Category: Museum on the road

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Dodo Roadshow: Ullapool Museum

Ullapool Museum 1 x

To mark our selection as a Finalist in the Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year 2015 we’re embarking on a unique and ambitious tour of the country – the Dodo Roadshow.

Beginning at Land’s End on 8 June and concluding in John O’Groats one week later, the famous Oxford Dodo will visit more than 20 museums and galleries along the way. At each stop the Dodo will ‘interview’ one of the venue’s star objects.

Ullapool Museum: Telford Parliamentary Church

UllapoolSo, tell me about yourself – who are you and where do you come from?
I am a very special building. I was built as a church here in Ullapool in 1829 and Thomas Telford, one of Britain’s most celebrated engineers, designed me. I was built as a Parliamentary Church, after the government of the day decided that more places of worship were needed in the thinly populated and scattered parishes of the highlands of Scotland.

What is it that makes you so special?
I am unique; although thirty-two Parliamentary Churches were built, I’m the only one still standing that remains true to Telford’s original design. I still have the original décor and fittings, and the only gallery still surviving. I have a very special role, as I am the building that also houses the museum’s collection and I provide a place for visitors to come and learn about the history of Lochbroom.

Who looks after you in this place?
I am looked after by a wonderful group of volunteers. Some of the team help to conserve me, and work to maintain my walls and all the special features inside. Other volunteers are involved in helping to fundraise to help keep my doors open to the public. Some of the team also work on interpreting my history and give tours to visitors.

Do you remember life before the museum?
My life before being a museum building was very different. As a church, I was used to being full of people congregating every Sunday and I was a busy hub for village life. The last service that was held here was a wedding in 1935. After that, my walls fell silent until 1995, when I became the Ullapool Museum. My doors are now open to visitors and my walls tell the stories and the histories of the people of Lochbroom.

What does the future hold for you?
Because I am a Grade A1 listed building, it costs a great deal to conserve me and to keep my doors open to visitors. My volunteer team spend a lot of time helping to raise money to care for me. Everyone hopes that I can continue to be here to help tell the stories of the people of Lochbroom for many years!

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Dodo Roadshow: RSPB Loch Garten

Richard Crossley
Capercaillie from the Crossley ID Guide Britain and Ireland – Creative Commons

To mark our selection as a Finalist in the Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year 2015 we’re embarking on a unique and ambitious tour of the country – the Dodo Roadshow.

Beginning at Land’s End on 8 June and concluding in John O’Groats one week later, the famous Oxford Dodo will visit more than 20 museums and galleries along the way. At each stop the Dodo will ‘interview’ one of the venue’s star objects.

RSPB Loch Garten: Capercaillie

RSPB Loch Garten 850pxSo, tell me about yourself – who are you and where do you come from?
I am a capercaillie and my home is the magnificent National Nature Reserve, Abernethy Forest. I am very lucky to live here, as it is the largest remnant of the Caledonian pine forest, which is full of tasty blaeberry for me and my chicks to feed on. My name means ‘horse of the woods’ in Gaelic: some humans think that when I do my impressive display call it sounds like the hooves of horses on cobbles.

What is it that makes you so special?
I’m special for many reasons! Where do I start? I’m very rare here in Scotland. There are only around 1,000 of me left but back in the 1970s there were as many as 20,000 of capercaillies like me! I’m also very good at a special dance called lekking. I strut around, with my beautiful tail fanned up and I make a sequence of click and pop sounds, showing off to the ladies and trying to outdo the other male capercaillies at the lek. I’m very beautiful too, with a striking red eye marking, and glorious iridescent feathers on my front. I’m also the largest grouse in Scotland.

Who looks after you in this place?
Here at Abernethy Forest I’m looked after by the RSPB. They know how special my dance is and they know how upset I get if my lek is disturbed by curious humans who want to take a peek at my fancy moves. Therefore, they ask people to watch me lek at a safe distance, hidden from my view by a hide at a special event called Caper-Watch. The RSPB also know that I fly into deer fences which can kill me, so they make sure there are no deer fences here at Abernethy. Something else the RSPB is doing to look after me is making my home bigger and better, by expanding the forest and opening up the canopy in parts of the forest where it is too dense.

