Highland Museum of Childhood
Attribution: unknown (The ruin of Free Church in Jamestown)
Highland Museum of Childhood
Located in a restored Victorian Station, built in 1885 in the Spa village of Strathpeffer, the Museum tells the story of childhood in the Highlands amongst hardworking crofters and townsfolk, where money and luxuries were scarce, and life followed the rhythm of the seasons; a way of life recorded by oral testimony, displays, and evocative photographs. Our own award-winning video “A Century of Highland Childhood” is also shown.
Explore the life of children, crofters and townsfolk and their customs and traditions.
Facilities on site are toilets, a garden and picnic area, plus ample parking with disabled parking bays and wheelchair access onto the platform.
There is a Coffee Shop which offers delicious home-made food, tea/coffee and baking to be consumed inside or at tables on the platform.
Several small units offer locally made gifts, crafts, food, original artwork, jewellery, cards, and more.
Attribution: unknown
The Museum is also home to the Angela Kellie Doll and Toy Collection, displaying a changing selection each year. The museum has been commended for its child-friendly approach and offers plenty to do with quizzes, dressing-up and toys to play with, while accompanying adults, and children too, will appreciate the well-researched social history.
A welcome awaits school and other group visits to the museum and the education space – the Goods Shed. Booking should be made beforehand (tel 01997 421031). Information about the education and events programme can be found on the museum website. Click on the image below:
 | The Highland Museum of Childhood is located in the old railway station in the spa village of Strathpeffer. Originally based on the doll and toy collection of former Strathpeffer resident Mrs Angela Kellie. It contains a collection of children’s toys, games, costume, books , photographs and much more. |
Attribution: unknown
The story of "Tissie"
Tissie was one of the first toys received into the museum’s care when it opened in 1992. She was donated by local doll collector, Mrs Angela Kellie.
Tissie’s story begins in the mid-1800s when she was reputedly bought for the daughter of the Earl and Countess of Cromartie. During the Highland Clearances, the Cromartie family offered sanctuary on their land in the Loch Ussie area, re-locating families displaced from their homes further north.
The Countess and her daughter often visited these families and it was on one of these calls that they came across a sick little girl in one of the crofts. The Countess’s daughter gave Tissie to the little girl to encourage her to get well. The crofter’s family treasured the doll and generations of the family played with her until she ultimately passed into the care of Angela Kellie and then the museum.
Although Tissie has previously been on display in the museum, her fragile condition means that it is now critical for her to undergo specialist conservation to enable the museum to put her on permanent display for audiences to enjoy.
Attribution: unknown
