To celebrate Dumbarton’s Octocentenary we hosted eight short talks focusing on objects from West Dunbartonshire Council’s Museum and Archives Collections relating to the history of the town.

Cutty Sark Model and Log Book

 

As part of our Dumbarton 800 celebrations,we learneds more about the Cutty Sark, the famous tea clipper which was built in Dumbarton and sailed the world. See our scale model of the vessel whose name was inspired by a Burns poem, and delve into the log books from her maiden and early voyages, donated to Dumbarton Library a century ago by the Cutty Sark’s first Captain.

 

King and Queen of Scotland – Dumbarton’s Royal Charters

 

This was a rare chance to view some of the oldest items in our archive collection, a selection of conserved Royal Charters issued between 1488 and 1597. Learn more about the Kings and Queens that issued the charters and the part they played in the history of Dumbarton with a short talk covering King James II, King James V, Mary of Guise and King James VI.

Saints and Sinners – The Skellat Bell

 

We explored the history of one of the museum collections oldest objects, the Skellat Bell. A Ninth Century Celtic bell, believed to have been used by a saint to call people to prayer on Loch Lomond, rung to warn residents of Viking attacks and to broadcast news of deaths, crimes and burgh announcements throughout post-reformation Dumbarton.

 

Dumbarton in Glassmaking Days by Alexander Brown

 

As part of the Dumbarton 800 celebration series, we took a close look at one of the finest paintings of Dumbarton in the museum collection. Dumbarton in Glassmaking Days by Alexander Brown offers a unique insight into the town in the early 1800s. Join us for this short talk to learn more about the artist, his work and the inspiration behind the painting – the Dumbarton Glassworks Company.