Scotland’s Deputy First Minister and North Perthshire MSP John Swinney has opened the new Pitlochry archive centre which charts the history of hydro energy in Scotland.
The new corporate archive contains documents and artefacts – some dating back more than 100 years – which until now have never been made publicly available and include letters, speeches, photographs, blueprints, magazines and other publications.
Located at the iconic Pitlochry Dam, a major tourist attraction in the Tummel Valley which draws 500,000 visitors every year, the archive centre is housed in the old visitor centre building.
Much of the material traces the origins of one of SSE’s predecessor organisation – the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board – and how it transformed the lives of ordinary people. New deposits form both staff and members of the public will ensure the collection continues to grow.
The collection will be a valuable resource for researchers interested in the development of the energy industry in the north of Scotland as well as the roots and history of SSE itself, which dates back to the 19th century.
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