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Can you tell me about any bequests made to the town of Coatbridge by the industrialists who were based there?
The following have made major bequests/donations to the town of Coatbridge:
The Bairds of Gartsherrie (various members of the iron works dynasty) : Gartsherrie Parish Church (1839); Gartsherrie Academy (1845, - initially founded as a ...
Answered on : 4 Sep 2010
Who was the last person to be hanged in Scotland? What was the crime?
The last person to be hanged in Scotland was Henry John Burnett (aged 21) on 15th August 1963 at Craiginches Prison, Aberdeen.
An affair with 24-year-old Margaret Geujan ended with Burnett shooting her husband, Thomas, a 27-year-old ...
Answered on : 4 Sep 2010
Why are the Greek Parthenon Marbles associated with Elgin?
The Parthenon Marbles are widely referred to as the Elgin Marbles due to the fact that they were procured by the British diplomat Thomas Bruce, the 7th Earl of Elgin.
According to the Bloomsbury Guide to Art, "The Elgin Marbles were ...
Answered on : 4 Sep 2010
Has Scotland ever been any good at football? What is the greatest achievement, or period of success, that the national team has experienced?
Good question! Over the years it has been a veritable rollercoaster of highs and lows for the Scottish national team and its supporters, the faithful Tartan Army. Whether or not any of the good results would constitute a significant period of ...
Answered on : 4 Sep 2010
On holiday on the Isle of Skye, I noticed in the cemetery that married women appear to be buried with their maiden names rather than their married names. Is this normal in Scotland?
In Scotland it is the norm for a married woman's maiden name to be inscribed on a gravestone as well as her married name. In England this is not the case and only the married name is inscribed.
...
Answered on : 4 Sep 2010
When was the last wolf killed in Scotland?
It's difficult to say exactly when the very last wolf was killed, however, The Companion to British History (Routledge) states that wolves were extinct in Scotland by 1743. This was considerably later than in England, where wolves died out in 1580, ...
Answered on : 4 Sep 2010
When was the last wolf killed in Scotland?
It's difficult to say exactly when the very last wolf was killed, however, The Companion to British History (Routledge) states that wolves were extinct in Scotland by 1743. This was considerably later than in England, where wolves died out in 1580, ...
Answered on : 4 Sep 2010
Where can I find the patient records for Craiglockhart War Hospital in Edinburgh for 1917 and 1918?
The records of military hospitals from the First World War are now held in the National Archives in Kew, London. Hospitals were administered by the Ministry of Health and the series is coded MH106.
Answered on : 4 Sep 2010
Please see the
Is there a museum for the North British Locomotive Company?
According to Museums Galleries Scotland, there is no dedicated museum for the North British Locomotive Company. However, the Scottish Railway Preservation Society collection, based at Bo'ness and Kinneil Railway, features some items produced by the ...
Answered on : 4 Sep 2010
Who was Jackson Terrace in Aberdeen named after?
The minutes of Aberdeen City Council for 18 June 1888 state that the manager of Aberdeen Building Company requested that the street be called Jackson Terrace. One of the directors of Aberdeen Building Company was a Messr Jackson.
The ...
Answered on : 4 Sep 2010
Was the expression "fandabbydosey" created by the Krankies or is it an expression that was previously used in Scotland and subsequently picked up by the Krankies?
We can find no evidence of the use of this catchphrase prior to it being used by the Krankies in the early 1980s.
In 1981 they recorded a single called Fan'dabi'dozi which went to number 46 in the charts.
In 2004 they published a ...
Answered on : 4 Sep 2010
Was clan Kennedy represented at the battles of Bannockburn and Culloden?
Despite a comprehensive search of our book and online subscription resources, I have been unable to find much information on this aspect of Clan Kennedy history.
The Collins encyclopaedia of Scotland (HarperCollins, 2000) states that: ...
