What's On 2010

Quiz night at Castlehill

There was much hilarity, scratching of heads and whirring of cogs amongst the twelve teams who took part in our Quiz Night, and we were delighted to have four teams of youngsters from the Castletown Army Cadets.

Quizmaster Neil put the competitors though their paces with a balance of testing and easy(?) questions, covering ten different topic areas, such as Pot Luck, Television& Film, Blockbusters and Sport. In the event it proved to be a closely run thing for the top four teams, however the final 'specialist' round on knowledge of Caithness sorted out the 'knows' from the 'don't knows' with 'The Particulars' emerging as overall winners by only one point.

The teams were treated to a lovely supper of home baking and sandwiches mid way through the evening, courtesy of Liz Buchan, Jayne Blackburn, Jackie Donaldson and Muriel Murray.

After the raffle had been drawn, the Particulars were awarded their prizes, each receiving a beautiful turned wooden bowl crafted by local woodturner, Alastair Hossack.

The evening proved to be a popular success so plans are already afoot for another event in the autumn.

Traditional Home Fare and Baking

The wonderful aroma of home baking was in the air when the first of our traditional workshops for the 2010 season got underway.

Liz Buchan and Maisie Nicolson demonstrated how to make pancakes, flourbread, oatcakes, brose, treacle scones, welsh cakes and berebread. Neil and John were on hand as chief tasters and showed how quickly they could disappear...

Traditional musical heritage workshop

For two days, Castlehill Heritage Centre was host to a Scottish Traditional Music Workshop, delivered in partnership with North Highland Connections and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

Local school children and music students were coached by ten students from RSAMD in a series of instrumental workshops. Tonight's concert, held in the recently refurbished Mey Hall was the culmination of their efforts, and there wasn't a dry eye in the house as the children and students entertained the capacity audience to music of the highest calibre.

The concert was compered and supported by the legendary Phil Cunningham, pictured far left with some of the RSAMD students and was without doubt one of the best traditional music concerts to be held in Caithness for many a year.

CHS Annual General Meeting

An enthusiastic audience turned out to hear Chairwoman Muriel Murray reflect upon a very full year of activity, a highlight of which was the the success of the Society in winning the Community Initiative category at the Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards in November 2009. The AGM was followed by a fascinating talk by Barbara Hiddleston, archivist at the Castle of Mey.

The following were elected to Executive Committee of the Castletown Heritage Society:

Chairwoman

Muriel Murray

Vice-Chairwoman

Elizabeth Geddes

Treasurer

John Crowden

Committee

Jayne Blackburn

Roy Blackburn

Neil Buchan (Technical Projects Manager and Webmaster)

Hugh Crowden

Sharon Pottinger

Drystone Dyking Course

Participants in the latest of our very popular Drystone Dyking courses have created a new feature on the Castlehill Heritage Trail. Over the course of the weekend and working under the expert tuition of Master Craftsman Dave Goulder from Rosehall, a magnificent section of traditional Caithness drystone dyke, complete with a seating area, has been constructed adjacent to the north east entrance to the Trail.

Visitors taking advantage of a rest at the seat will be treated to a superb and uninterrupted view across the fields to Dunnet Bay and Dunnet Head beyond.

Peat Experience Workshop

Thankfully the weather was kind last weekend for the first "Peat Experience Workshop" delivered by Castletown Heritage Society in conjunction with Mary-Ann's Cottage at the nearby village of Dunnet. Answering an appeal from the trustees to replenish the peat stack at Mary Ann's Cottage at Dunnet, eight volunteers keen to learn the art of cutting peat joined three committee members of Castletown Heritage Society on Dunnet Head.

Under the knowledgeable command of Dave Glass, Brough and Hamish Manson and his son David from Dunnet, the volunteers were put through their paces. After an introductory talk on the various tools of the trade, they set off on the thirty five minute walk into the hill where work began in earnest. The peat bank was first 'tirred' (the top turf removed and the face prepared) then each volunteer had a chance to cut different shapes of peats with a variety of instruments. Once cut, the peats were tossed to the waiting catchers who set them on the heather to dry. The weather was ideal for the job, with bright sunshine and a slight breeze. The cut peat will now be left to dry for a few weeks before the second workshop. Proceedings were captured on camera and video by Mick O'Donnell, Brough.

CHS is also putting on a Peat Experience Day on Sunday May 30th. On offer will be a guided nature walk to the peat bank, a chance to watch or even try cutting the odd peat, bannocks by a peat fire at Mary Ann's cottage, a display in castlehill heritage Centre showing the formation of peat and the archaeological importance of peat as a means of conservation.

