|
COMPLETED
2019 EVENTS
|
|
Tue 12 Feb
7pm
|
The Life and
Times of Frances Purves
 The
first in our traditional series of Winter Talks got underway on Tuesday
12 February.
From Castletown
lass to Australian pioneer - Muriel Murray will reveal the fascinating
story of the life and times of Frances Purves from Thurdistoft.
|
|
Tue 26 Mar
7pm
|
Escape and Evade
 An
evening talk by F/Lt Don Mason RAF RV(Ret) BEM entitled “Evade and
Escape”. Don Mason is a WWII veteran who took part in the war as a
pilot and navigator, racking up almost 5,000 flying hours in operations
over Europe. Ninety-eight year old Don has a fascinating story to tell
about an operatives duty to evade capture, and then escape if the worst
happened. He will focus in particular on the escape lines developed from
Belgium through Spain and across the Pyrenees. Not to be missed!
|
|
Sat 20 &
Sun 21 Apr
2pm - 4pm
|
Basket Making
Demonstration
 Artist
and basketmaker Tim Johnson will be visiting Castletown Heritage Centre
for the fourth time over the Easter weekend for a special reason! On a
previous visit he discovered this special basket in the little Thurso
museum 'The Way it Was'.With a little research and comparing the
basket to others in museums and collections around Europe it seems this
basket is very special and it's weaving technique is not normally thought
of as Scottish or British.
Made from locally
harvested rushes the basket was perhaps used for gathering eggs or to
take on a fishing trip to carry bait - have you seen one similar? Do you
know anyone who used to make them? Have you got any old photographs of
similar baskets in use? Can you tell us anything about them? We would
love to hear from you.
Tim will be making
and demonstrating at Castletown Heritage Centre on Saturday and Sunday
20th and 21st April 2019 - all welcome.
If you have any information
please contact Muriel Murray at the Castletown Heritage Centre: castletown.heritage@talk21.com
or Tim Johnson: boatbaskets@gmail.com
for assistance. [Photo copyrhight T Johnston]
|
|
Tue 23 Apr
7.30pm
|
The Caithness
Broch Project
Our third talk will
be on Tuesday 23rd April as part of our AGM and will be given by
Kenneth McElroy on the Caithness
Broch Project, which aims to construct a replica Broch structure to
help interpret the county's rich Iron Age history. More details to follow.
|
|
Tuesday 23
April
7.30pm
|
Castletown
Heritage Society AGM
 The
Annual General Meeting of the Castletown Heritage Society will be held
in Castlehill Heritage Centre on Tuesday 23 April at 7.30pm.
The
guest speaker for the evening will be Kenneth McElroy who will talk about
the Caithness Broch Project,
which aims to build a replica Broch structure to promote the county's
rich Iron Age history.
All
members, friends and associates welcome.
See
NEWS page for report of AGM
|
Open from 2pm to 4pm every
Wed, Sat and Sun afternoon
|
Exhibition - Formidable Females
 Our
Formidable Females exhibition featuring a selection of inspiring local
women from our past is proving extremely popular. Our exhibition features
stories and portraits of matriarchs, women pioneers, women in business,
in farming, in education, in military and civil service, all revealing
the inner strength of northern females, whatever their station in life.
|
|
Saturday
4, 11 &
18 May
10am - 12pm
|
Pottery Bowl
Workshops
 Following
the highly successful pottery workshops held last year a further series
of three hands-on traditional skills pottery workshops will be held in
May 2019.
These highly popular
workshops are quickly fully booked - advance booking and payment of £30
in full for the three sessions is essential.
If sufficient interest
is shown we may organise a further workshop for those new to pottery later
in the year. To find out
more and register interest please click HERE.
|
Open from 2pm to 4pm every
Wed, Sat and Sun afternoon
|
Exhibition - Pastimes from Past Times
 The
theme for the latest exhibition is 'Pastimes from Past Times'
and explores how local people spent their leisure hours in times gone
by. From sport to music, handicrafts, and everything in between, the exhibition
features articles, photographs and artefacts from recent times to a bygone
age.
|
Open from 2pm to 4pm every
Wed, Sat and Sun afternoon
|
Exhibition - McIvor and Allan
 McIvor
& Allan, Wood Chip Carvers were based in Castletown. Their skill
and craftsmanship is brought to life through this fascinating display,
which includes examples of their exquisite, locally made products, the
quality and popularity of which led to exports all around the world.
|
|
Sat 1, Sat
8 & Sat 15
June
1.30pm -
3.30pm
|
Millinery workshops
A series of three hands-on workshops led by Lindsay Broomfield on the
design and production of hats and headwear, with a focus on local vernacular
skills.
