The Stewartry Museum

About The Stewartry Museum

Built in the Scottish Baronial style by local builder Robert Wallace, the Stewartry Museum (or the Stewartry of Kirkcudbright Museum to give its full title) first occupied the top floor of Kirkcudbright Town Hall when it opened in 1881. The Stewartry Museum Association was established in 1879 to gather material relating to the human and natural history of the area. Its collecting activities were so successful that a new building was soon required and after being given the land by the Countess of Selkirk and raising the necessary funds for the construction costs, the new museum opened in 1893. Its design is typical of late Victorian museums with a high, open exhibition hall with a first floor gallery on all fours sides. The attached two-storey structure was originally the custodian’s dwelling house. It is now operated as part of Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Arts and Museums Service.
Its collections still tell the story of the human and natural history of the Stewartry (also known as Kirkcudbrightshire) and amongst its many historic exhibits is the ‘Siller Gun’ which ranks as the Britain’s earliest surviving sporting trophy. Dating to 1587, it is a miniature firearm or hackbut and was awarded at an annual shooting competition arranged by the Town Council, probably to improve the defensive capabilities of the town’s inhabitants. The competition is still held to mark significant national occasions and the trophy is competed for by members of the Incorporated Trades of Kirkcudbright, itself an historic institution of the town.