A year-long programme of events will be launched next month to celebrate 800 years since Dumbarton was declared a Royal Burgh.
The council’s arts and heritage team have planned a series of events and activities to mark the town’s special birthday.
The foundation charter for the Royal Burgh of Dumbarton was sealed by Alexander II on July 8, 1222.
Councillors are set to approve the celebrations at a cultural committee meeting tomorrow (Wednesday).
They include the production of a video exploring the story of Dumbarton through the eyes of the town’s young people, as well as encouraging residents to contribute photographs as part of a local history collecting campaign.
A report prepared by officers explains that the pandemic delayed wider planning of the octocentenary, which included the Dumbarton 2020 Festival.
It reads: “Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic a Dumbarton 2020 committee had been formed by representatives from the local community; colleagues from Historic Environment Scotland (HES); and colleagues from West Dunbartonshire Council to take forward plans to celebrate the town of Dumbarton.
“It was hoped that a successful celebration in 2020 would lay the foundation for a subsequent festival of Dumbarton during its 800th anniversary year in 2022.
“The challenges of the Covid 19 pandemic ultimately saw festival plans for 2020 postponed into 2021, before ongoing Covid restrictions caused the Dumbarton 2020 project to close.
“Although wider event planning for the octocentenary has been constrained by the legacy challenges of the Covid 19 pandemic, officers from the arts and heritage team have continued to develop a programme of activity designed to bring focus to Dumbarton’s history and the key objects held in the council’s museum collection that help tell the town’s stories.”
The planned events and activities aims to bring focus to Dumbarton’s local, national and international history.
They will be delivered both online and in-person, beginning with a social media series entitled ‘Celebrating Dumbarton’.
The programme will engage young people in local schools and early learning centres through a series of workshops and activities to inspire learning on the area’s proud history focused around Dumbarton’s town centre, the Rock and medieval castle. It’s hoped this will culminate in a video exploring the town’s story through the eyes of its young people.
Officers also suggest an intergenerational project will be undertaken between young people and elderly residents to support learning and build relationships.
Officers say the anniversary will be incorporated within Doors Open Day in Dumbarton, with walking tours promoting the town’s history, while residents will be encouraged to contribute photographs which will be used in an exhibition celebrating today’s Sons and Daughters of the Rock.
The anniversary will also feature as part of this year’s Booked! Festival in the area’s libraries.”
Eight historic objects held by the council will also be put on display, including Dumbarton’s early Christian ‘Skellat’ bell, medieval charters, including one signed by James VI of Scotland supporting witch hunts, the town’s ‘Tron Weights’ and items from Dumbarton glassworks.
The report adds: “Throughout the anniversary year, officers from the arts and heritage team will continue to work with colleagues across the council to maximise opportunities to celebrate Dumbarton’s history and heritage, in the context of its octocentenary. To this end, the events programme will remain responsive and adaptive, and officers will actively pursue opportunities to engage as wide an audience as possible with Dumbarton’s stories and the museum objects held in trust by the council.”
Celebrations have previously been held, including parades in 1922 to mark the 700th anniversary and in 1972, public events were held to mark the town’s 750th year.
