Hugh Miller Museum

An anonymous £600,000 donation to the Hugh Miller Museum and Birthplace Cottage in Cromarty was made in memory of three of his direct descendants, the National Trust for Scotland has announced.

The descendants are Hugh and Lydia Miller’s three great-great-granddaughters, the recently deceased sisters Marian McKenzie Johnston, Bright Gordon and Lydia Clarke.

The sisters were born Middleton, granddaughters of Sir Thomas Middleton of Rosefarm, Cromarty, whose wife Lydia was Hugh Miller’s granddaughter. The Middletons have been farmers in The Black Isle for over 200 years, with Bright Gordon being the last.

This gift will now create a special fund called the Middleton Fund to be used solely to meet the costs of staffing and keeping the properties open.

The Trust has confirmed that it will shortly reinstate a full-time curator/manager, and restore the museum’s opening hours to 7 days week during the summer season next year.

The National Trust for Scotland said it will continue to work closely with the Friends of Hugh Miller support group to ensure that new initiatives and programmes can be developed.

Donors can make a contribution to the Middleton Fund if they so wish and should contact the Development department on 0844-493-2422 for further details.

Martin Gostwick, the museum's manager for ten years until 2009, now a volunteer, and Secretary of support group, The Friends of Hugh Miller, said: "This magnificent donation marks a wonderful turn-around in the museum's fortunes, since it faced closure in the Spring of 2009. The return of a full-time post, and the restoration of 7-day opening are particularly welcome. This unique resource in Scottish and Highland history and culture can now look forward to a secure future."