Do you remember life before RSPB Loch Garten?
I don’t remember but my ancestors tell me lots of stories about before Abernethy was a nature reserve. They tell me about how people used to shoot capercaillies!  And that there was less blaeberry around for them to eat.

What does the future hold for you?
The future looks uncertain for me; there aren’t many of us capercaillies left now…and we have gone extinct in Scotland before! But the RSPB is doing lots to help me here at Abernethy, and visitors too are helping by keeping their dogs on leads during the breeding season, coming to Caper-Watch to see me without disturbing me and joining as RSPB members. So hopefully things will get better for capercaillies.

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Dodo Roadshow: Perth Museum and Art Gallery

Perth Museum and Gallery

To mark our selection as a Finalist in the Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year 2015 we’re embarking on a unique and ambitious tour of the country – the Dodo Roadshow.

Beginning at Land’s End on 8 June and concluding in John O’Groats one week later, the famous Oxford Dodo will visit more than 20 museums and galleries along the way. At each stop the Dodo will ‘interview’ one of the venue’s star objects.

Perth Museum and Art Gallery: St Madoes Stone

So, tell me about yourself – who are you and where do you come from?
I am a Pictish cross slab in very good condition, considering my age. For centuries I took pride of place in the kirkyard of St Madoes Parish Church, six miles east of Perth in the Tay Valley.

What is it that makes you so special?
I am so special because my embellishments are of both Pictish and Celtic origin reflecting my place in the region, which was ‘the cradle of Scotland’. My front face shows a Celtic cross with interlace and knot work patterns similar to those seen in the Book of Kells or Lindisfarne gospels. Above the beautiful cross I have leaping lions and on each side the cross is guarded by Pictish hunting dogs. On my reverse side there are three cloaked and hooded Pictish horse riders above three of the enigmatic Pictish symbols known today as crescent and v rod, a double disc and a z rod. Don’t ask me what they mean, I knew once but I have now forgotten.

Who looks after you in this place?
In Perth Museum and Art Gallery I come under the curatorship of Mark Hall along with all the other archaeological objects in the museum. On a day to day basis my surroundings are preened and pimped by the wonderful front of house team who polish the large mirror which shows off my Pictish side to make sure I look my best in photographs, and they tell my story as a star object to the visitors to the museum.

Do you remember life before the museum?
Before I came to the museum I stood in the churchyard of St Madoes Church. After many centuries I fell over but remained in the same place. In the 19th century I was raised again and didn’t come to the museum until the 1990s when I was given pride of place in the entrance hall.

What does the future hold for you?
I cannot see far into the future but I know that my place is secure (literally) within the entrance hall. I’m too big and too popular to move easily but it could be that the display around me may change.

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Dodo Roadshow: The Hunterian

Hunterian

To mark our selection as a Finalist in the Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year 2015 we’re embarking on a unique and ambitious tour of the country – the Dodo Roadshow.

Beginning at Land’s End on 8 June and concluding in John O’Groats one week later, the famous Oxford Dodo will visit more than 20 museums and galleries along the way. At each stop the Dodo will ‘interview’ one of the venue’s star objects.

The Hunterian: Giant Irish Deer

So, tell me about yourself – who are you and where do you come from?
I am a giant Irish deer – they call me Megaloceros giganteus these days. I was found in a peat bog in Ireland, in Limerick I think, but I believe I had lots of relatives across Europe. I have been dead a long time! I was dug out of the bog more than 250 years ago.

What is it that makes you so special?
A Scottish doctor called William Hunter acquired me in the 18th century. He was interested in lots of things apart from medicine and he wanted to know more about moose or elk and me. He made a study of us all and even had the famous George Stubbs make a painting of the moose to help his study!

Who looks after you in this place?
I am looked after by two people – Neil Clark, the Curator of Palaeontology and Maggie Reilly the Curator of Zoology. That probably reflects the fact I have trotted between Zoology and Palaeontology displays over the years! I am a recent extinction after all (geologically speaking that is), though not as recent as you!

