Nucleus to host illustrated talk on Wick's Johnston photographic collection
The famous Johnston photographic collection will be the focus of an illustrated talk next week at the Nucleus archive centre in Wick.
It will take the form of a joint presentation by Wick Society volunteers Ian Leith and Fergus Mather on Monday, January 15, starting at 7pm.
Entry is free and there is plenty of car-parking space both at Nucleus and on adjacent ground.
Mr Leith explained: "The Johnston photographic collection is one of the most important heritage collections in the care of the Wick Society.
"We are all familiar with the many magnificent images that depict the various people and places around the area, but do we all know about the origins of the collection and indeed the Johnston family who have left us with this fantastic legacy?
"Along with our colleagues at Nucleus: The Nuclear and Caithness Archives, the Wick Society is organising a series of talks.
"The Johnston story starts in 1830 when the plumbing firm of Charles Coventry of Edinburgh sent one of its young plumbers, William Johnston, to Wick to work on the lead flashings on the roof of the new Parish Church. Building had begun in 1805 and was still going on – just the place for a young plumber to make a business, so he stayed, married and had a family and their first born was Alexander Johnston.
"Alexander was an artistic young man and developed a keen interest in the new art form of photography, and by 1863 had confidence enough to set up in business as a photographer."
