Cullen old town bicentenary set to be on a different scale!

Click here to sign up to our free newsletters! Some of the model buildings set to feature in the display. Inset: Cullen, Deskford & Portknockie Heritage Group President Brenda Wood.

THE bicentenary of a pivotal moment in Cullen’s history is set to be celebrated in a novel way.

In the early 1820s, the town of Cullen was relocated from its original site near the Auld Kirk and Cullen House to its current location. To mark the 200th anniversary of that move, the Cullen, Deskford & Portknockie Heritage Group are working on a new centrepiece for their heritage centre – a scale model of the old town of Cullen.

The model includes over 200 1:200 scale models of houses and other buildings, each one painstakingly handcrafted by expert modeller John Czajkowski, and the heritage group are currently working on the landscape in which these will sit. The model will be unveiled when the centre reopens in March.

The heritage group have hit on a novel way for people to become part of this project – they can ‘buy’ (sponsor) the buildings for £5. Each buyer receives a novelty title deed with a picture of their property, and is entered into a raffle which will be drawn at the grand opening in March.

Map of the old town of Cullen, with the names of residents in 1818.

A few of the principal buildings, such as the Auld Kirk and the Tolbooth, have been held back for a sealed bid auction which will take place at the same time.

The property sale started in late November with sponsors Stewart & Watson acting as estate agents to promote the initiative, and the heritage group have been surprised and delighted at the response.

Group President Brenda Wood said: “We expected this might generate a little local interest, with sales trickling in all the way through to March, but we’ve been overwhelmed by the demand.

“Out of over 200 buildings, we only have about 30 left – and as we’ve seen people coming back to buy more as Christmas presents, we expect they’ll be snapped up very soon.

“It just shows how interested people are in what was a key moment in Cullen’s history, and how keen they are to be involved in commemorating it.”

Interest has not been purely local, with several of the properties being sponsored from overseas. The heritage group believes the most distant ‘owner’ is Greta Gordon, in New Zealand.

Greta has traced two branches of her ancestry back to the old town of Cullen, and though she missed out on both ancestors’ houses which were snapped up in the initial rush, she is delighted that she now holds the title deed for the smithy owned by her four-times great-grandfather Alexander ‘Nailer’ Jack, who made long nails for sailing boats.

Model of Alexander Jack’s nail smithy, now ‘owned’ by descendant Greta Gordon in New Zealand.

“This project – and ‘owning’ the smithy – has brought my family history to life,” she said.

“My ancestors are no longer just names on a page, they are real people who lived, loved and worked in Cullen.

“I can’t wait to see the model in real life and will come back to Cullen just as soon as I can!”

As well as the old town model itself, the exhibition will cover many topics relating to the relocation of the town in the 1820s. This will include input and material from other local groups and institutions, including Cullen Primary School.

Cullen Primary School head teacher Carene Hay. Picture: Daniel Forsyth

Head teacher Carene hay commented: “We’re delighted to be part of this project.

“For us as a school this poses such rich learning opportunities for the pupils, and a real connection with their community and its history.”

Keep up to date with heritage group news and events by following their Facebook page.

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