Anyone wishing to participate in the Peat Experience Day should register their interest as soon as possible by clicking HERE or telephoning 01847 821204.

Something Corny

Internationally renowned Elaine Lindsay from the Guild of Straw Craftsmen led a well attended workshop demonstrating how to make 'corn dollies' and other traditional handicrafts using straw as the base material. Elaine will probably remember her first trip to Caithness for the wrong reasons however. On her way north she was held up for over two hours at Berridale while a rescue helicopter landed beside her to transport an injured coach driver to hospital and the road was cleared!

Despite her very late arrival at Castletown Hotel, Elaine gave participants at the two day straw work workshop excellent instruction and demonstrated a wide variety of plaiting methods. The participants, whose ages ranged from teens to sixties, were delighted to be able to produce examples of many of the techniques.

Elaine is also co-ordinating stories on the history of harvest knots, corn dollies etc. Local visitors to the centre during the workshop were able to add their reminiscences of farm workers making and wearing harvest knots in their buttonhole at dances. Any other similar stories would be welcomed by CHS who will pass them on to Elaine.

For further info see Elaine Lindsay's website

'Peat Experience Day' - A Grand Day Out

On Sunday 30 May the second of the 'Peat Experience Days' organised by Castletown Heritage Society in conjunction with Mary-Ann's Cottage at Dunnet took place on the brilliantly sunny and slightly breezy peat bank on Burifa Hill at Dunnet Head. This event was a follow-on from the very successful peat workshop held earlier in the month, where a good quantity of peat was cut and laid out to dry.

Whilst the main activity of the day was to set up the peats to enhance the drying process and to take home the first consignment to Mary-Ann's Cottage, participants experienced the full peat life cycle - from trying their hand at cutting, setting up and stacking peats to sampling home-made bannocks baked over an open peat fire at Mary-Ann's Cottage, Dunnet.

From 1pm to 4pm in the afternoon, Castlehill Heritage Centre featured a display on the formation of peat, the archaeological importance of peat and stories of sacrifice, fairies and water gods of the peatlands.

Northern Loops - Knit in Public Day

Unique opportunity to take part in national 'Knit in Public Day'. Thurso based 'Stitch 'n' Blether' will be running a sociable knitting event in Thurso precinct as part of the Northern Loops project aimed at knitting together a new inter-generational group to allow young and old to socialise and exchange knowledge.

In parallel with the main event. Castletown Heritage Society offered visitors the opportunity to run up a row or two of knitting or learn to knit.

Writing at the 'Hill

Using Castlehill Heritage Centre and its surroundings as a touchstone for writing, we opened with a series of workshops focused on the building blocks of writing: description, character, narrative, and point of view. With activities both fun and useful, participants enjoyed a day of creativity.

June 5 began the series with an all day workshop (soup, sandwiches, tea, and coffee were provided). Participants walked around the harbour, along the old flagstones or in the garden at Castlehill as part of the day's activities.

The full day Saturday session was followed by three Tuesday evening sessions.

Sharon Pottinger, former writing teacher and local writer, led these sessions.

Future sessions include a look at poetry facilitated by Christine Russell and other genres led by local and visiting writers. To register interest, click HERE

Traditional skills workshop - Lime Mortar Pointing

Run in conjunction with the Scottish Lime Trust, this extremely popular workshop offers training in the use of lime-based materials for the conservation and repair of Scottish traditional buildings.

Twelve delegates maximum per day. £20 inc lunch and materials.

The last time we ran this event places were snapped up very quickly - to find out more and register early interest, click HERE

Highland Archaeological Festival

Guided walk through the grounds to the ruins of Castlehill House - once the grand home of Sheriff James Traill of Rattar. Followed by a presentation back in the warmth of Castlehill Heritage Centre on the history and architecture of Castlehill House.

To find out more - click HERE

Nuno Felt Scarf Craft Day

Castlehill Heritage Centre took on a bright and colourful appearance today when Sharon Pottinger demonstrated how to make Nuno felt scarves at this hands-on workshop day. Light but cosy scarves in a range of bright colours were made, ready for a Caithness winter.

Summer programme of Archaeology Workshops

Our exciting programme of activities includes plane tabling hut circles, re-surveying Mercers work in Dunnet, recording the Castletown Battery, probing for the chapel of St Coombs, looking for signs of Stangergill Castle, and much more. Ideas from interested people are very welcome.

