80 acre, mile-long, living history site at the Highland Folk Museum. This is the very first opportunity to see the relocated 1950s weaver’s workshop – the newest living history building to be added to the open air Highland Folk Museum. Visitors will be able to see original artefacts from the building including the main loom; engage with live interpreters and try their hand at the loom.

“We very much appreciate the support shown by the local community to the Museum in recent times and in return for that support, we have invited locals to the opening of this building that once played a role in the community.”

The opening ceremony will be undertaken by Mrs Angela Cox of Newtonmore, local supporter and ex member of the Museum’s staff.

The Festivals of Museums is run by Museums Galleries Scotland from Friday 13 – Sunday 15 May 2011. For further information on the festival visit their website at www.festivalofmuseums.com/

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