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Could library croc and other artefacts feature in new Wick museum?





Community councillors in Wick questioned the future of the town’s former Carnegie Public Library and the viability of a new museum at the location.

The Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council (RBWCC) discussed plans for the “much loved” building at a meeting in the East Caithness Community Facility last week.

Wick and East Caithness councillor Jan McEwan said: “I asked the council for an update on it and this is what I got back: ‘The food bank is still using it as a base and when they vacate there will be further discussions at the time.’”

The former Carnegie Public Library in Wick is hoped to be repurposed as a community asset such as a museum and art gallery. Picture: DGS
The former Carnegie Public Library in Wick is hoped to be repurposed as a community asset such as a museum and art gallery. Picture: DGS

“That’s been two years,” remarked RBWCC member Joanna Coghill.

Husband-and-wife Grant and Pat Ramsay, chairperson and vice-chairperson respectively of Caithness Foodbank, outlined plans for a new Wick base at a RBWCC meeting in February. They said that the food bank had purchased the former Boys' Brigade hall in Wick and this would be demolished to make way for a purpose-built facility at the site.

Chair of the RBWCC, Allan Farquhar, praised the work of Roy Mackenzie who has been working to locate various artefacts associated with the building from when it held a museum. “He’s done an awful lot of work to find out what’s happened with all the artefacts which are dispersed all around the country,” he said.

“I think there’s enough there to resurrect it as a museum and an art gallery. We will progress that.”

Roy Mackenzie has been busy making a list of historical artefacts connected with the former library and museum. Picture: DGS
Roy Mackenzie has been busy making a list of historical artefacts connected with the former library and museum. Picture: DGS
Historic busts found in the former library's cellar which Roy Mackenzie helped recover. Picture: DGS
Historic busts found in the former library's cellar which Roy Mackenzie helped recover. Picture: DGS

Mrs Coghill said: “We’ve got the artefacts and know where they are. Why can’t the food bank use upstairs? They only need one or two rooms.”

Mr Farquhar added: “We’ll put a list of Roy’s findings to Highland Council. Let’s get these back and let’s get them in the Carnegie library.”

RBWCC member, Norma Craven questioned the suitability of the building for that purpose and others feared it may become structurally compromised if left too long. “It will become a liability to Highland Council if it’s not used,” said Cllr McEwan. “It’s a much-loved building.”

Mrs Coghill replied: “That’s why it’s key that not only the food bank uses it but that every room should be used. There is loads of room in there.”

The chair said that a letter would be sent to the council’s ward manager to highlight the RBWCC points.

A £750,000 consultation on the future of various Caithness buildings was carried out in February and RCWCC member Eswyl Fell had previously questioned the time it was taking to publish a report of its findings.

This Nile crocodile was a well-known feature of the Carnegie building. Could it return as part of a new museum? Picture: DGS
This Nile crocodile was a well-known feature of the Carnegie building. Could it return as part of a new museum? Picture: DGS

The Caithness Place-Based Demonstrator project says it aims to “improve and reuse four community spaces to make their neighbourhoods more sustainable and resilient”. The four buildings earmarked by the project include the Carnegie Library, the Castletown Drill Hall, the UHI Thurso Campus and the Lybster Community Hall.

A report called the Caithness Challenge was recently produced but omits the Carnegie Library and Lybster Community Hall.

It states: “In these locations [Wick and Lybster], the Caithness Collective Leadership Group are working with local leaders to take forward ideas that came out of the early listening sessions. All the findings and learnings will be shared across Caithness.”

The Caithness Challenge has been contacted to find out why the two locations have been omitted from its report.


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