Moray HER - NJ26SW0063 - ELGIN MUSEUM

Main Details

Primary ReferenceNJ26SW0063
NameELGIN MUSEUM
NMRS Card No.NJ26SW101
NMRS Numlink16595
Site Form Standing Structure
Site Condition Complete 1
Details Museum, built in 1842 and designed by Thomas Mackenzie, with additions in 1896 and alterations and additions by A Marshall Mackenzie and Son, 1920. Founded by the 'Morayshire Literary and Scientific Association'. The building is Italianate with didactic overtones, and is constructed from polished ashlar that is channelled at ground floor and plain above. It rises two storeys, and there is a three-stage square pyramid roofed tower with three round chimneys linked by coping. On the South elevation of the tower, the first floor window with has a blind balustrade below, with pilaster strips and a bracketted cornice. There is a lunette at the base of the third stage, with three tall round-headed windows above, the 2 outer two of which are blind. The East elevation is the same as the South, but the first floor window and lunette is blind. The tower contained the custodian's quarters, but is now gutted, and is located on the East side of the square central entrance porch. The central porch is situated on the South gable, and has three tall round-headed windows above a moulded cill course, with a band course continuing across the tower. There is a single-storey wing to the West with a lunette clerestory to the North and South. The hall to the North was added in 1896, and is constructed from rubble and has a top light. The Museum Hall was added in 1921. It is single-storey, and constructed from ashlar, with some channelled pilasters and a corniced entrance on the South elevation. Inside, the original main hall has a gallery on three sides, and is approached by a T-plan staircase that is near to the original colour scheme, and restored in 1979.
Last Update16/06/2023

National Grid Reference: NJ 2191 6289


Easting: 323440, Northing: 815190

Compiler 
Date of Compilation 

Event Details


Excavations and Surveys


Artefact and Ecofact


Ecofact

Samples 
Palynology 
Ecofact Notes 

Monument Types

Monument Type 1Monument Type 2Monument Type 3OrderProbability
STAIRCASES T-PLANS100
LUNETTES  J100
WINDOWSTALLROUND-HEADEDK100
WINDOWS BLINDL100
STRING-COURSESCONTINUOUS M100
WINGS SINGLE-STOREYN100
HALLSRUBBLE-BUILT O100
PILASTERS CHANNELLEDP100
ENTRANCES CORNICEDQ100
GALLERIES  R100
MUSEUMSASHLARITALIANATEA100
TOWERSSQUARE B100
ROOFSPYRAMIDAL C100
CHIMNEYSROUNDCOPEDD100
PORCHESSQUARE E100
WINDOWS ROUND-HEADEDF100
CLERESTORIESLUNETTE G100
GALLERIES  H100
PILASTERS CHANNELLEDI100

Google Map for NJ26SW0063


National Status

National Status
Listed Building, Category A

Regional Status

Regional Status
Site of Regional Significance

Photo Details

SourceReferencePhoto TypeFilm TypeDate
GRAFV 5-6,12-13 Ground Black & White 20/05/1986
AASAAS-GR-15-06-085-089 Ground Digital 18/06/2015
AASAAS-GR-15-02-031, 032 Ground Digital 07/02/2015
AASAAS-GR-18-03-005 - 009 Ground Digital 08/03/2018
AASAAS-GR-16-03-521, 522 Ground Digital 02/03/2016
AASAAS-GR-16-03-523 - 525 Ground Digital 03/03/2016
AASAAS-GR-16-03-526 - 561 Ground Digital 04/03/2016
AASAAS-GR-16-03-562 - 576 Ground Digital 16/03/2016
AASAAS-GR-16-03-577 - 579 Ground Digital 24/03/2016

Bibliographic Detail

Bib Ref NoTitleAuthorDateOthersEditorPublishedDetailsDate MDate Y
01558THE NORTHERN SCOT      51983
02257SCOTSMAN 0  EDINBURGH 21992
0072MORAY SOCIETY ANSWERS 'SCOT' CHALLENGE TO MUSEUM'S DIRECTION FOR THE FUTURE 1992  NORTHERN SCOT 81992
01558THE NORTHERN SCOT     14/08/199281992
01558THE NORTHERN SCOT     30/08/198081980
01414ELGIN PAST & PRESENTHB MACKINTOSH1914 YELGIN20-1  
01558THE NORTHERN SCOT     22/08/86  
01558THE NORTHERN SCOT     23/04/83  
01015INVERNESS COURIER    INVERNESS09/02/1842  
00021REPORTS ON LOCAL MUSEUMS IN SCOTLAND IN PSAS 22(1887-88) 331-422J ANDERSON1888Y  pp341-345 1888

Location

Historic Administrative Area Name Elgin
Positional Accuracy Centred at
Buffer Zone 1-5m
Buffer Type Bespoke
Capture Scale 1:1 - 1:500
Spatial Feature Type Polygon: Known Site Extent

Environment

Constraints A public monument, regular hours (entry fee).
Altitude15
Geology 
Topography Gentle slope
Aspect 1E
Aspect 2 Open
Current Land Use Public Use
Vegetation
Soil Type 
Hydrology 

Measurements

Plan 
Shape 1
Shape 2
Diameter 
Length 
Width 
Thickness 
Depth 
Area 
Height 

Historic Land Use


Period Details

PeriodOrderProbabilityRadiocarbon DatesDate BuiltDate of DestructionDate of Loss
Post-Medieval (from 1560 AD) A100    
19th Century B100 1905  
19th Century C100 1905  
20th Century D100 1905  

Period Notes

Period Notes Built in 1842, with additions in 1896 and alterations and additions in 1920-1. Some interior restoration in 1979. Listed designation given on 26/01/1971.

Architect Details

Architect Details William Robertson, architect, plans submitted for new museum - not chosen 1838; Robert Reid Raeburn, architect, plans submitted for new museum - not chosen 1838; Thomas Mackenzie, architect, plans submitted and chosen 1842

Maritime Archaeology

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