David Livingstone Birthplace reopens to the public
David Livingstone Birthplace in Blantyre has reopened its doors after four years, following a £9.1m regeneration project!
Article Source: David Livingstone Birthplace
First Published: 28 July 2021 10:46
Updated: 28 July 2021 10:50
The project was made possible by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Scottish Government, Historic Environment Scotland and South Lanarkshire Council.
Home to the UK’s most famous Victorian explorer, missionary and abolitionist of the 19th century, the David Livingstone Birthplace Museum has been redesigned to follow Livingstone’s life from birth to death alongside new exhibits that focus on the 21st century legacy of Livingstone within the context of Scotland’s role in slavery and colonisation.
Through key objects in the collection and interactives, the stories of the African men and women in Livingstone’s crew will be featured for the first time as part of the Museum’s new exhibition. The display aims to highlight marginalised histories relating to Livingstone’s story and present the interconnected role of Livingstone’s crew in the success of his explorations, the return of his body after his death and his ongoing legacy.
The new interpretation will reflect current scholarship on Livingstone as well as the extensive written testimony left in his journals, to dispel the long-standing hero image of Livingstone as a lone explorer, a perspective that was furthered by biographers after his death.
Grant MacKenzie, Director of David Livingstone Birthplace said: “Our doors have been closed for four years and we are thrilled to welcome back visitors. We hope that through the transformation of David Livingstone Birthplace, visitors will come away with a new understanding of his achievements, his failures, and the opportunity that his story holds to encourage a deeper understanding of marginalised histories and Scotlands's role in slavery and colonisation.”
The Museum will feature a dedicated new display to Livingstone’s leading crew members from Southern Africa, Abdullah Susi who was from today’s Mozambique and James Chuma, from today’s Malawi. Also presented will be the diary of Jacob Wainwright, born near Lake Nyasa in East Africa, the youthful and highly literate crew member who played a prominent role in Livingstone’s story and particularly his death, being instrumental in helping to transport Livingstone’s body and possessions back to the UK. Alongside these individual stories, the Museum will examine the wider roles and responsibilities of Livingstone’s extensive crew in his many missions.
A key feature is the Legacy room in the exhibition, which presents the impact Livingstone continues to have on the Sub-Saharan countries that he visited in his lifetime. A series of talking head interviews with individuals from Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Scotland, created in partnership with Scotland Malawi Partnership (SMP) is featured.
Another highlight will be the newly restored Pilkington Jackson Tableaux. These eight unique polychromatic plaster sculptures depict scenes from David Livingstone’s life and journeys in Southern and Central Africa.The work was created by prominent 20th Century British sculptor Charles d’Orville Pilkington Jackson in the 1920s. The pieces were commissioned in 1927 after the Executive Committee of the Scottish National Memorial to David Livingstone was established to honour his memory as well as secure the site of his birth in Blantyre.
Tales from the Tableaux is a new exhibit that will feature alongside these conserved sculptures. Working with Zimbabwean author and Livingstone scholar, Petina Gappah and Mallard Productions in Glasgow, a series of new animations bring the Tableaux to life. While the sculptures draw on imagery typical to the era in which they were created and perpetuate the myth of Livingstone as a lone explorer, the animations now bring hidden histories to the fore. Among those brought to life by the animation are Motshipi, one of the wives of Chief Sechele I of the BaKwena, Mary Livingstone, Paulo Molehane, James Chuma and Mjakazi. The animations were commissioned to complement the wider exhibition, highlighting the contribution of the men and women that aided Livingstone’s expeditions as well as allowing those affected by the activities of the missionaries, the East African Slave Trade and European colonisation to share their stories.
To find out more about the David Livingstone Birthplace visit www.david-livingstone-birthplace.org
Latest Renfrewshire News
More than 1,000 volunteers in Renfrewshire take part in the first two weeks of Spotless September
Volunteers have been praised as more than 1,000 have taken part in a litter pick during the first two weeks of Renfrewshire's Spotless September!
Edinburgh volunteer clocks up the miles on fundraising tour of iconic Scottish locations
Rosemary Laird is in the midst of a personal grand tour of Scotland, with the aim of visiting 61 iconic Scottish landmarks and locations on an epic fundraiser for the National Trust for Scotland.
Watch Scotland come to light with new film for Scotland Year of Coasts and Waters
Light Waves is a multilingual short film by Historic Environment Scotland which showcases Scotland’s coasts and waters and its links to Gaelic and Scots culture.
The IRN BRU Carnival returns to Glasgow
One of Scotland's best loved festive institutions is back for 2021 as the IRN BRU Carnival returns to Glasgow's SEC!
Family fun run is going to be spooktacular!
