Military Heritage Scotland

Please note that this is now an archival article, and refers to a project which was ultimately dissolved.

(But see also the Comments section below, where is news of a revised project at the Scottish Military Heritage Centre.)

Set up as a charity, Military Heritage Scotland aims to create a world class museum facility which will embrace all aspects of Scotland’s military history.

The Daily Record covered the story a few weeks ago, Call to build £100m Scottish Museum of War.

Inspired by former Scots Guard James Percy, a steering group has been formed, chaired by  Professor Gordon Murray from Strathclyde University’s School of Architecture and Jon-Marc Creaney of leading architects GCA, and the project is already reported to have attracted a donation from the New York-based Friends of Scotland organisation. The plan is also reported to have received backing from First Minister Alex Salmond – for a museum to rival London’s Imperial War Museum – and MPs and MSPs from all parties have also given their support, although there seem to be no tangible contributions (ie cash) so far – just the political equivalent of kissing babies and looking good.

At this stage, the organisation is seeking donations to help fund a feasibility study, as they have to establish the location of an appropriate site, likely operation costs, and the potential long term sustainability of the concept. We’ve noted the demise of one or two formerly well-established museums in Scotland here in recent years, and while their content may make a difference, falling visitor numbers in all but the most widely publicised venues, eg Kelvingrove, may not be promising. Scotland’s science centres are also pleading for money to keep them open, and places such as The Big Idea in Irvine have simply been unsustainable, and folded.

We don’t have such a facility here (yet?), so we have to hope they get the formula right:

It is envisaged that the project will produce a building and destination that will draw visitors nationally and worldwide, providing an opportunity to display warships, submarines, landing craft, armoured vehicles, tanks and fighter planes, allowing visitors to experience them first hand.

The facility will also incorporate educational and research resources with a repository for books, memorabilia and artefacts relating to Scottish Military Heritage, providing a military centre which will encourage Scots of all ages to take an interest in its own history and heritage.

The preferred choice of site would see a world-class floating museum built at Govan docks next to Glasgow Science Centre, with alternative locations possibly being seen in Rosyth, or Leith docks. Collections would take many forms, with warships, submarines and landing craft moored nearby, and tanks, fighter planes, uniforms, medals and memorabilia housed indoors, with special galleries established for notable features and events.

It’s an ambitious project, and has rightly identified both its setup and running costs as key factors, together with its potential for sustainability. It is a particular class of museum that Scotland lacks, and even a casual tour of facilities down south will reveal a glut of related resources, both national and private.

This project deserves serious attention and support, even of only to stem the steady loss of museums and collections that Scotland has seen over the years.

The group can be contacted using this form.

Or, at:

Military Heritage Scotland

c/o GCA Architecture+Design, Kelvin House, 87 Calder Street, Coatbridge, ML5 4EY

Update

Unfortunately, as per the message received through the comments section below, this project is no longer in existence, having been dissolved on April 2, 2010.