WELCOME TO THE WEBSITE OF THE FRIENDS OF ORKNEY BOAT MUSEUM

Friends of Orkney Boat Museum was founded in 2004 in order to support the new Orkney Boat Museum project.

This aims to:
(a) restore the Hall of Clestrain in Orphir, the finest example of 18thC Palladian architecture in Northern Scotland;
(b) tell the story of Dr John Rae, the 19thC Arctic Explorer, who discovered the last link in the North West Passage, and who was born and brought up in the Hall of Clestrain, and
(c) establish a working Boat Museum at the Hall of Clestrain to tell the history of the use of boats in Orkney since Prehistoric times and including a display of the Orkney Islands Council's collection of more than 40 boats, regular events on the water at the museum, and an apprenticeship in small boat building at the planned workshop at the Museum.

The Hall of Clestrain featured in the BBC TV programme 'Restoration' in 2004. Unfortunately it did not win its stage, but the seeds were sown for a visionary and exiting project.

The Friends have raised over £70,000 towards the project so far (April 2008) but there is still a long way to go. On this website you will find details of the activities of the Friends in support of Orkney Boat Museum at the Hall of Clestrain. Please click on the location map to the right to see where this exciting new project will take place. 

On the left you will find pages for the latest News, an events Calendar listing the programme of activities planned by the Friends in support of Orkney Boat Museum, the Library where Newletters and other documents are stored and a Gallery of recent and other pictures.

There are also pages for Feedback and a Guestbook where you can register your interest. We are very keen to hear your views concerning both the project and also how we can make best use of this website. Please do not hesitate to get in touch wherever you are.

You can also join us, or just send us a donation, by downloading our Membership Form

Finally there are Links to other sites including the Boat Museum main site at www.orkneyboatmuseum.org.uk where you can find loads of information about the Boat Museum, the Hall of Clestrain and the fascinating story of Dr John Rae. There is also a gallery of pictures there.

A proposed Layout of the future Orkney Boat Museum
A larger version of this image is available in the Library

Friends of Orkney Boat Museum is a
registered Scottish Charity No SC036660