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.
The History of Orkney and Shetland
To many people on the UK mainland and beyond, the Shetland and Orkney Islands are ‘somewhere up at the top’ of the map of Great Britain. In fact the Shetland Isles are located in the North Atlantic, as close to Norway as to Aberdeen.
Black Agnes
The story of Black Agnes Randolph and her defence of Dunbar Castle against the Earl of Salisbury and the English in 1338.
Captain William Kidd
Captain Kidd can be said to be the most unfortunate pirate ever to sail the high seas! For it was his bad luck to sail as a privateer/pirate just when the rules changed and the privateer/pirate became an outlaw.
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.
