A GROUP of historic photographs offering a glimpse into Scotland’s rural past from more than 100 years ago will be available for the first time.
The National Museum of Rural Life has released five historic photographs from the Scottish Life Archive as a set of free downloadable Christmas cards.
Each photograph is more than 100 years old and includes pictures of record-breaking snowy scenes, an eccentric Father Christmas from Fife and a family portrait by one of Scotland’s earliest woman photographers.
One of the photographs by Henrietta Gilmour chosen to be released by the National Museum depicts a group of children being towed by a horse in the snow in the grounds of Montrave House, Fife, in 1900.
Gilmour took up photography after the birth of her seventh and last child and she became a pioneer of the medium, capturing more than a thousand images of Scottish country life.
Dr Ailsa Hutton, curator of Modern and Rural History at National Museums Scotland, said she is thrilled to share Scotland’s rural history through the “magical” photographs.
She said: “The Scottish Life Archive offers remarkable insight into all aspects of Scottish life, with 300 years of documentary and illustrative material.
“I am thrilled to have an opportunity to shine a light on this rich resource, and Scotland’s fascinating rural history, through these magical festive photographs.
“Whether it’s a quirky Santa Claus or a record-breaking snowy winter, I hope people enjoy sharing a little bit of Scottish rural history this Christmas.”
The Scottish Life Archive was established in 1959 as a way of preserving and documenting material culture and histories relating to rural life in Scotland.
It has since expanded to include evidence of not only country life, but maritime, urban and industrial life and contains a large collection of photographic negatives, slides and prints.
Another photograph released from the archive is by Henry Watson, posing as Father Christmas, in Burntisland in 1909.
Watson, who was from Fife, can be seen wearing a fake beard and long, fur-trimmed coat decorated with dolls and toy animals.
There are also two snowy scenes which captured the extreme winter of 1895, when Braemar in Aberdeenshire, managed to take a snapshot of the lowest ever recorded temperature in the UK at minus 27.2°C.
Based in East Kilbride the National Museum of Rural Life aims to tell the story of the land, people, and ways of working that have shaped Scotland's rural history as it consists of a museum, historic farmhouse, and working farm.
On display there is Scotland's largest collection of tractors, combine harvesters, and farming machinery, while the farm is home to Ayrshire, Aberdeen Angus and Highland cattle, Tamworth pigs, sheep, hens, and Clydesdale horses.
Anyone who wishes to download the Christmas cards can do so here.
