Dresses which were donated to the Forres Heritage Trust have been given a new home in a west coast museum.
The outfits were gifted to the Trust last year by Meg and John Mackenzie and in a fitting turn of events, they are now on display in Pool House in Poolewe which is a former Clan Mackenzie house.
John and Meg are founding members of Forres Heritage Trust which was set up in 2010 and helped secure the purchase of the Tolbooth which the Trust now owns.
The couple donated the dresses to the Trust with the hope they would be sold with the proceeds being donated to the organisation.
Forres Heritage Trust trustee, Ainsley James, managed the project and through working with Roger Milton of Auldearn Antiques was able to make the connection with the family who run Pool House.
Ainsley said: “We are absolutely thrilled that we have been able to find a home for these dresses and Pool House couldn’t be more perfect. Each of the dresses is on display and the fact the House is an official Clan Mackenzie home makes this a perfect ending.
“Pool House is the perfect setting for the outfits and we hope that they add interest to what is already a remarkable museum. I want to say a huge thank you to Roger for making the connection and to the family who run Pool House.”
Liz Miles, whose family owns Pool House which is described as being part museum, part comfy home said she was delighted to be able to display the dresses.
“We already have a number of costumes and I had been in touch with Roger about a 1920s bridal outfit and he told me about these dresses. They are absolutely perfect and we are delighted to have them as part of our collection.
“We have them displayed all around the house and have put them in rooms of the era in which they relate to. They are a wonderful addition for us.”
When the dresses were gifted to the Forres Heritage Trust they were initially on display in the Highland Hospice shop on Forres High Street and then moved to the Tolbooth and were shown alongside one of the Trust’s photographic exhibitions.
Meg said: “We are delighted that the dresses have found a permanent home and they are on display for people to enjoy. It’s great that the people of Forres were able to see them. The flapper dresses were given to John by his godmother Bessie Hodsdon who had a shop in Forres High Street. Some of the items are over 100 years old so it’s fabulous that they will be enjoyed for many years to come.”