Welcome to Alford Heritage Centre and Museum

The old Auction Mart in Alford, once the hub of farming activity for Upper Donside, was closed in 1986. Today the building houses an intriguing exhibition of rural bygones which give an insight into the life of the ordinary working people of Donside and NE Scotland.

 

Little mention here of the laird and the big house, but instead, the story of the ploughman and kitchie deem, the small farm and croft, the tradesman, and life in a small village - and all of it at your finger-tips.

There are many themed displays: the village shop - the tailor and souter (shoemaker) - through the schoolroom to the farm kitchen and milkhouse - and further on the chaumer (living/sleeping area for farm workers).

The mart arena houses treasures galore, and in the barn you find horse-drawn implements, vintage tractors and a thrashing mill.

Other rooms feature topics such as the activities of the local Royal Ordnance Corps, and the Doric poet, Charles Murray. His birthday is celebrated in the mart arena every September, in a festival of poetry and music performed by youngsters from the Donside area.

The Heritage Centre (a registered charity) is manned by volunteers, many of whom have their roots in the farming heritage of NE Scotland.

It is a thoroughly enjoyable, down-to-earth experience for young and old alike.

Open: April - December 24th, Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 1pm-5pm.
Thereafter, as above but no Sunday opening until April 2010. Other times may be available by special arrangement. Guided tours for large parties which are requested to pre-book.

Gaelo Jewellery are also located in the foyer shop of the Museum (see Gaelo website in links section on LHS of this page).

Alford Farmers' Market held on fourth Saturday of each month.

 Contact: Telphone 019755 62906  Email ahcentre@btinternet.com

Facilities:

Car park

Coach parking

Wheelchair access

Travel Directions:  Follow signs to Alford on the A944, 25 miles west of Aberdeen. In Alford, turn into Mart Road from Main Street, where you will find the Museum on your immediate right hand side.

For an excellent STV video interview with Museum Curator, Bob Henderson follow the link below (don't be put off by the ad. at the beginning - it doesn't last long!)

http://video.stv.tv/bc/scotland-history-20080530-the-alford-heritage-centre/

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