What’s On in Historic Dunkeld
We run events throughout the year: Exhibitions from the collection, talks, workshops and concerts to raise funds for running costs, and an annual Living History weekend. Find all the dates for your diary.
For tickets: Book online via the links given below, or tel. 01350 727786, or email manager@historicdunkeld.org.uk.
MACINTOSH EXHIBITION – Friday 13th September until Monday 14th of October – Birnam Arts Mezzanine Floor
The Chapter House Museum Trust presents an exhibition following the lives of the notable MacIntosh family. The exhibition focusses on James MacIntosh and his unpublished music manuscripts held in the Dunkeld Community Archive, recently found by Munro Gauld, a local musician and historian. This amazing discovery culminated in this unique exhibition telling the story of James, his family, and his many interests including music and photography.
Prints of James MacIntosh’s photographs will be available to purchase throughout the exhibition.
Friday 13th September 2024 at 7.30pm
Lindsey Gibb: Shackleton beyond the ice – Click here for tickets
Discover the life of the Antarctic explorer legend from his beginnings in Ireland to his last expedition on the Quest, covering all four polar expeditions and his non polar adventures. Lindsey Gibb has spent the last two years researching ‘The Boss’ and will give an insight into his life both on and off the ice.
Sunday 15th September 2024 – 10am to 12pm & 1.30pm to 4.30pm
– Click here for tour 1 tickets
– Click here for tour 2 tickets (7km)
James Jarvis Guided Walks – Part of the ‘Doors Open Days 2024 Event’
10am – The Dunkeld of today is very different from what it was like in the Middle Ages. We will visit the sites of the lost places which may only be imagined or viewed on old pictures or maps. We will also identify sources where information can be gathered and learn how we can place the history.
Distance – 1-2 km
Accessibility – this walk will avoid steps and rough ground. It will accommodate adventurous wheelchair users however some of the paths will be stony. Please get in touch for more details.This in-person event is a unique opportunity to delve into the mysteries of Dunkeld’s lost history sites. Don’t miss out on this chance to uncover the secrets of our town’s past!
1.30pm – This adventurous walk will take in some of the surrounding landscape of Dunkeld.
The highly scenic route will visit Sunny Brae, the Old Abattoir, the “Cave Grotto” at Cave Pass, St Colme’s Well, King’s Seat Pictish Fort and Polney Lodge Standing Stone. We will be looking for clues in the landscape that indicated human activities.
Distance: 7km
Accessibility – this walk will include steps, uneven surface, narrow paths and some inclines of 20%. The walking grade will be mostly “Hiking” with some short “Mountain Hiking” sections. Walking boots are required. There are sections where the path is narrow, cambered and traverses a steep slope. There are two locations where fallen trees need to be negotiated. This involves clambering and bending.
Friday 11th October 2024 at 7.30pm
Lara Haggarty – “A strange and uncouth wonder” – Click here for tickets
The Library of Innerpeffray, Holinshed’s Chronicles and Shakespeare’s Macbeth
Lara Haggerty, Keeper of Books at Innerpeffray, will give an introduction to the history of Scotland’s first, free, public, lending library and a closer look at two of the books in the collection. Chronicles of Scotland, England and Ireland, by Raphael Holinshed was printed in 1577 and is widely known as the source of many of Shakespeare’s plots. Lara will examine the text and illustrations of this fascinating, if erroneous, account of Macbeth and its links to Birnam and then explore another of the Library’s books that is also concerned with the superstition and the prediction of fortune.
Friday 8th November 2024 at 7.30pm
Mike Taylor: Bristling with Guns, Perthshire between the wars ~ ‘Oi mate, you can’t put that cannon there!’ – Click here for Tickets
In November thoughts turn to remembrance, often focussed on the local war memorials that were being erected across the country 100 years ago. This talk will focus on a type of memorial that was once very common indeed but which has now totally faded from memory – thousands of captured artillery pieces were distributed across the UK and Perthshire was no exception.
Friday 6th December 2024 at 7.30pm
Euphemia Ramsay: A Gothic Ghost Story for Solstice – Click here for tickets
A creaky door, a mysterious thud, a short lived scream. Reviving the Victorian tradition of telling ghost stories at Christmas, Euphmeia Ramsay will be sharing a supernatural tale from master of the genre Wilkie Collins.
Lindsey Gibb, Storyteller will be performing for us this evening.
Friday 14th February 2025 at 7.30pm
Andrew Paterson: Christian Icons ~ making and meaning – Click here for tickets
The tradition of the Christian icon-painting, which is almost as old as Christianity itself, is enjoying a remarkable revival and has recently spread beyond its ‘homeland’ in the Eastern Orthodox Church to many Western churches. In this illustrated talk, local art historian Dr Andrew Paterson addresses two basic questions many people ask about icons: Why do they look the way they do, and how can they be used as an aid to prayer and worship? In the process he will compare the visual language of the icon with more familiar religious images from the Western artistic tradition.
Friday 14th March 2025 at 7.30pm
Paul McLennan: The Dunkeld Dissident – Click here for tickets
The tragic life and times of Alexander Robertson, Dundonnachie. Coal merchant philosopher, author, political agitator, and an orator who drew crowds on both sides of the Atlantic, there was so much more to Dundonnachie than leading the Toll Bridge riots in Dunkeld.
Friday 11th April 2024 at 7.30pm
In their own words: Rivendell Stories, presented by Lesley Wilson – Click here for tickets
As a writer in residence at Rivendell Care home Lesley has spent many hours listening to, and writing down, the stories of growing up and growing old in Dunkeld and its surrounds.
Stories of dancing at Clunie Hall, working in Buchanan’s and Menzies, scratching after a trip to the pictures, life during the great depression of the 1930’s, the slums of Dunkeld, Tin City and many more.
Come along and hear to their own words, shared by Lesley, and perhaps share yours.
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