Gordon Highlanders Museum
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The Gordon Highlanders Museum is in the west end of Aberdeen, Scotland, based in the former home of Scottish artist, Sir George Reid.
The museum is an independent self-financed museum, governed by a charitable trust.
The Main Exhibition
The main gallery called The Grant Room houses the permanent exhibition on the history of the Regiment from the Napoleonic Wars, India, Afghanistan and South Africa, through to both World Wars and the Cold War. 11 of the 19 Victoria Crosses (VC’s) won by the Gordon Highlanders are also on display in the main exhibition.
Interactive maps, original film footage, scale reproductions, life-size models, touch screens, regimental colours, uniforms, medals and weapons are all featured.
The Armoury
The Armoury features a wide range of weapons dating from the late 18th Century through to the modern day rifles used by the British Military. It has an array of armaments including swords, bayonets, knives, pistols and rifles from many of the conflicts that the Gordon Highlanders were engaged in, including many of the arms used against them by the opposing forces.
Also housed in the Armoury is an array of medals won by the Gordon Highlanders soldiers.
The Silver Room
The Museum holds a large amount of the regimental silver in the Silver Room.
Previous Exhibitions
The Museum puts on at least one temporary exhibition for each season. 2015 sees the double centenary of the Battle of Waterloo and as such the museum’s temporary exhibition is entitled ‘'The Road to Waterloo'. It is also working with the National Army Museum to host the 'Waterloo Lives' exhibition concurrently.
Previous exhibitions have included:
- Shattered Hopes: The Gordon Highlanders in 1914
- Steadfast! Commando at The Gordon Highlanders Museum
- The Finest Regiment in the World: The Gordon Highlanders in the Boer War 1899 – 1902
- Special Forces Gordons
- Gomel, A Belarusian Town at War
- Afghanistan -Then & Now
- Cogadh na Sith - War or Peace
The Lakin Room
Laid out as the Officers Mess, the Lakin Room is a part of the exhibition. It shows visitors how the officers would have dined, the colours of the regiment as well as an array of silver and original portraiture.
Education Programme
With a programme of educational visits and programmes on themes supporting the 'Curriculum for Excellence’ including the First and Second World Wars, the museum is able to offer hands on access to original artefacts and clothing to children.
Sir George Reid and St Luke’s
The Gordon Highlanders Museum is housed in the former home and studio of 19th-century Scottish artist, Sir George Reid PRSA. Reid purchased the original cottage in 1867 and named it ‘St Luke’s’ after the Patron Saint of artists. He commissioned Glasgow architect William Leiper to extend the property, creating a large studio with a stair tower and musicians’ gallery. He then painted the building in an attempt to hide its granite brickwork.
In 1883, Reid married Mia Best – a keen gardener. In her honour, Reid built St Luke’s gardens which became a rich source of inspiration for his painting. Following Reid’s death in 1913, his wife sold the house in 1921. It was then owned privately until 1960 when the UK Ministry of Defence purchased it for the Regiment.
In 1994, The Gordon Highlanders were amalgamated with the Queen’s Own Highlanders and the Trustees of The Gordon Highlanders bought the building from the MOD. The building was then further extended and reopened in 1997, with a new and exciting range of visitor facilities.
