The Dumfries Camera Obscura – Scotland - Atlas Obscura

The Dumfries Camera Obscura

The oldest working camera obscura in the world is on the top floor of an old windmill tower at Dumfries Museum  

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The oldest working camera obscura in the world is located in the grounds of the Dumfries Museum, a local history museum, in Dumfries, in the Dumfries and Galloway region of Scotland. The main part of the museum has large and varied collections relating to local history from the pre-historic era to recent times but the star of the show is the camera obscura. This device has been in continuous operation since 1836.

Both the camera obscura and museum at Dumfries are part of a closely linked story. They have their origin in the rescue of an 18th century windmill which fell out of use in the 1830s. Scheduled to be demolished, it was saved in 1834 by Robert Thomson, (a shipbuilder and merchant), who bought the tower for £350.

Thomson established The Dumfries and Maxwelltown Astronomical Society, thinking that a tower at the top of a hill would  be the perfect place for an observatory. Members of the society paid subscriptions to fund the conversion of the tower and the purchase of equipment. Architect Walter Newall, installed new floors, created windows, and added a spiral staircase.

By August 1836 the new observatory was ready to be opened. It was equipped with a nine-inch telescope purchased from Thomas Morton, in Kilmarnock. The Astronomical Society also decided to ask Morton to build them a camera obscura for the top of the tower. This was intended for astronomical use, such as viewing the sun and the transits of Mercury and Venus. However the novelty of seeing a live moving image showing the people of Dumfries going about their business became a popular diversion.

When first installed, the camera obscura was only for the use of the astronomical society, but in 1851 the general public were allowed in to see this fascinating device. A small museum on the floor below the observatory became popular  and in 1862 a large building was constructed onto the side of the tower to house and display the museum’s expanding collection.

In order to protect the instrument it is only operated during the summer months and on days when weather conditions are clear and winds are not too high.

Know Before You Go

Admission to the museum is free but a charge applies for the camera obscura. The standard admission was £4.50 in 2024.

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