Heritage Volunteers

• Garlogie Beam Engine Trust

• VO105503

Here is a collection of volunteering opportunities at a unique heritage site that offers something for everybody!
Most people will be unaware that at Garlogie (four miles west of Westhill) there is a historic beam engine (an early type of steam engine). This engine is the oldest steam engine in Scotland still in its original location and mostly dates from the early 1830s. The engine was used to drive a wool spinning mill and last ran in 1904. It is a very large, rare and spectacular survivor of its type and of significance nationally and beyond.
The site was previously operated by Aberdeenshire Council as a museum, but it closed in 2000. The Garlogie Beam Engine Trust was established in 2019 with the aim of obtaining a lease on the museum site from the Council and once again making it publicly accessible. The lease was signed with Aberdeenshire Council in 2023 and we have been welcoming visitors at our periodic open days ever since. The site of the old mill buildings is extensive and there are interesting country walks associated with the history of the mill in the vicinity.
We have carried out a considerable amount of restoration activity on the beam engine in preparation for a return to motion and eventual steaming. We also been undertaking various repairs to the buildings and maintaining grounds and the site generally. The eventual plan is to fully reopen the museum for live beam engine demonstrations and tell the history of the site and the people who worked there.
We are now looking to expand our team of volunteers to move us forward in the next stage of creating our vision. Besides further work on the beam engine and DIY-type activity, there are activities such as guiding visitors around the site on open days, helping to serve refreshments, taking visitor donations, helping with accounts, helping with document management, IT support, submitting grant applications, designing posters and creating visual displays etc etc. We can pretty much match any skill set with a worthwhile activity that would make you feel good and part of the team.
As you will be aware, very little industrial heritage survives in Aberdeenshire and a new museum with a working engine of national importance would be a welcome addition to what the region has to offer. We look would love to have you on our volunteer team to help make this project a success. See www.garlogie-engine.org.uk for further information.

Experience required

Mechanical fitting (mechanic), general maintenance and DIY, grounds maintenance, open day hopsitality (refreshments), event management, tour guiding, history research, document managment, book keeping, general housekeeping and cleaning, painting and decorating, graphic design, grant application, secretarial skills, board level management skills, IT skills, remote site security, customer liaison, public relations, data base

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