Strachur Smiddy Museum

About the museum

The Smiddy stands in the Clachan, the old village centre of Strachur, on the route between Loch Fyne and the Clyde. It is known to date back to at least 1791 and probably began as a thatched cottage. Four generations of the Montgomery family worked here, making farm tools and shoeing horses for the local community. When cars began to replace horses the family opened a garage in 1923, and the forge closed in the 1950s, its interior left untouched for about forty years.

A Montgomery descendant, Cathie Montgomery, proposed turning the family forge into a public museum. A committee was formed, and with lottery funding, council grants and local fundraising the museum opened in 1997. It displays around 80 tools and implements and keeps a working forge fire with bellows. At weekends a volunteer blacksmith makes ironwork such as pokers, which are sold in the adjoining craft shop alongside goods from local makers. The museum is run entirely by volunteers as a registered charity.

Highlights

• Original 18th-century forge with bellows, anvil and cobbled floor
• Blacksmith demonstrations at weekends, with visitors invited to work the giant bellows
• Around 80 historic tools and implements
• Short films, including one about shoeing horses
• Craft shop with locally made goods and hand-forged pokers

Permanent exhibition

• The working smiddy – A preserved blacksmith’s forge with original tools, a working fire and bellows, and films about the trade.

Founded

1997

Operated by

Strachur Smiddy (Scottish registered charity SC022780)

Admission & discounts

Admission is free.

There is no entry fee; visitors are invited to give a donation of their choice.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum describes itself as accessible for visitors with disabilities.

Kids & families

• Hands-on stations

Children can try the giant bellows while the blacksmith is at work.

Getting there & parking

The Smiddy is in the Clachan, just off the A815 behind the petrol station. Signs in the village point the way.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The craft shop sells hand-forged ironwork made at the Smiddy and crafts by local makers. The Clachan Bar next door opens limited hours for drinks only.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent

The museum is available for private hire.

Plan your visit