Museum’s rare Christmas photos reveal glimpse of Scotland’s rural past

Museum’s rare Christmas photos reveal glimpse of Scotland’s rural past – Daily Record

A series of rare festive photographs dating back a century have been released by a Lanarkshire museum as a set of downloadable Christmas cards. The National Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride has unveiled a group of rare festive photographs from the Scottish Life Archive. For the first time, the five historic photographs will be available to download for free as a set of Christmas cards.

The photographs, each over 100 years old, include record-breaking snowy scenes, an eccentric Father Christmas from Fife, and a family portrait by one of Scotland’s earliest female photographers. Lady Henrietta Gilmour, a pioneer of photography, captured over a thousand images of Scottish country life, including a tender portrait of her children sledging in Fife in 1900.

Also featured is Mr Henry Watson, who posed as a characterful Father Christmas in Burntisland in 1909. Two snowy scenes capture the extreme winter of 1895 in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, when the lowest ever recorded temperature in the UK was reached at minus 27.2°C. These Christmas cards are offered for free download on nms.ac.uk/ScottishLifeArchive, just in time for the festive season.

The Scottish Life Archive, established in 1959, aims to preserve material culture and histories related to rural life in Scotland. It has since expanded to include evidence not only of country life but also maritime, urban, and industrial life. Dr Ailsa Hutton, Curator of Modern and Rural History at National Museums Scotland, said, “The Scottish Life Archive offers remarkable insight into all aspects of Scottish life, with 300 years of documentary and illustrative material. Whether it’s a quirky Santa Claus or a record-breaking snowy winter, I hope people enjoy sharing a little bit of Scottish rural history this Christmas.”

The National Museum of Rural Life in East Kilbride showcases Scotland’s rural history through its museum, historic farmhouse, and working farm. The museum boasts Scotland’s largest collection of tractors, while the farm is home to various animals. The Reid family, who lived in the Georgian farmhouse for 10 generations, provides a glimpse into rural life in the 1950s.

In conclusion, the release of these rare Christmas photos offers a unique opportunity to explore Scotland’s rural past through the lens of history and photography. The National Museum of Rural Life’s initiative to share these historic images as downloadable Christmas cards allows people to connect with and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Scotland during the festive season.