ANGUSalive Museums and Galleries

15/10/2026

Have you conquered the tower yet at Arbroath Signal Tower Museum? Time is running out to take a guided tour of the iconic tower - our last tours for this season will be at the end of this month.

Come and climb the spiral staircase and ship's ladder, then enjoy some of the best views in town whilst hearing fascinating stories of the Signal Tower and Bell Rock Lighthouse. There's no need to book, just turn up on the day and sign up at reception.

We are open every day apart from Tuesdays from 10:30 until 4pm, with last admissions at 3:30pm. Tours run at midday Friday-Monday until the end of October. Free admission, donations are welcome and go towards the upkeep of ANGUSalive Museums and Galleries.
Dogs are welcome within the museum too 🐾🐾
We look forward to welcoming you on your visit.

14/10/2026

Feel like you could use some locally-flavoured inspiration in your creative writing efforts?

In conjunction with "If Stone Could Speak" -a new play by Matthew Knights exploring the life and legacy of Montrose's own self-taught sculptor Adam Christie- a creative writing workshop will be held at the Montrose Museum on 29 October. A project of Knights Theatre supported by Creative Scotland and ANGUSAlive, the workshop will be led by playwright and creative writing tutor Matthew Knights. All writing abilities are welcome, just bring something to write with and the willingness to give it a go!

Event Date: Thursday 29 October 2026

Time: 10.30 - 13.00 (2.5 hrs including break)

Location: Montrose Museum

Cost: Suggested donation £5

Reserve your tickets here:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/if-stone-could-speak-creative-writing-workshop-tickets-1993684468915?aff=ebdssbdestsearch

13/10/2026

13/10/2026

Today, we celebrate the birth of the renowned portrait painter, Allan Ramsay the Younger (1713-1784). Ramsay famously painted Dr. Richard Mead (1673–1754), the portrait being on display within Montrose Museum.

Dr. Mead was a Hanoverian-supporting Whig physician in London, but he had notable ties with the Jacobite network through his colleagues, a prominent example being his mentor, Dr. John Radcliffe. Dr. John Radcliffe was a very outspoken Jacobite sympathiser, but he managed to hold a tactful career and gracefully avoided political su***de with his practice, before passing it onto Mead himself.

Many Jacobite supporters wove through society in secret, holding onto hidden miniatures of Bonnie Prince Charlie or decorating their homes with subtle Jacobite roses. These treasures have been passed on to museums and estates, their stories limited until now. Join us at Montrose Museum on October 21st for a guided curator tour of 'Tartan & Turmoil', a Jacobite exhibition that explores the pivotal role Angus played in the Jacobite cause.

Treasures once owned by Stuart kings, intimate letters penned by Angus rebels, rare weaponry, and humble everyday objects explain the courage and conviction that led them to fight for the doomed Jacobite cause.

Booking essential, from £5 via https://angusalive.scot/.../curator-tour-tartan-turmoil.../

12/10/2026

Get ready for a spook-tacular time at our 'Haunted Museum' event, specially designed for families and children! 🎃

This Friday, from 13:00-15:00, join us at Montrose Museum for an unforgettable afternoon of fun and thrills. 🕰️

Your little ones will love the terrific crafts, where they can unleash their creativity and take home their own creepy creations. 🎨 But that's not all! Our scavenger hunt will have them running around the museum, solving mysteries and uncovering hidden secrets. 🎉 And, if they dare, they can take a creepy trip to our haunted store, where they'll discover all sorts of eerie treasures. 😱 But wait, there's more! Our potion-making station is where the magic happens, where they can concoct their own wicked brews and take home their very own potion bottles. ⚗️ So mark your calendars for this Friday and get ready for a howling good time at our 'Haunted Museum' event!

https://angusalive.scot/holiday-activities/ #1777380447252-db9ee091-a251

10/10/2026

*Exhibition ending soon*

Last few days to catch the "Playing with Fire - woodfired ceramics from Angus & Beyond" exhibition before it ends on Sunday 11th October.

This wonderful exhibition can be found in our upper gallery (lift available). It showcases work not only from the Angus Woodfired kiln (Agnes, Agus Angus), but other potters from around the world that share the collective passion and dedication to woodfiring.

Woodfiring ceramics is the process of firing pottery in a kiln fuelled by wood rather than electricity or gas. It's one of the oldest ceramic techniques and is prized because the fire itself becomes part of the creative process, creating surfaces that are impossible to replicate with electric/gas kilns or commercial glazes. The process is highly collaborative and immersive, with firings requiring teams of people to feed the kiln from start to finish.

