Insch Connection Museums returns for first time since pandemic, with Made in Insch exhbition
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
AN Insch museum, closed for two years, put the community at the heart of its triumphant return.
During its opening last Sunday (May 1) the Insch Connection Museum unveiled Made in Insch, a new exhibition highlighting the town's history of creating great products.
The free museum, based in Insch train station, also showed off the rainbow posters and displays which lit up the town during lockdown.
Museum manager Henrike Bird, said: "It is so exciting. We couldn't wait for it.
"It was really kind of sad not being able to show anything.
"We had a lot of people asking: 'What are you going to do? Is it open? Can we come round?'
"I think people really missed it."
Some of the items on show include photographs and postcards taken by local Insch photographers, kilts made by a kiltmaker who worked from the train station and even pocket watches made locally.
Ms Bird said: "For many years we didn't have anything Insch-specific, so we wanted to go back this year and do something just about Insch.
"We looked in our archives and found all these lovely little businesses that existed from the 17th century until the early 20th century.
"Looking at all the things made here, I thought it was really quite an interesting area, with lots of manufacturing and lots of little shops.
"We just wanted to show that there were things happening here, that things were made here."
The museum is entirely ran by volunteers and opens every Sunday, but the local history treasure trove has a habit of going above and beyond.
This community spirit has won the museum a host of loyal customers.
Ms Bird said: "We want to serve the community with this archive and are trying to be there.
"We are not only open on Sundays - these are our official opening hours - but if anyone wants to come in at any time they can just contact us. No problem at all.
"There is a railway club in London and they come up once a year and see us here.
"They come up on the train and love coming here, so I always open extra."
Committed visitors have also given back to the museum.
Ms Bird said: " We have got many lovely donations from people, including books, photographs and maps.
"It is just really lovely, it has been good.
"We also got a monetary donation, a very big anonymous one, this year.
"So we are going to have new blinds fitted, which is long overdue and will make the space very nice."
See highlights from Made in Insch below:
The Insch Connection Museum is open 2-4pm every Sunday and is looking for new volunteers.
Click here for more information about the museum.
