A visit to Fort George and Inverness Museum

Today I took Mrs H to Inverness station, she is off for the weekend with her sisters to see Andrea Bocelli in Glasgow. Having the weekend to myself, I decided to make Saturday a military day, and firstly visited Inverness museum, which has some nice Jacobite exhibits, and which I have not visited for 25 years !

This coat was supposedly worn by Bonnie Prince Charlie during the 1745 uprising. Whether factual or not, it is a beautiful piece of work, and I hope to incorporate something similar to a figure conversion in the future.

                               
                            A nice highland targe and some exquisite pistols circa 1730-80

                                 Next stop was Fort George a few miles along the coast. 
Completed after the Jacobite rebellion it must be the finest example of Vauban style architecture in the UK, and probably the biggest example of its kind. It was too strong to ever be attacked and the rebellion was over by the time it was finished. There was a fear of French invasion in the 1860's when new artillery was mounted on the walls, but it was largely used as a military barracks, and was HQ of the Seaforth Highlanders for many years.  Not the most welcome of postings it must have been a daunting posting for new recruits. I believe the government had considered exiling Napoleon to Fort George at one time !  It also has the museum of the Highlanders, (Queens Own H, Camerons, Seaforths, Lovat Scouts and Liverpool Scottish). This is one of the finest museums in the UK and a must visit. Much credit must go to CG and his colleagues for this project.
As the regiments were only founded in the late 18th century, there is not much of interest for 7YW buffs, but a treasure trove for later periods.


This image is in the regimental chapel at Fort George. I really like the casualty and padre (wearing a broadsword !). I hope to make a vignette based on these two figures in the near future. You can actually see the stain glass windows reflecting in the photo.

The nearest gun is 18th century, the others probably from 1860 when the French invasion scare was at its height. The fortifications are complete and extremely daunting to any prospective attacker.

                                                                    Impressive howitzer

                            I was fascinated by this painting which shows a French attack in the Netherlands.
There is so much going on in the artwork and I could spend hours looking at it. What a fantastic show stopper of a disply game this would make.... If only I can acquire a 40mm Vauban fort !