Henry Duncan Museum

15/10/2026

Throwback Thursday

It's hard to believe but it's been almost a decade since the publication of the book 'Minister of Money'.

Charles Munn (pictured in the centre), alongside bank manager Richard Merry handed over the first book to Alison Burgess of the Ewart Library at the Savings Bank Museum in Ruthwell.

You can purchase your own copy of the book at the Henry Duncan Museum.

10/10/2026

Hidden in a cupboard for a long time, unable to throw it away Linda, from Dumfries, visited the museum recently and found the perfect home for this wee guy.

Her grandson switched allegiance to Manchester United and insists the Manchester City piggy bank, which had been much admired over the years, needed to go.

Now sharing a room with nearly 400 of his brothers and sisters he can once again show off his colours proudly.
Every home safe and piggy bank in the collection has been donated and found a forever home. If you want to hear about the history of piggy banks, including why there are called piggy banks, come and visit the museum.

Book your tour using the link in bio.

09/10/2026

We have recently acquired this beautiful antique Royal Model 10 typewriter, produced from around 1914 to the 1930s.

The finger strength required for these older models makes us appreciate modern keyboards all the more, but it does make a lovely sound.

Given how difficult it is to read some of the correspondence we have in the Archive from the early 1800s, this would have made our jobs much easier.

Hear the distinct sound for yourself as part of our Classic Tour, book now using the link in bio.

08/10/2026

Today would have been Rev Duncan's 252nd birthday, there's so much more to the father of the modern savings bank.

Discover his story by joining us on our Classic Tour.
Book now using the link in bio.

07/10/2026

We're counting down to what would have been Rev Duncan's 252nd birthday on October 8th with some interesting facts.

Not the only one but widely considered the first Minister of the Church of Scotland Henry joined the "Ruthwell volunteers". These volunteer armies were formed to defend the shores from the French armies under Napolean Bonepart. The one condition that the rural inhabitants of Ruthwell had in offering their service was that their leader should be the young minister, Henry. Minister and part-time soldier is a strange combination.

Discover more of the story, book your tour using link in bio.

06/10/2026

We're counting down to what would have been Rev Duncan's 252nd birthday on October 8th with some interesting facts.

Henry developed a novel from a short story he wrote called THE COTTAGE FIRESIDE

In his own word "A moral tale intended chiefly to convey, in an alluring form, an important practical lesson to parents, in the education of their children, and to young persons, in the duty of obedience, and the happiness of good conduct."

Find out more about the many aspects of Rev Duncan's life on our Classic Tour, book now using the link in bio.

04/10/2026

We're counting down to what would have been Rev Duncan's 252nd birthday on October 8th with some interesting facts.

The Duncan family motto was originally a war cry or slogan.
Motto: Disce pati
Motto Translation: Learn to suffer.

This picture shows Rev. William Wallace Duncan, Rev. Dr George John Craig Duncan (Henry's son and biographer) and Rev. Henry Duncan.

Discover more about Rev Henry Duncan, book a tour using the link in bio.

03/10/2026

We're counting down to what would have been Rev Duncan's 252nd birthday on October 8th with some interesting facts.

In his series of books entitled "Sacred Philosophies of the Seasons" the range of topics he covers is staggering. Combining cutting edge science with strong moral and religious beliefs. He navigates the two disciplines quite expertly.

In the book about Autumn, for example, he reviews the Egyptian, Roman and Ancient Greek skills in Agriculture. In the Winter volume he writes a paper explaining how Gravity works.

A true man of many parts, find out more on our Classic Tour.
Book now using the link in bio.

02/10/2026

We're counting down to what would have been Rev Duncan's 252nd birthday on October 8th with some interesting facts.

Rev Duncan not only created the community savings movement as we know it but also was responsible for Bank Account numbers.

Duncan said:
"Each individual must necessarily be furnished with a duplicate of his account, and in this duplicate the number by which he is to be designated in the printed statement might be inserted. By means of this number, he would recognize in the public abstract the amount of his savings, and be able to detect any error, whilst he would at the same time be effectually protected from the improper curiosity of others."

01/10/2026

Let's look back to the early 1980's.

The Savings Banks Museum welcomed Scottish television host Tom Weir and his show Weir's Way.

The museum has changed rather a lot since this show was made.

Come and see for yourself, tours run Tuesday-Saturday.

Book your tour using the link in bio.

Tom Weir was a writer, broadcaster and an environmentalist. Tom wro...