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In 19th century Scotland would a child born before his parents were married keep his mother's family name, or would it be the custom that once the couple were married the child would be given his father's surname?
From the resouces held by Scottish Borders Library and Information Services page 34 of the book 'The Scottish family tree detective : tracing your ancestors in Scotland' by Rosemary Bigwood (2006) shows that under Scots law, all illegitimate ...
Answered on : 12 Dec 2011
What were the working class wedding customs in Scotland in Dec 1911, e.g. did they 'do' the 'something old etc' ritual. What kind of wedding breakfast would they provide for their guests? What would they wear? Would the Bride carry a posy, in December, or a Bible?
Various traditions and customs have developed over time in different parts of Scotland.
Margaret Bennett’s book ‘Scottish Customs from the Cradle to the Grave’ gives an interesting account of a wedding in 1905 in the Torridon area of ...
Answered on : 8 Dec 2011
Why is the lion rampant a symbol of scotland and is it considered a genuine scottish flag
Thank you for your enquiry which has come to us from Ask Scotland.
The following information is from the Court of the Lord Lyon website this is the authority on all matters relating to the science and art of armoury, and to the display and ...
Answered on : 8 Dec 2011
Information about the tree henge discovered at Meldonfoot in Peeblesshire?
The site of Meldonfoot or Meldon Bridge lies 5km west of Peebles. The Peeblesshire Inventory of Ancient Monuments, published in 1967 describes a pit alignment at this site. Plans to improve the A72 led to rescue excavations at the site in 1974, ...
Answered on : 5 Sep 2011
Where was the Adelphi Theatre located in Coatbridge?
The Adelphi Theatre was a wooden structure which occupied a site in a location called 'Coatbridge Hole'. Coatbridge Hole was a block of land bounded on the north by Bank Street, on the east by Ellis Street, on the west by Ross Street and on its ...
Answered on : 23 Aug 2011
Was the flood in Rosyth in August 2008 caused by the burn in Rosyth park overflowing due to heavy rain?
An article in the Dunfermline Press dated 14 August 2008 (page 11) states that Rosyth was one of the worst areas affected by the heavy rain. Residents in Park Road woke to flooded gardens, being under approx. 10-16 inches of water. There was no ...
Answered on : 23 Aug 2011
Where was Froggie's Quarry or Pond in Aberdeen?
Froggie's Quarry or Pond sounds like the nickname youngsters would have given to an area of water where they would have fished for tadpoles. However, Aberdeen had many disused quarries at one time which would have attracted children, and one of ...
Answered on : 23 Aug 2011
What is a skirlie?
A Skirlie is a dish of oatmeal mixed with chopped onions and fried in suet or fat in a pan.
Source: Scottish National Dictionary, vol. VIII, p286, 1971
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Answered on : 17 Aug 2011
What are the origins of the term coal 'reigh' or 'ree'?
The Oxford English Dictionary describes a coal ree as "...a yard or enclosure in which coal is stored for sale. Origin uncertain perhaps related to reid, a roadstead or anchorage for ships."
Answered on : 16 Aug 2011
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What did Stirling castle look like during the Wars of Independence?
In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries it is thought that the defensive walls and other buildings of the castle were "still largely of timber with thatched or turf roofs". (Fawcett, Stirling Castle) The Castle also had a Chapel which author Richard ...
Answered on : 16 Aug 2011
Why is the family name McRobbie associated with two clans: Robertson and Drummond?
In fact, research suggests that the surname McRobbie is associated with three clans: Robertson, Drummond and MacFarlane.
The reason is that the surname McRobbie (or MacRobbie) is derived from the Gaelic, meaning son of Robert, Robbie ...
Answered on : 10 Aug 2011
What's the biggest tourist attraction in Aberdeenshire?
On page 50 of the 2009 Visitor Attraction Monitor Report you can find Balmoral Estates has the highest number of visitors to an tourist attraction in Aberdeenshire (this report does not include attraction which request their visit figures to remain ...
Answered on : 10 Aug 2011
Who opened Dunbeth park Coatbridge in 1887?
Dunbeth Park was formally opened by Provost John Alexander on 2nd July 1887. The land for the park had been gifted to the town by William Weir of Kildonan. Both John Alexander and William Weir were leading partners in William Baird & Co. of ...
Answered on : 10 Aug 2011
