The Stonehaven War Memorial on the Blackhill is an iconic feature of our town. It was designed by a local architect (John Ellis) and opened in 1923 to honour all those who fell in WW1. The memorial also contains the names of local individuals who were lost in WW2.

It is thought that John Elllis's design was based on a ruined Greek temple overlooking a fishing village in Salonika. It was also designed to appear incomplete when viewing the top parapet. These factors all contribute to make the memorial very different from other Scottish momuments. It has always been regarded as one of the most striking and with the greatest impact on a local community.

Perhaps the only drawback is that by being situated on the Blackhill it is difficult for less able citizens to view it in all its glory. Consequently the museum was delighted when it was approached by Colin Sandeman with the offer to construct a model which would be placed in the museum for all to enjoy at their leisure.

Colin is a gifted furniture maker who works in Broomwood and is widely acclaimed for his skill in using this wood. Broom grows widely in Scotland, including on the western side of the Blackhill, but is a difficult medium to use given its small size and fragility. However, Colin has mastered the art and his last major production was a chair which has been added to the Broomwood collection at Blair Atholl Castle - Blair Atholl holds the only known collection of Broomwood furniture in th UK.

After more than 200 hours of work, which included subjecting the broomwood to various chemical processes to highlight the colour variations and grain inherent in the wood, Colin has produced a stunning model which is now available to view at the museum.

Come along - visit and enjoy