PICTURES: Model brings history of Old Cullen to life in amazing style
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A STUNNING and unique display has brought a pivotal moment in the history of Cullen to life.
This year marks the bicentenary of the original settlement - based around the Auld Kirk and Cullen House - moving lock, stock and barrel to its current location.
In order to mark this huge anniversary, Cullen, Deskford and Portknockie Heritage Group (CDPHG) set themselves the task of creating a 1:200 scale model of Old Cullen, which was revealed to the public for the first time when the Heritage Centre opened for its 2024 season last Wednesday afternoon.
Featuring over 220 models of houses and other buildings - painstakingly and lovingly created by Florida-based modeller John Czajkowski over a period stretching back four years - the model also recreates the topographical features and roads present two centuries ago in breath-taking detail and accuracy. At one point, Mr Czajkowski had to mail individual model buildings across the Atlantic, all of which arrived in Cullen safe and sound.
The heritage group also hit on a novel way for people to become part of this project – they could 'buy' (sponsor) the buildings for £5. Each buyer received a novelty title deed with a picture of their property and was entered into a raffle which at last week’s grand opening.
The scheme attracted interest from across the land and beyond, with one buyer, Greta Gordon, hailing from New Zealand.
A few of the principal buildings, such as the Auld Kirk and the Tolbooth, were held back for a sealed bid auction, the winners of which were also announced at the opening ceremony.
The property sale started in late November with sponsors Stewart and Watson acting as estate agents to promote the initiative.
Mr Czajkowski was asked to do the honours by CDPHG president Brenda Wood and cut the ribbon to declare the exhibition open.
Opening the ceremony, Mrs Wood said: “This year, in the bicentennial period of the move from the old town of Cullen to the new town, I am especially proud and excited to present to you something very special and unique - our interpretation of how the old town looked about 1818, all in a model scale of 1:200.
“This is primarily based on an inspirational work by historian and schoolmaster William Crammond, writing in 1880 in his book entitled ‘Reminiscences of the Old Town of Cullen’.”
She went on to praise the sterling efforts of Mr Czajkowski whose years of dedication had borne such an astounding reward.
She continued: “I must express our considerable debt and gratitude to the man who made all this possible - John Czajkowski.
“John has supported the heritage group for a number of years, making models of our lost railway station and also the Tochineal brickworks. However, just prior to Covid he got a bee in his bonnet about bringing the old town to life for the bicentennial.
“So for the last four years he has worked tirelessly to produce the whole of the Old Town in miniature.”
Guest speaker at the opening ceremony was Prof Peter Reid, from Robert Gordon University’s School of Creative and Cultural Business.
He reflected that although he was a “Portgordon loon” he nevertheless had ties with Cullen springing from, among others, a great-great-grandmother born in 1843 in Portknockie.
Prof Reid went on to describe the Old Town project as nothing short of a “magnificent endeavour”.
He said: “During Covid, when we were allowed to meet up, I came over to chat with the heritage group when they’d just been given this fabulous space and we sat in an enormous, socially distanced circle discussing ideas for the displays and for the exhibitions in here, and how heritage could be used to tell stories.
“I said ‘Do something unusual, do something frankly left field, things that capture people’s imagination’ and the development of this model of Old Cullen has absolutely done that by the spadeload. You can see that very clearly by the reach and the engagement this has had and the tantalising posts about it on social media.
“This has been an absolutely mammoth undertaking but I think it is fair to say it has been a labour of love.
“The model is an amazing way to tell the story of Cullen but it’s also a huge tribute to the…model maker.
“As someone who spends much of my professional life working in heritage and storytelling and public engagement I’ve got to say to the Cullen, Deskford and Portknockie Heritage Group ‘Full marks!’, brilliant imagination. This is a fantastic case study in how to do creative public engagements, so very well done.
“I think one of the things the model shows really clearly is the size and extent of Cullen when it was clustered round the Auld Kirk and the Big Hoose. Looking at the model is somehow really different than looking at an old map. One house purchaser from New Zealand who bought the smithy that was of her four times great-grandfather said ‘This has brought history to life. My ancestors are no longer names on pages, they are real people who lived, who loved and who worked in Cullen. How good is that?’.
“This is a really a magnificent endeavour and its a great way to learn about Cullen’s past.”
Prof Reid rounded off his address by lauding not only Mr Czajkowski but Mrs Wood and the dedicated team of volunteers at the heritage group.
Not content to rest on their already considerable laurels, the heritage group are planning a phase 2 for the model project which will see Cullen House, the big bridge, mills and other items added to an extended tableau.
