- Jul 2, 2025
- 3 min read
A 1,000-year-old Viking sword pommel, medieval coins and a replica of an embroidery panel created by Mary, Queen of Scots are among a number of historic artefacts on display as part of a new exhibition at Dumbarton Castle.
The Rock of Ages exhibition, located in the Governor’s House, has opened following an extensive refurbishment which includes conservation works to help ensure a suitable environment for significant objects to be displayed to visitors.
The exhibition features historic objects from the HES collection, as well as loaned items from English Heritage and the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum. Artefacts which were discovered during a 1970s excavation of Dumbarton Rock, where over 300 objects were uncovered as well as the charred remains of the early fortress, are also on loan from the Hunterian Museum.
This includes a 1,000-year-old Viking sword pommel which may have come from the Viking siege of the Rock in AD 870.
Some of the objects on loan from the Hunterian Museum have never before been on display to the public. This includes iron arrowheads dated c.1300 from the Wars of Independence, silver coins from the reigns of Edward I (1296-1305) and Edward II (1307-1327), glass beads, and glass fragments dated from more than 1,500 years ago.
Some of the pottery fragments that feature in the exhibition are from vessels which would have carried wine and perhaps olive oil, showcasing how well-connected Alt Clut, the early medieval stronghold, was to continental and Mediterranean Europe. Glass beads worn as jewellery by both the men and women of Alt Clut along with counters from ancient board games give further insight into life on the Rock.
Items from the HES collection include a replica of a toucan embroidery by Mary, Queen of Scots which was one of 37 needlework panels created by her during her imprisonment in England before her execution in 1587. Mary was sheltered at Dumbarton Castle as a child in 1548 before boarding a ship to France.
In addition, an early 19th century jewellery box, decorated using twists of paper which is thought to have been made by a French prisoner held at Dumbarton Castle during the Napoleonic wars, also features in the exhibition, as well as three decorated carved stones, weighing up to 183kg and dating as far back as the 10th century, which are now back on display at the Castle following an intricate operation to install them via crane.
On loan from English Heritage is another rare item on display - a 150kg cannonball which was made to be fired from Mons Meg. In 1489, the six-tonne medieval cannon was dragged across the country from Edinburgh Castle to Dumbarton Castle as part of James IV’s claim to reclaim Dumbarton Castle after it was seized by nobles.
Visitors to the Rock of Ages exhibition can also enjoy a virtual tour of the Castle which will take them on a journey to key locations throughout the site including the top of Dumbarton Rock, offering alternative access to the steep slopes and spectacular views of the River Clyde.
Stephen Duncan, Director of Marketing and Engagement at HES, said: “This exciting new exhibition will allow visitors to discover the stories of Dumbarton Castle through the historic artefacts discovered there, giving a window into the extraordinary past of one of Scotland’s oldest castles. It is a fantastic experience for anyone interested in exploring 1,600 years of Scottish history.”
Paul Neeson, chair of Dumbarton Castle Society, said: “This new exhibition is a welcome addition to Dumbarton Castle."
"To be able to display iconic and historic artefacts and interpretation to describe and illustrate the history of these items alongside the long and fascinating history Dumbarton Castle and the legends associated with it will be a huge boost.”
