Reimagining Relics

At the end of 2025, the MacDougall of Dunollie Preservation Trust were over the moon to be awarded an Art Fund Reimagined Grant to support our first collaboration with Argyll Archives, of Inveraray Castle. As a registered charity (Charity No. SC028091), running a small independent museum like Dunollie comes with some challenges - one of which is space to display all of our incredible collections! We have been working to partner more with similar organisations in Argyll, and the opportunity to collaborate with Argyll Archives and Inveraray Castle was one we jumped at the chance for. And so, an idea was formed to create two exhibitions over two years, displayed at Inveraray Castle, with objects from Dunollie, and information from both of our extensive historic archives.

The first exhibition, opening in March 2026, will be centred on one of Dunollie's most fascinating objects: the coveted Brooch of Lorn. In 1306, at the infamous Battle of Dalrigh, MacDougall forces set on avenging their murdered kin, John Comyn, outnumber the retreating troops of King Robert the Bruce, and are said to have not only defeated him but narrowly missed capturing Bruce himself. In the skirmish, whilst grabbing onto his cloak, Bruce lost a Brooch which was scooped up by MacDougall men, and remained with the family for centuries. In the 17th century, however, disaster struck when the Brooch was stolen from the MacDougalls, and remained missing for over 150 years. In the mid-19th century, it was gifted back to the MacDougalls by General Campbell of Lochnell, and has remained in the family's possession ever since. The details of how the Brooch was lost, found, and returned to the MacDougalls will all be explored in this 2026 exhibition, along with fascinating details about how the Brooch compares to others from the region and time period.

In 2027, we will work together on a very different exhibition. One of the motivating factors behind this collaboration was that many of Dunollie's most iconic pieces of historic dress cannot be displayed in our museum due to lack of space and resources to create a suitable environment. Inveraray Castle very generously offered to provide the space, because Dunollie has two pieces which are deeply linked to Inveraray Castle's history: a pair of Regency era dresses, worn for their entrance to society at the 1820 County Meeting in Inveraray. Hosted at the Castle over a number of days, this annual event was the pinnacle of Highland Society, and two sisters of the Clan MacDougall's 25th Chief attended the gathering in what would have been a vision of Regency fashion. A pair of dresses - not twins, but unmistakably sisters - were fashioned for the girls in order that they present a good image for their first foray into the upper circles of Scottish nobility. So much so, they have earned a nickname amongst staff at Dunollie: The Husband Catchers.

Unfortunately, these dresses have never been displayed together because one of them was in such poor condition that it needed to be safely stored until such a time that conservation work could be performed. Thanks to an incredibly generous donation by the Clan MacDougall Society of North America, in late 2025, we were able to send this dress to undertake the work it needs to be safely displayed. In 2027, both dresses will be displayed - for the first time ever - in the very Castle where they made their grand entrance. Inveraray Castle will provide the most stunning backdrop, with supporting documentation from Argyll Archives and our own Dunollie Archive bringing the story of these dresses, the sisters who wore them, and the highs of the Regency era in Scotland's Highlands to life for visitors.

Without the support of our Art Fund Reimagined Grant, this collaboration would not be possible. The money they have awarded us will allow for staff time, resources, and everything that goes into creating two exhibitions which will both be supported with learning and engagement opportunities for our communities. We are incredibly grateful to both Art Fund and the Clan MacDougall Society of North America for seeing the potential in this collaboration, and allowing us to repair and display some of our most treasured historic collections at one of Argyll's most important locations. We are looking forward to partnering with, and learning from, Argyll Archives and we sincerely hope lots of you will visit Inveraray and learn a bit more about these stories!