Stephenson family celebrate 40 years of running Creetown Gem Rock Museum

A gem of a family are celebrating their ruby anniversary of running a popular visitor attraction.

The Stephensons opened up Creetown Gem Rock Museum in an old school building in 1981.

And now, 40 years on, it is attracting more than 25,000 visitors a year – when coronavirus restrictions allow.

Owner Tim Stephenson said: “We already had a collection of gems, crystals, minerals and fossils and we had decided, on discovering the old county school was for sale, that this would be the perfect place to show it all off. .

“We had been coming to Galloway on holiday for many years and we loved it. How lucky were we to find such a fantastic place to grow a business, a family and a life?

Museum owner and curator Tim Stephenson. (Jim McEwan)

“A museum had originally been started in the old school building in 1971 by George and Mary Hinchliffe but they moved away in 1973 to start another museum near Huntly.

“The Craig family then took over before abandoning the place in the late 1970s by which time the building and contents were needing some serious work.

“Now 40 years on, it has been a real labour of love and a constant presence in many lives. We not only had a vision for our collection but one for the restoration of the building as well.”

The museum has expanded over the years and now features a tearoom and shop. Work has improved the displays and facilities, with the whole building – originally built in the 1850s – restored.

The 1990s saw a major refurbishment including electrics, plumbing and windows being replaced, a new roof being put on along with a gift shop and gemstone polishing workshop.

Carolyn Stephenson (Jim McEwan)

And it is the thousands of stones themselves that are the stars of the show with displays including the crystal cave and a Victorian themed study.

Tim added: “The collection, which is central to what the museum is all about, is now huge with gems, crystals, minerals and fossils from all over the globe.

“Crystals and minerals are some of nature’s most beautiful and interesting creations and help us to appreciate the planet which we live on and give us a better understanding of the miracle of nature and how precious it really is.

“What was once a niche subject is now perhaps more pertinent to all our lives and helps us understand how our universe works and that we are capable of affecting our planet with the way we live.”