Join us as we explore a wee ‘hidden’ gem- the Linlithgow Museum. Located in the historic town of Linlithgow, the Museum reveals captivating insights into the history of the former royal burgh, including its connection to Mary Queen of Scots and so much more. With our Golden Retriever travel guides- Sawyer and Stirling- welcoming you, step on in, and see more of what awaits you at Linlithgow Museum!
We love to visit Linlithgow because there is so much to see and learn each time we go. It is a town that is filled with fascinating histories spanning centuries. Some of the most famous people from Scottish royalty have called it home, but others have made their mark as well. Fortunately, the Linlithgow Museum allows us to ‘step back in time’ and get a wee glimpse into the historical record.
The Museum is housed on the first floor of the Linlithgow Partnership Centre which is just a short walk down Kirkgate from Linlithgow Palace. It is run by a dedicated group of volunteers who clearly have a passion for Linlithgow history and culture. As you enter the Museum, you are greeted by one of Scotland’s most famous historical figures- Mary Queen of Scots. The exquisite statue on display was the first full-size one of her to be commissioned in Scotland.
It is reminiscent of another Mary Queen of Scots statue that can be found just outside Linlithgow Palace where Mary was born (as of this writing, the Palace is currently closed due to renovations, but you can learn more about it in our previous article). While Sawyer and Stirling were understandably not allowed in the Museum, they went on a separate history-seeking adventure around the town. Below they model next to Mary’s statue and in front of the Palace entrance gate.
The Palace ruins sit above Linlithgow Peel and Loch. The grounds are expansive and a delightful place to take a relaxing stroll. Although, judging by the photo below, it seems Sawyer was a bit preoccupied with the waterfowl at one point during his walk.
With archaeological evidence dating back thousands of years, life on the loch has seen great changes over the centuries, and Linlithgow Museum displays examples of this. Speaking of the Museum, let’s head back inside to see more of what they have on display.
One interesting fact that some of our readers outside of Scotland might not realise, is that curling originated here (not in Canada as many assume) during medieval times. In fact, it was a common sport that would have been seen on the loch in Linlithgow (and lochs all over Scotland) not that long ago. Unfortunately, due to shifting weather patterns and climate change, the lochs don’t freeze over enough anymore. Therefore, people had to start curling in indoor ice rinks instead.
In the past, Linlithgow was home to various industries including leather making in tanneries as well as pharmaceuticals. However, medicines would have looked very different than they do today as evidenced by the displays below.
Here are a few more photos from our visit:
Well, that is going to do it for this 'explore and discover' mission. I hope you have enjoyed our wee visit to Linlithgow and the Museum. If you visit, we highly recommend that you make a stop to the Museum so that you can learn more about the amazing stories and people of Linlithgow. Entry is free, but we always ask that you consider making a donation if possible as we want to preserve this important history for future generations. Head over to their website for the most up-to-date information on how to plan your own exploration.
And, if you have enjoyed reading a bit about Mary Queen of Scots, you can learn more about her later life in Scotland at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in our articles here and here. She is a favourite of ours, so be sure to subscribe to our blog so that you don’t miss any future articles on her as soon as they are published.
Until next time- Explore & Discover!
