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Tomintoul and Glenlivet Discovery Centre staging Moray history workshop


By Alistair Whitfield

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Dating from the 1820s, the Tomintoul coat is thought to have once belonged to a customs man whose job was to combat whisky smugglers.

However, its full story might be even more intriguing.

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The artefact, which is an exhibit at the Tomintoul and Glenlivet Discovery Centre, was found during 2003 in the attic of a house overlooking the village square.

Uncovered at the same time were a pair of tiny shoes dating from the same period.

Bizarre as it might sound to us in modern times, it was once a relatively common practice to conceal items of clothing – especially children's shoes – within the fabric of a house.

Suspicion held that they warded off witches, demons, ghouls and other evil apparitions.

Research is now ongoing as to whether, like the shoes, the Tomintoul coat could also have been a 'concealed item'.

Lara Bradbeer, who is currently making a replica of the coat, said: "We've been trying to contact the builder who made the discovery.

"Accounts vary as to how the coat was found.

"Some say it was stuffed into the rafters like a draft excluder, others that it was hanging up."

Lara is a professional costumier who has extensive experience of recreating period clothing.

Having worked with the Royal National Theatre, as well as the English National and Welsh National Opera, she is now based at Campbell's of Beauly.

Lara said: "The Tomintoul coat comes from a period when materials were very expensive.

"People would have really have looked after their clothes back then.

"Rather than throw them away, they would have had them mended and continued wearing them for years.

"Considering its age, the original coat is still in a pretty good state.

"However, it has suffered some mould and bug damage, so the centre has decided it needs a replica to go on display for the bulk of the year."

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As well as the life-size replica Lara has also made two smaller versions which young visitors to the museum will be able to try on.

Her attention to detail has been such that, to make the coat buttons, Lara has enlisted the services of the UK's only remaining mother of pearl masterworker.

Folk are now being invited to a special history workshop at the discovery centre on Saturday, March 14.

The event will provide an opportunity to find out more about the painstaking process of creating the replicas from Lara.

There will also be the chance to learn about the village's history, as well as have a go at spinning, carding and weaving.

Lara said: "They'll be all sorts of information about what life was like in Tomintoul back then and how people lived."

Doug Nisbet is chairman of the Tomintoul and Glenlivet Development Trust (TGDT).

He said: "This free event is a chance for our community to find out more about a piece of our heritage.

"It builds on other TGDT events and projects presenting our cultural heritage to a wide audience in new and innovative ways."

The history workshop will take place from 10am to 4pm on Saturday, March 14.

Places are limited so priority will be given to those living within the AB37 9 postcode area or with an interest in textiles.

Contact rebecca@tgdt.org.uk or 01807 580760.


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