David Livingstone Birthplace Museum
The David Livingstone Centre is a biographical museum in Blantyre, South Lanarkshire, Scotland, dedicated to the life and work of the explorer and missionary David Livingstone. The centre is operated by the National Trust for Scotland and is housed in a category A listed building.[1]
It is located in the former mill buildings which once housed 24 families including Livingstone's, and where he was born on 19 March 1813. The centre depicts Livingstone's life from his early childhood working in the mill, to his African explorations. These are illustrated with the aid of various pieces of his navigational and medical equipment, interspersed with African artefacts.[2][3]
A committee to promote the creation of a Scottish National Memorial to David Livingstone was established in 1925 and the tenement in which Livingstone was born was acquired in 1927. In 1926, the architect and town planner Sir Frank Mears was engaged to oversee the development of the project. Pilkington Jackson was commissioned to sculpt the several bronze tableaux depicting the life of Livingstone and a World Fountain in the Memorial grounds.[4]
References
- ^ "Scottish National Memorial To David Livingstone: Listed Building Report". Historic Scotland.
- ^ "'Priceless' Spear Stolen from Museum". BBC. 1999-12-08. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
- ^ "Dr Livingstone's Spear, I Presume". BBC. 1999-12-10. Retrieved 2008-03-26.
- ^ MacNair, James I. (1951), The Story of the Scottish National Memorial to David Livingstone, The Scottish National Memorial to David Livingstone Trust, Blantyre
External links
- [1] - official site at National Trust for Scotland
- Graham Fraser (2008-02-28). "Controversial Plan for Care Home Goes Ahead". Hamilton Advertiser. Retrieved 2008-03-26.