Discover a community shaped by fishing, faith, trade, people, and the changing of society.
Since 1971, the Wick Society has strived to protect and promote Wick's history. Today the Wick Society has under its wing the Heritage Centre, Isabella Fortuna, Johnston Collection, and Wick Voices - an oral history project. Please come along and view our displays for an amazing look back into the past of this historic town.
Find out more about the society's most exciting projects.
The Johnston Collection represents the work of three generations of Caithness photographers who captured images of life in and around the area between 1863 and 1975. They are now held in trust by the Wick Society.
Portraits, objects, and people from the Caithness past
Wick Voices aims to record the history of Wick and its neighbouring villages straight from the mouths of those who have lived it. For the first time these recordings are available to the public exclusively through this website.
Memories and first hand accounts from the community
The Isabella Fortuna is a superbly restored example of a traditional Fifie fishing vessel, built by James Weir of Arbroath, and launched on 15th September 1890. The Wick Society bought the Isabella Fortuna from Hobson Rankin and Michael May, in 1997.
A fine example of our great maritime heritageTouch here to get directions through your mobile device, or use the options below to plan your journey.
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We visited Wick heritage centre as the main part of an excursion, and I'm so pleased that we did. The heritage centre is very unassuming from the outside. Inside we were made very welcome by a team of highly enthusiastic volunteers of all ages. The centre is literally like a Tardis.
Most people say you need a good two hours to get around but for use we found three hours flew by and if we had had time could have stayed much longer. Really interesting exhibits with knowledgeable volunteers on hand to explain more if needed. Will definitely return for another visit when next in the area.
Without a shadow of a doubt one of the best, small museums in Scotland. If you are in the area then you would be mad not to visit.
Very helpful and informative staff set the scene for a wonderful visit.The history behind the enormous development and the subsequent decline of the herring industry was very interesting and very well presented. To think one could walk across the huge expanse of the harbour without touching the water shows how many boats made their living fishing for the silver darlings.
A veritable tardis of a museum! What a smashing introduction to daily life in this wonderful herring capital of the world. If you haven't seen this museum, you ain't seen Scotland.
The Wick Society
18 - 27 Bank Row
Wick
Caithness
KW1 5EY
Wick Society
Wick Heritage Centre
Johnston Collection
Wick Voices