All our archaeological events involve hands-on participation and are suitable for beginners to experienced alike. Interested in taking part in 2011? For further details - contact

Ganseys - Traditional Fisherman's Jerseys

Display of Ganseys and Introduction to Gansey Knitting & Heritage

Stephanie Hoyle, Highland Area Coordinator for the Moray Firth Gansey Project, will be bringing a collection of fishermen's ganseys to Castlehill Heritage Centre and demonstrating some of the patterns and techniques characteristic of ganseys.

• Drop in and enjoy the display and share your own stories of fishermen's ganseys. Have you knitted one? Do you recall your mother or grandmother knitting one? Do you have one in your attic? Did you or your father wear one? Are you curious to know more about the history behind the ganseys or their stitches?
• Try your hand at some gansey patterns with Stephanie's guidance. Bring your own DK wool (solid colour, firm twist) and smallish needles (2.75-3.25 mm). We'll have extras on hand if you want to give it a go on the day.
• Start your own miniature gansey following the pattern in the book Knitting Ganseys by Beth Brown-Reinsel

For more information contact: Sharon Gunason 01 847 821 555

• Later, in the new year a visiting lecturer will give an in depth one day workshop on gansey patterns from a wide range of places.

This project is being part-financed by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and by the Scottish Government and The European Community Rural Aberdeenshire, Highland and Moray LEADER 2007 - 2013 Programmes.

Silk Paper Making

One day workshop with Sharon Pottinger.

Christmas Gift Sale - Sat 13 November

Our pre-Christmas sale of locally sourced goods and hand crafted items proved popular yesterday, with visitors commenting very favourably as to the high quality and diversity of produce on display. Learning from the experience of running our first Christmas Gift Sale last year, we used more of the rooms in the building to give stall holders greater space to display their wares.

Tea, coffee and a selection of delicious home baking kept both the visitors and stall keepers refreshed, served in the archaeology laboratory which had a Christmassy make-over for the day.

Thanks to all who turned out to make the day such a success - it is always a pleasure to showcase local talent, and by popular demand we will almost certainly run another pre-Christmas sale in 2011!

Traditional Music Workshop - Bothy Night

A near capacity crowd took part in the latest in our popular series of traditional skills workshops. The evening event explored the social history of the bothy, and in particular the traditional songs and stories of the workers and farm servants who used to inhabit them.

Bothies were outbuildings on a farm or estate, where unmarried labourers and workers used to sleep, often in harsh conditions. In the evening, to entertain themselves they told stories, sang old songs and often composed their own songs, occasionally lampooning their masters, working conditions or day to day events. The stories and songs were sometimes topically political, and given the single sex environment, frequently quite rude!

It was all good, clean family fun however as master (or should that be mistress?) of ceremonies Muriel Murray explained all about bothy culture, it's roots in the north-east of Scotland and its relevance to Caithness and Castlehill. Her illuminating talk was interspersed with some fantastic performances of music and song by local entertainers - illuminated that is by tilley lamp and candles - most atmospheric!

The highlight of the first half (in the eyes of your humble scribe) was Donald MacNeill's rendition of 24 Hours to Georgemas - a hilariously allegorical piece highlighting the experiences of travel by 'crawler' between Inverness and Thurso on the North Highland Line. A modern day bothy ballad if ever there was one!

Mid way through the evening, a traditional feed of stovies and oatcakes, beetroot and clapshot (a traditional orkney recipe of tatties (potatoes) and swede (yellow turnips). Whilst tea and coffee were served, most folk had brought along their own favourite form of libation, which helped the evening go with a swing, and probably most inkeeping with bothy life!

Our thanks go to all who took part in what proved to be a most informative and highly entertaining evening. Thanks go also to the Castletown Hotel who made the stovies.

Based on the very positive feedback received we will certainly look to deliver another social themed workshop!

Summer Exhibition - Trades and Business past and present, in and around Castletown

Learn all about the fascinating and diverse range of trades and businesses that have flourished in the village and parish over the years.

From the flagstone works to wood chip carvers to joke mask manufacture to state of the art freezer manufacture!

Castlehill Heritage Centre, Harbour Road, Castletown, nr Thurso

Wash and Brush Up III

Our very popular painting classes with Helen Moore have finished for the season.

Sessions will re-start mid-January 2011. Check the website regularly for further details.

Sessions run from 7-9pm on Monday evenings at a cost of £8 per evening plus materials. Juniors and OAPs £5. Beginners are especially welcome.

To find out more and register interest, click HERE