Advance booking and
payment of £30 in full for the three sessions is essential.
|
|
Wed 26 June
Display opens
6.30pm
Talk starts
7.00pm
|
Their
Past - Your Future
 A
truly fascinating display and slide show presentation by ninety-eight
year old F/Lt D Mason RAFVR (Ret) BEM, about his experiences and exploits
as a bomber pilot and navigator during WWll.
|
|
Sat 13 July
9.30am -
3.30pm
|
Smithing/Metalworking
workshop
Learn the craft of metal working using traditional skills. Hands-on, full
day workshop. Following the popularity of the two highly successful smithing
workshops held in 2018, this workshop is suitable for beginners and more
experienced practitioners.
|
|
Sunday
4, 11, 18,
25
August
2pm - 4pm
|
Cream
Teas at Castlehill
 Returning
by popular demand, on every Sunday in August we will be serving Cream
Teas at Castlehill.
Delicious home made
scones and cakes.
Guaranteed to get the taste buds dancing!
A perfect way to
complement a Sunday afternoon stroll round the Flagstone trail or a meander
round the amazing Heritage Garden. £3.50 per person.
|
|
Sunday 25
August
2pm - 4pm
|
North Highland
Woodturners Open Day
 The
North Highland Woodturners Association will be holding their annual Open
Day at Castlehill Heritage Centre on Sunday 25 August. Come along and
learn about the craft and have a go under supervision, making your own
small item to take home with you. Entry free!
|
|
Sat 7 September
10am - 4pm
|
North Highland
Woodturners Summer Demonstration Day
 The
North Highland Woodturners Association will be holding their annual summer
demonstration at Castlehill Heritage Centre on Saturday 7 September. The
event will feature two highly talented local woodturners - Mick O'Donnell
and Fred Haughton - who will demonstrate their advanced skills in a live
woodturning session.
Admission £3.00.
Tea/coffee and biscuits supplied.
|
|
Sat 14 September
9.30am -
3.30pm
|
Smithing/Metalworking
workshop
Learn the craft of metal working using traditional skills. Hands-on, full
day workshop - suitable for beginners and more experienced practitioners.
Cost: £20
- payable on booking. Includes instruction, materials and protective
equipment. Bring own packed lunch - tea/coffee provided.
The dates for any
future smithing workshops will be announced on this website, and advertised
locally.
|
Sat 5, Sun 6 and Sat 12
October
10am - 12pm
|
Christmas
Pottery Workshops
Returning by popular demand! Castlehill Heritage Centre invites you to
Christmas themed pottery workshop, taking place over three two-hour sessions.
Under the guidance of a local potter, you will learn to make and finish
five unique Christmas decorations.
Our highly popular
pottery workshops are quickly fully booked - advance booking and payment
of £30 in full for the three sessions is essential.
Cost: £30.00 payable
on booking. This included tuition, tools and materials. Tea/coffee
& biscuits provided.
|
Sunday 13 October
11am - 3pm
|
Crochet
Workshop
A hands-on workshop for beginners led by Ruan Peat exploring the skills
and techniques of crochet. You will learn the basic stitch and how to
make "granny squares" from which it is possible to create a blanket, hat,
pot holder, purse, tote bag and much more.
Cost: £10.00 payable
on booking. This included tuition, tools, materials and patterns.
Bring a packed lunch, tea/coffee & biscuits provided.
|
Open from 2pm to 4pm every
Wed, Sat and Sun afternoon
|
Flagstone
Exhibition
Our very popular summer exhibition returns, featuring themed displays
of artefacts, photographs and stories exploring the fascinating industrial
and social history of the Flagstone Industry in Caithness.
|
Open from 2pm to 4pm every
Wed, Sat and Sun afternoon
|
Exhibition - Our Maritime Heritage
 A
small, but fascinating exhibition exploring our local maritime heritage,
including artefacts, stories, charts and models, from the 16th century
to the modern day.
|
|
Thursday
26 December
2pm to 4pm
|
Boxing Day Mulled
Wine & Mince Pies
 Join
us at Castlehill Heritage Centre for mulled wine, mince-meat pies and
a good going chinwag on our traditional festive Boxing Day opening.
Always a popular
event!
|
Open from 2pm to 4pm every
Wed, Sat and Sun afternoon
|
Getting
The Message Across Exhibition
“Getting the Message Across” explores how we have communicated
through the ages - from symbols and letters to the rapid technological
changes in the 20th Century. On display are artefacts, photographs and
stories exploring the fascinating technical and social history of communication
in Caithness, including local Post Office memorabilia and military communication
equipment. Try out our WWII field telephones! Has technology has improved
the art of communication? Come along and judge for yourself!
|
Watch this space for confirmed
dates and further details, alternatively:
CONTACT
US by email or
phone 01847 821120
To book a place on an
event, email or phone as above
Please ensure you make
it clear which event you wish to book!
|
