Nominee Summary
'Tales of Taymouth, A Living Archive' is a community-led heritage project preserving local history and stories influenced by Taymouth Castle across three generations, from 1923 to 1968. Involving more than 20 family groups, local historians and heritage organisations, it brings together interviews, private photograph collections, archive materials and historic records to create a digital archive of over 1,000 records and a documentary film. Stories from former staff, local residents, descendants of Polish servicemen and medical staff were shared through public screenings and archive displays, with the archive set to be published online as a living resource that continues to grow.
Overcoming Challenges
One of the greatest challenges was locating people whose memories of Taymouth Castle had never been formally recorded. Much of this social history existed only in family albums, handwritten notes and stories passed down through generations, rather than in official archives. To identify contributors, the project lead, Taymouth Castle’s Mairi McAdam, conducted a large-scale mapping exercise with a local genealogy specialist, local historians and key contributors Valerie Henderson and Irena Menzies, drawing on newspaper articles, social media and local knowledge. The next challenge was building trust. Many people initially saw their stories as "just family memories", while others were hesitant to discuss wartime and Cold War matters, reflecting the culture of confidentiality surrounding this period. Time spent visiting families and listening carefully helped reassure contributors that their tales, from wartime hospital life and survival to childhood Christmas parties, all belonged within the wider story of Taymouth Castle. This patient approach encouraged former staff from the castle’s time as hotel, hospital and civil defence training centre, along with the children and relatives of those who had since passed away, to sit down or walk through the castle and relive their stories on camera. Returning to the castle where his grandfather had worked, John MacGregor reflected that he felt he was “walking in his footsteps”, forging a connection with a relative he had never met. Through oral history, supported by archive research, the project transformed individual memories into a collective history reflecting more than four decades of community life surrounding Taymouth Castle.
Supporting the community
Rather than simply producing a documentary or archive, 'Tales of Taymouth – A Living Archive' has been designed as an ongoing community resource, creating opportunities for people to reconnect with one another, their family histories and the places that shaped their lives. For many contributors, taking part meant returning to Taymouth Castle for the first time in decades. Walking through the restored castle prompted memories rarely shared beyond immediate families. Descendants of Polish wartime nurses and soldiers reflected on parents who had survived conflict before building new lives in Scotland, while others recalled childhood Christmas parties, working at the hotel, learning golf, or volunteering during the Civil Defence years. Contributor Valerie Henderson described returning to the castle and retracing her family's footsteps as "a dream come true". Gordon Learmonth remembered his father, Alex, the castle's long-serving golf professional, as someone who "loved this course and the community", giving lessons freely to people of all age. Their stories illustrate how this project has not only preserved personal memories, but reconnected people with their families and their past. The project included a private showcase of the film for contributors and their families before opening to the wider community in Kenmore. The archive will continue to develop through an online resource, future Community Open Days and further opportunities for local people to contribute memories, photographs and stories. New families have already come forward through word of mouth, ensuring the archive continues to grow through shared ownership and participation.
Ethical/environmental standards
The project was founded on the principle that heritage belongs first and foremost to the people who lived it. Every contributor was invited to tell their story in their own words, ensuring personal experiences remained authentic rather than interpreted. This was especially important because many interviews touched on sensitive subjects, including war, bereavement and dementia. These stories were recorded respectfully, with contributors and families deciding how they wished their histories to be preserved. Valerie Henderson later reflected that “Mairi took great care to record our memories”, describing it as “an honour to be part of.” Care was also taken with personal possessions. Photographs and materials were scanned and returned promptly, with some photographed in family homes at the owners’ request. Contributor, Heather Tuck, entrusted the team with her family album about the life and work of Colonel Boleslaw Pawlowski. All contributors signed agreements confirming they were happy for their images, interviews and collected materials to be shared as part of the archive project. Historical accuracy was equally important. Personal memories were supported through archive research, official records and film footage, providing context while maintaining the integrity of individual recollections. This included archive footage of the Polish Military Hospital days and materials sourced from the National Library of Scotland archives relating to the hotel years and golf history. This created a digital archive of over 1,000 files. Working with contributors and utilising local knowledge, the project has created a community resource that preserves Highland Perthshire's heritage while strengthening connections between generations.