Fun runners are being given the chance to take part in a Halloween Monster Dash!
Go explore with Beat The Street Renfrewshire
The Beat the Street Renfrewshire game is set to enter its Go Explore week to encourage participants to find the area's best heritage and cultural gems.
Paisley Halloween celebrations will be out of this world!
Paisley's popular Halloween celebrations will make a welcome return for 2021 as Paisley Halloween Festival presents Out of this World!
Dinosaurs will roam free once more, when Jurassic Encounter comes to Cuningar Loop
Cuningar Loop is set to become Jurassic Park when the unmissable, family-friendly event, Jurassic Encounter, lands this half term!
Water way to celebrate baths centenary, says oldest swimmer Meg!
The oldest swimmer at Renfrew's Victory Baths can’t wait to dive into the history of the swimming pool.
Scottish Album of the Year Award announced Longlist
Scotland's national music prize, the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award, has officially announced the twenty outstanding Scottish albums which have made it onto this year's coveted Longlist!
Beat the Street officially launches in Renfrewshire!
Renfrewshire's Beat the Street campaign is off on the right foot this week as nearly 3,500 people have signed up to take part in the six-week physical activity game.
BBC Scotland Debate Night TV programme welcomes back studio audiences
We are excited to let you know that BBC Scotland's Debate Night is welcoming audiences back into the studio for their third series and are looking for people from across Scotland to join them!
Spotless September steps into schools to educate the next generation
Young people in Renfrewshire primary schools have been learning about the Team Up to Clean Up campaign and the difference it is making to the local environment.
Wee Spree festival of family fun returns to Paisley
Paisley is set to host a festival of family fun as The Wee Spree returns this October!
Second Hand September month at Oxfam
Consumers across Scotland are being urged to only buy pre-loved clothing for 30 days or more in order to tackle a throwaway culture that Oxfam Scotland says is making climate change worse.
Exhibition celebrates centenary of Renfrew Victory Baths
A special exhibition is being staged to mark the centenary of Renfrew’s Victory Baths!
Local memories become part of Paisley Town Hall legacy
A time capsule containing memories of life in Paisley has been placed inside the foundations of Paisley Town Hall during the £22m transformation into a landmark entertainment venue!
Fast food packaging a priority for a Spotless September volunteers
Renfrewshire's award-winning Team Up to Clean Up campaign is working to tackle littering outside fast-food outlets.
Working at Braehead is just the job!
Shopping and leisure destination Braehead Centre is hiring new staff and are looking for people to work with both the security and cleaning teams at the popular mall.
Beat the Street Renfrewshire will be supporting MND Scotland!
MND Scotland could be a winner when the popular walking, cycling and wheeling game Beat the Street returns to Renfrewshire next week!
Bookbug is back at Renfrewshire Libraries!
Bookings are now open for the return of the popular Bookbug sessions at Renfrewshire's libraries for the first time since first Covid-19 lockdown!
Spotless September off to a flying start in Renfrewshire
Volunteers in Renfrewshire made a flying start to Spotless September as the annual litter picking event began yesterday!
14 play parks in Renfrewshire set for complete transformation
Families and young people across Renfrewshire can look forward to 14 fully renewed play parks as part of a £1.25million investment by Renfrewshire Council.
Outspoken Arts announce the launch of The Paisley Suite
Paisley-based arts organisation, Outspoken Arts Scotland are delighted to announce the release of their new production for 2021, The Paisley Suite.
Grant boost to tell amazing shawl story in exciting new displays at Paisley Museum
A £60,000 grant has been secured to tell the story of Paisley's world-renowned shawls in exciting displays to be created in the town's transformed museum.
Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival entertainment set to be best yet
The annual FREE Loch Lomond Food and Drink Festival is back this weekend and is shaping up to be a great day out for all the family with a great entertainment line-up and new charitable partnership!
Dobbies stores in Braehead and Milngavie announce the return of Little Seedlings
Dobbies has announced its first Little Seedlings Club in-store event this year, taking place on Sunday 5th September in the Braehead and Milngavie stores.
The Twilight Sad, Arab Strap and Nadine Shah among headliners as The Spree festival returns to Paisley in 2021
Paisley's popular music, comedy and arts festival The Spree will return in 2021 with The Twilight Sad, Arab Strap and Nadine Shah among the bumper line-up coming to town this October.
Princey the dog wags his tale after author inspired by grandson
A toddler grandson has been the inspiration behind a new children's book launched this week.
Kiltwalk countdown on as physical event return
It’s one month today until Kiltwalkers march out for the charities of their choice, as Scotland's favourite mass participation charity event makes its real-life return!
Sponsored Links
