Campbeltown Museum

Campbeltown Museum offers a unique insight into Campbeltown’s ancient and more modern past.  With a fascinating and nationally important Archaeological Collection, the museum describes the creation of the natural landscape of Kintyre and how its first peoples came to Kintyre to farm the area’s fertile lands.  Neolithic stone axe heads and cooking pots, sit alongside Bronze Age jet necklaces and swords.  A gold Viking arm ring highlights Argyll’s seafaring past and its international connections.

Opening Times

The museum is open during normal office hours of 9.00 am to 5.00 pm Mon to Fri.  During the Summer it is also open some weekends between 11.00 am and 3.00 pm.  However as weekend opening is staffed by volunteers, you are advised to call ahead before visiting to avoid disappointment.

Access to the museum may be restricted during marriage ceremonies.  Again it is advised that you call ahead to confirm arrangements.

The museum is free to all visitors but donations are requested for the maintenance of its collections.

Facilities

• Full disabled access is available to the museum and to its facilities.
• Artifacts
• Linda McCartney Memorial Garden
• Events and Education Programmes

Building

James MacAlister Hall, was born in Campbeltown, but like many of its residents travelled far and wide to make his fortune.  After a successful career in India, he returned to the town of his birth, founding Campbeltown Museum and Library in 1898.  He was rewarded with the Freedom of the Burgh, a distinction only bestowed twice before – to the Duke of Argyll in 1840 and the Marquess of Lorne in 1868.  He employed one of the most celebrated architects of the time, John James Burnet, to design the new Museum, Library and Ladies Reading Room.  Burnet’s Building is a masterpiece of Victorian Renaissance architecture and retains all of its original internal timber panelling, chimneypieces, decorative plasterwork and cupolas.

Also within the Building are Campbeltown’s Marriage Room and Argyll and Bute Council’s Service Point. 

Linda McCartney Memorial Garden

Burnet’s original design included a loggia opening to a sheltered inner garden.  This garden has since been redesigned and dedicated to the memory of Linda McCartney, a statue of whom forms the centrepiece.  The garden is open between 9.00 am to 5.00 pm (Mon to Fri) and 10.00 am to 4.00 pm (Sat and Sun.) 

Events and Education

The museum runs a programme of events and education programmes throughout the year.  Contact the Service Point on 01586 559017 or Kilmartin House Museum’s Education Team on 01546 510278 for further information.

The Friends of Campbeltown Museum

The Friends of the Museum provide invaluable support to the Museum both in staffing the museum during Summer weekends, and by helping raise funds for new equipment and acquisitions.  The Friends are always looking for new members or support in cataloguing the collections– if you would like to get involved please contact Members.