Timespan

About the museum

Timespan is a cultural centre in Helmsdale on the east coast of Sutherland. Its local history museum first opened in 1987 and has grown into a combined museum, contemporary art gallery, archive, shop, café and garden complex on Dunrobin Street, beside the River Helmsdale.

The museum follows the story of Helmsdale and its parish from the sea and the river mouth inland to the Strath of Kildonan. It combines objects, archive images, local legends and digital displays. Themes include the boom and bust of the herring fishery, the Highland Clearances, the 1869 gold rush, the Pictish Borrobol Stone, and curious local episodes such as the last wolf shot in Sutherland.

The centrepiece is a reconstructed mid-to-late nineteenth-century street. It includes a smiddy fitted with tools from a local forge that closed in the 1950s, a village shop that recalls the gold rush years, and a croft house from Gartymore showing how crofters lived after the Clearances.

Alongside the museum, Timespan runs a changing programme of contemporary art and a community archive that holds more than 11,000 documents and images covering about 250 years of local history. The centre also takes part in online projects that look at the history of the parish through themes such as land ownership, climate change and migration.

Highlights

• Reconstructed nineteenth-century street with smiddy, village shop and croft house
• Displays on the herring fishery, the Clearances and the 1869 Kildonan gold rush
• Community archive with over 11,000 documents and images
• Contemporary art gallery, café, shop and gardens in the same building

Permanent exhibitions

• Museum of Helmsdale and the Strath of Kildonan – Displays on local life from the coast to the strath, covering herring fishing, the Clearances, the gold rush and local legends.
• Reconstructed nineteenth-century street – A street scene with a smiddy, a village shop and a croft house from Gartymore.

Founded

1987

Admission & discounts

Museum admission only. Residents of Helmsdale and holders of the Community Card enter the museum free. The gallery programme, archive, shop, gardens and café are free.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• 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 building is described as fully accessible, with lifts and an induction loop. Accessible and gender-neutral toilets are available. The outdoor geology garden can be reached from outside; the herb garden is on a slope with narrow gravel paths.

Kids & families

• Baby changing facilities

A family museum ticket is available. Baby changing facilities are provided.

Getting there & parking

Timespan is on the A9 between Inverness and John o' Groats, on the North Coast 500 route, under 1.5 hours by car from Inverness.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The River Cafe is on site, together with a shop. Free car park opposite the building.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 100 guests.

Several rooms with technical equipment. Capacity is up to 100 for a drinks reception, 60 for a conference and 40 seated in the café. Hire is listed at £20 per hour in the daytime and £30 per hour after hours, plus VAT; catering and equipment cost extra.