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Visit Scotland | Alba
Article published 16/03/2023

The Black Watch Castle & Museum have announced the upcoming arrival of "The Hauntings", a scrap metal sculpture of a war-weary soldier, which will be on display at their five-star visitor attraction in Perth between 1 July and 12 November, and will be the only Scottish venue to host the sculpture to date.

The ghostly sculpture, which stands at 6.5 metres (21 feet) high, was commissioned for the World War One centenary in 2014 by a couple based in Somerset, Jo Oliver and Paul Richards, to commemorate those who served in the war. The inspiration behind the sculpture was the reported sightings of a ghostly soldier seen wandering around the Somerset hills close to where Jo grew up, looking for his way home.

The sculpture was made by metal sculpture specialists, Dorset Forge and Fabrication, a combination of the talents of blacksmith Chris Hannam and artist Martin Galvenby. It's made from over 1,000 pieces of locally sourced scrap metal including horseshoes, brake discs, and car jacks, and its intricate design allows the light to filter through his body giving a ghostly aura.

Giant scrap metal sculpture "The Haunting"

The sculpture, which has previously been on display at the Great Dorset Steam Fair and St Stephen’s Green Park in Dublin, can currently be seen at Antrobus House in Amesbury.

The Black Watch Castle and Museum asked for the sculpture on loan from its private owners as it's a vivid representation of the many World War One soldier stories currently on display at the Museum.

We are extremely grateful to Jo and Paul for loaning The Hauntings to The Black Watch Castle and Museum, which will allow locals and visitors to stand beside this incredible and emotive sculpture and immerse themselves in all he represents, providing the space and time to reflect on all the physical and mental sacrifices that were made then, so we can live the lives we do today.

Anne Kinnes, CEO of The Black Watch Castle and Museum

This is an exciting announcement from The Black Watch Castle and Museum and for Perth. It provides another reason to visit the city this summer, further enhancing the city’s appeal as a destination for arts and culture. Securing the only Scottish appearance of this remarkable sculpture will attract visitors from across the country, not only providing a boost to the city’s economy and tourism businesses, but also the opportunity to showcase Perth and Perthshire.

Caroline Warburton, Destination Development Director at VisitScotland

More information

For the full release and more information about The Haunting please visit The Black Watch Castle & Museum website.  

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