The Glenesk Folk Museum at the Retreat was set up in 1955 by Miss Greta
Michie, a local farmer's daughter and school teacher, It was based on
Scandinavian folk museums she had visited in Norway.
When the museum was set up, with the
generous help of Lord and Lady Dalhousie, the Retreat building had been
empty for some time, after being used as a summer holiday house for
friends of the Laird. Built in the 1840’s by Captain, later
Rear-Admiral, JE Wemyss as a “retreat” from his life at sea it was
originally quite a small cottage. After his death in 1854 it was first
rented out and then later enlarged sometime near the end of the 1800’s
and used as a shooting lodge. It was enlarged again round about the
1920’s when the distinctive frontage was built. Millden Lodge later
superseded it as a lodge.
As well as being a repository for Glen
history, the idea behind the setting up of The Retreat was to give
employment to the women and young folk of the Glen, a task it has
performed admirably for over fifty years. It also gave an outlet for
local produce, such as eggs, butter, home baking, home made jams and
heather honey as well as local craftwork.
In 2007 the Retreat underwent a massive reconstruction and is now fully open to the public once more.
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