Do you remember life before the museum?
I don’t remember very long ago when I was alive, but like you I have been around a bit – after leaving Ireland, I lived in London for a while, then I was taken to Glasgow on a barge and then I was in the first Hunterian Museum down in the middle of Glasgow. Now, after a few years in the Zoology Museum, I am a big star in the main Hunterian Museum. I  have some friends with me now – the moose antlers. We sorted out the puzzle that William was interested in that I mentioned above.

What does the future hold for you?
I think I am probably going to still be on show to the public, though in the future there may be new Hunterian displays in a different building where even more people will be able to come and see me. I have been measured and studied in the past but as you say the scientists may have new things they want to learn so they know where to find me!


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Dodo Roadshow: Kelvingrove

KG013_P01_01(small)

To mark our selection as a Finalist in the Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year 2015 we’re embarking on a unique and ambitious tour of the country – the Dodo Roadshow.

Beginning at Land’s End on 8 June and concluding in John O’Groats one week later, the famous Oxford Dodo will visit more than 20 museums and galleries along the way. At each stop the Dodo will ‘interview’ one of the venue’s star objects.

Kelvingrove Museum & Art Gallery: Sir Roger the Elephant

SirRoger3So, tell me about yourself – who are you and where do you come from?
My name is Sir Roger and I’m a male Asian elephant. I may have come from India, but I’m not sure. I used to travel with Bostock and Wombwell’s Menagerie, pulling a wagon as we travelled all round Britain during the 1880s and early 1890s. I came to Glasgow in 1897, when my owner, Edward Henry Bostock decided to set up the Scottish Zoo and Variety Circus in Glasgow.

What is it that makes you so special?
I’m one of the museum’s largest and most iconic animals. Everybody loves me.

Who looks after you in this place?
I’m looked after by the museum’s natural history conservator, Laurence Simmen. He gives me a clean from time to time, and makes sure I look my best. When the museum was closed for three years for refurbishment, I spent the whole time in a big crate (I was one of only a few objects to remain in the building). During this time, Laurence would check the crate to make sure I was alright.

Do you remember life before the museum?
When I was in the Scottish Zoo, I used to be taken out for walks in the countryside for exercise. The zoo wasn’t like modern ones. The cages were very small, and there was very little room to move around. I enjoyed my time there – young boys used to feed me buns! Unfortunately in December 1900, I developed musth – a condition of male elephants during the breeding cycle. This was very painful and I was so uncomfortable, that I wouldn’t let anyone near me. Mr Bostock was worried that I might injure somebody, and unfortunately by accident I did hurt my keeper. Eventually Mr Bostock very reluctantly decided I must be shot – which is how I ended up here in Kelvingrove Museum.

What does the future hold for you?
The gallery I’m in hasn’t been changed since Kelvingrove re-opened in 2006 after its refurbishment. The museum is hoping to change all the displays around about me next year. I might move to a different position, but I’ve been assured that I’ll still be here for everyone to visit – and maybe someone will offer me a bun again!

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Dodo Roadshow: Robert Burns Museum

Auld Lang Syne fragment 850px

To mark our selection as a Finalist in the Art Fund Prize for Museum of the Year 2015 we’re embarking on a unique and ambitious tour of the country – the Dodo Roadshow.

Beginning at Land’s End on 8 June and concluding in John O’Groats one week later, the famous Oxford Dodo will visit more than 20 museums and galleries along the way. At each stop the Dodo will ‘interview’ one of the venue’s star objects.

Robert Burns Birthplace Museum: Auld Lang Syne fragment

Burns2So, tell me about yourself – who are you and where do you come from?
I am a fragment of the world famous song Auld Lang Syne written by the hand of Scotland’s most famous poet Robert Burns.

What is it that makes you so special?
I am sung all over the world to reminisce and think of “old long ago”. I am an international anthem and one of Scotland’s gifts to the world.

Who looks after you in this place?
The RBBM Director, Curator, Conservator, Facilities Manager and Learning Manager all help  ensure my safety.

Do you remember life before the museum?
I was purchased by the Trustees of the Robert Burns Museum from Sotheby’s auction house in 1952.

What does the future hold for you?
I will be enjoyed for many future generations who look back on times (including today) gone by with ardour.

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