Saturday, August 16, 2008

Laing Museum Newburgh North Fife

Laing Museum Newburgh. A small local history museum with displays about this interesting town and local historian and benefactor Alexander Laing. Collection details,
Archaeology, Archives, Coins and Medals, Decorative and Applied Art, Fine Art, Natural Sciences, Social History, Weapons and War, World Cultures. Alexander Laing was born in 1808 in Newburgh and was educated at Newburgh school. He began his working life as a draper but in 1850 he joined his uncle Thomas Anderson in the Commercial Bank in Newburgh. In 1855 Thomas Anderson died and left his nephew as sole Agent, a post which Laing maintained until his own death.

Laing had always been a fervent scholar and student of local and Scottish history and in 1860 he began a movement for the foundation of a Public Library. He bequeathed his own extensive library and antiquarian specimens to the town, and also a sum of £1220 for the erection of a building to house them.

In 1856 he was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. His most famous book of local history "Lindores Abbey and the Burgh of Newburgh" was published in 1876 and in 1878 St. Andrews University conferred upon him the honorary degree of LLD. Dr. Laing was a well known and much respected scholar until he died in 1892 aged 84 years. This excellent museum is well worth a visit.
Open
1 April-30 September
Mon-Fri 1000-1700
Sat-Sun 1400-1700
31 October-31 March
Wed-Fri 1200-1600
Sun 1400-1700.

North Fife History. Cupar: A History History of North Fife Cupar. North Fife Property. Tour Scotland. North Fife Maps. St.Andrews and East Fife: Cupar, Anstruther and Crail (Explorer) Rent a Cottage in North Fife Scotland.

1 comment:

Lois in British Columbia said...

I hope that your blog post of August 2008 could be refreshed for the Sept 8 2013 Open Day as a reminder of the good work of the Laing Museum of Newburgh. I (living in Canada) have been a direct beneficiary of the dedication and many volunteer hours extended by Kate Low and her committee members. Through Kate and Mark and Karen Bryce my family (McCall) have made a donation of a photo album of Newburgh circa early 1900 which will be on viewing on Sept 8. We are hoping that citizens of Newburgh will help us identify people and places from the past as captured in the album. Thanks for your help Peter.
Lois, Chemainus British Columbia