The History of Scotland Magazine
Every month we will feature articles relating to the history of Scotland – famous people, famous battles, famous places etc. These will build over the months into a full and intriguing insight into the history of this ancient land.
Greyfriars Bobby
John Gray joined the Edinburgh Police Force as a night watchman in 1850. To keep him company through the winter nights John took a partner, a diminutive Skye Terrier, called Bobby. Together they became a familiar sight on the cobbled streets of the city.
St Columba and the Isle of Iona
Lying off the west coast of the Isle of Mull the tiny Isle of Iona, barely three miles long by one mile wide, has had an influence out of all proportion to its size on the establishment of Christianity in Scotland, England and throughout mainland Europe.
Burkers and Noddies – town tinkers and the body snatchers in Scotland
Like many other Scottish cities, Aberdeen has many urbanised tinkers who are descendants of the ancient caste of nomadic metalworkers. These town tinkers had an unholy fear of ‘body-snatchers’, or ‘Burkers’ as they were also called.
The Stuart Monarchs
The House was established in the 14th century and the Stewart rule spanned from 1371-1714. Despite the longevity of their reign the Stewart monarchs were not without their failings, which lead to murders, beheadings, and a civil war to name but a few!
The Fairy Flag of the MacCleods
In the drawing room of Dunvegan Castle is the most precious treasure of the MacLeods. It is a flag, rather tattered, made of faded brown silk and carefully darned in places. This is the MacLeods’ Fairy Flag.
Robert Stevenson
Read about the life of Robert Stevenson, the man who lit up Scotland with his lighthouses.
The Two Flags of Scotland
When St. Andrew was being crucified by the Romans in A.D. 60, he met his end on a ‘saltire’, or X-shaped cross (St. Andrew’s cross) which became his symbol. Two separate legends help to explain the association between St. Andrew and Scotland.
The History of the Border Reivers
The story of the Reivers dates from the 14th century and continued into the late 17th century. It concerns the border between England and Scotland, a frontier lacking law and order.
The Piob Mhor, or the Great Highland Bagpipes
Nothing defines the sound of Scotland quite like the great Highland bagpipes! How the pipes actually arrived in Scotland however, is somewhat of a mystery…
The Thistle – National Emblem of Scotland
Common in the highlands, islands and lowlands of Scotland, the prickly purple thistle has been Scotland’s national emblem for centuries. The thistle, which grows to a height of five feet, has no natural enemies because of the vicious spines that cover it.