This exhibition really is a joy to see - we are open all weekend, 10.30 - 4pm, free admission and dogs are very welcome too!
Meffan Museum & Art Gallery

08/10/2026

*Exhibition finishing soon*

Everything Flows - Time & Memory in an Angus Glen - images and words by Bill Duncan, video editing and sound by Adam Lockhart

If you haven't been in to see this beautiful exhibition, please do visit before it ends on the 11th of October. The exhibition documents Bill's interaction with the stunning landscapes of the North Angus Glens through photography and writing. It combines photography, poetry, video and soundscape whilst considering themes of time and mortality.

Visitors to the exhibition have left lovely feedback, including the following comments:

"I came in stressed and left relaxed and enlightened" and "ethereal - transported to another place".

Don't miss out, take some time out this weekend to stop, slow down and look. Enjoy the wonderful images and tranquil soundscape in our ground floor gallery. We are open all weekend, 10.30 - 4pm. Free admission and dogs are welcome too.
Meffan Museum & Art Gallery

08/10/2026

What a wonderful, thoughtful flower posy from Little Leapers Nursery School who came to visit the Arbroath Signal Tower Museum. Spreading kindness is something we can all do to bring a little sparkle into people's lives. I am certainly smiling more after their visit and will pass their kindness on. The children were delightful and asked some super questions. They also enjoyed a run around our lovely garden.

Visit us here at the museum and we will do our best to add sparkle and kindness to your visit. We are open every day apart from Tuesdays from 10:30 - 4pm with last admissions at 3:30pm. Dogs are welcome to join you on your visit. We welcome donations though entry is free.

08/10/2026

👽🚀 ALIEN TAKEOVER AT Arbroath Signal Tower Museum on I ❤ Space Day! 🚀👽

On Monday 12th October, from 11:00am until 3:00pm, the Arbroath Signal Tower will be taken over by our alien visitors! 👽🛸

There will be plenty of space fun for everyone, including:

🔭 A fantastic space treasure hunt
🚀 Make your very own spaceship
👽 Design your own alien
🌌 Lots of other out-of-this-world fun!

Why not come along dressed as a planet, astronaut or even an alien and join in the fun? 🌍👨‍🚀👽

And don't be alarmed if you spot a spaceship near the Bell Rock... 🛸🌊 They’re just checking it out for an overnight stay before heading off to explore Mars! 🔴🚀

✨ Come along, join the fun and help us give our alien visitors a warm Arbroath welcome! 👽💫

📍 Arbroath Signal Tower
📅 Monday 12th October
⏰ 11:00am–3:00pm

Our regular museum activities will be available all week too and it’s always free to visit though we do welcome donations which go towards the upkeep of our museums and galleries.

07/10/2026

Calling all bookworms 📚to the Arbroath Signal Tower Museum on Wednesday 7th October as we celebrate the campaign " Wee Read." It is Scotland’s national celebration of reading - a simple invitation for everyone to stop, take a few minutes, and enjoy the pleasure of reading.

Lighthouse keepers read the Bible, Scots Magazine, the Weekly Chronicle, and various adventure or technical books during their isolated shifts and were lucky to have a library, though perhaps not that lucky when having to dust every book weekly.

One of my favourite children's books is the Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch. It reminds me of the story of one morning way back in 1987 when the Principal Lightkeeper phoned the Curator of the Signal Tower Museum, with a shopping list for the lighthouse:
Two loaves, a dozen eggs, six cans of coke, newspapers; Daily Record, Sun and the Dundee Courier. I do hope they were able to stop for a few minutes and read their newspapers peacefully.

The coke was for drinking during a Dundee football match, on the TV that evening. These items were delivered by Mr Milne on the Summer Rose fishing boat, out of Arbroath harbour and a thank you call was received from the Bell Rock.

We have a variety of books on sale so do come and browse. Winter is coming and they would make the ideal gift for someone (or yourself) so they can curl up on the sofa and have a few moments of peace and quiet.

We are still operating our Summer Opening hours this month which means you can visit everyday apart from Tuesdays. We open at 10:30 and close 4pm with last admissions at 3:30pm. Dogs are more than welcome to join you on your visit. We are free to enter but do welcome donations which go towards the upkeep of our fantastic museums.