Revisiting the Victorian era at the Stromness museum

May 18, 2012 at 2:31 pm

Stromness youngsters get into the spirit of days gone by, by dressing in the appropriate attire. Pictured, from the left, are: Lewis Flett as Dr William Balfour Baikie, Shana Foubister as Lady Jane Franklin, Cody Chalmers as Eliza Fraser and Erik Park in a Hudson’s Bay Company outfit. (Rebecca Marr)

There’s a chance to take a step back in time at the Stromness Museum tomorrow, Saturday, and experience a “Victorian encounter” with people from the past.

A Victorian Encounter with Seafarers and explorers is taking place as part of the national Festival of Museums programme.

Visitors will be transported back to the Victorian era by free horse and carriage rides through the street with George Loutit and Stromness by Carriage. Stromness Drama Club will be adding a touch of nostalgia by bringing famous characters from the town’s past to life and, during guided tours, will show people the items that they would’ve owned and the stories behind them.

Younger visitors can try out the museum’s new costume box — exploring key characters such as Eliza Fraser, Lady Jane Franklin, Dr William Balfour Baikie and a Hudson’s Bay Company labourer, through dressing up as them and thinking about how the clothes that those people wore differ from their own.

Once dressed in character, visitors can be photographed in the Victorian manner by photographer Rebecca Marr against a backdrop painted by local artist Marian Ashburn.

Entry is free throughout the day, with the Victorian characters visiting from 11am to 4pm.