Answered on : 4 Sep 2010
Cumbernauld used to advertise itself with a cartoon dog and the slogan "What's it Called? Cumbernauld!" (it rhymes!) Is there anywhere I can see these adverts again?
I have found a couple of references to the tv advert which might be of use to you. One refers to the original concept of the tv advertising and the other is a link to one of the actual tv adverts though it doesn't seem to feature a dog.
Answered on : 1 Sep 2010
Where can I find out more about Philadelphia Austen (Jane Austen's aunt who went to India to find a husband)?
A book review of David Nokes's biography of Jane Austen, Jane Austen: A Life, suggests that the first third of the text concentrates on Philadephia and her daughter Eliza.
Answered on : 31 Aug 2010
This webpage contains some information on Philadelphia:
Which surname is scottish: Mc or Mac?
From research in our books on Scottish names and online, it appears that both are of Scottish origin, although they could also be Irish due to shared Gaelic ancestry (please see the link below for information):
Answered on : 31 Aug 2010
Why was James Douglas known as the Black Douglas?
Sir James Douglas was a soldier who fought in the Scottish Wars of Independence and had a reputation as a brilliant tactician and a ruthless field commander. According to the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, he was known as the Black Douglas ...
Answered on : 28 Aug 2010
There is a local story that says that a someone gave the people of Paisley a gift of an exotic animal - a giraffe or 2 kangaroos - which was kept in Brodie Park and subsequently died shortly afterwards. Does this story have any truth to it at all or is it just a local urban myth?
I can confirm that there were two kangaroos in Brodie Park, Paisley in February 1885. They were donated by the Marquis of Bute. According to the Paisley Daily Express one of the kangaroos died within a couple of days after arriving, the death ...
Answered on : 25 Aug 2010
Could you tell me when the clearances took place in the Ness area of the Isle of Lewis?
Clearances in the Hebrides appear to have taken place from about the 1820s. There appears to have been a mass exodus from Lewis in 1851 after a paricularly bad harvest.
The tenants were offered help to emigrate from the landowner but told ...
Answered on : 25 Aug 2010
I am just beginning some family history. Can you suggest any reading material on emigration of planters from Scotland to north Co. Monaghan, Ireland?
Reading list for study of Scots planters in Northern Ireland.
Roulston, William J.
Researching Scots-Irish ancestors: the essential genealogical guide to early modern Ulster, 1600-1800
(Ulster Historical Foundation, 2005, ISBN: 1 ...
Answered on : 25 Aug 2010
Corn in North America is used to produce corn oil, corn flour, and other essential food items, as well as being eaten as corn on the cob. Is this the same kind of corn that some British people think is used only for animal fodder?
The corn in North America is also known as sugar corn and pole corn. It is harvested when the kernals are immature and eaten as a vegetable rather than a grain. Also used for corn oil, corn flour and pop corn.
Animal fodder usually refers ...
Answered on : 25 Aug 2010
Is it true that the USA once banned haggis? If it is true, has this ban ever been repealed? Are there any sources to indicate why they would ban wee furry Scottish creatures?!
It would seem that there is a ban on importing haggis - the foodstfuff rather than the wee furry creatures - into the USA. The ban is apparently based on two different rules. In 1989 the US tightened restrictions on beef and lamb imports form the UK ...
Answered on : 25 Aug 2010
Did Henry Raeburn really paint the minister skating on the loch?
There is no totally conclusive answer to this, but it appears that informed opinion is still inclined to attribute this painting to Henry Raeburn.
He is given as the artist in Grove's Dictionary of Art, Macmillan, 1996 and Benezit ...
Answered on : 24 Aug 2010
When was the first use of bank notes in Scotland and by which bank?
The first Scottish notes were issued in 1695 by the Bank of Scotland - the same year as the first printed issues of the Bank of England. The notes were in denominations of £5, £10, £20, £50 and £100 sterling.
Notes for £1 ...
Answered on : 23 Aug 2010
Where did Mary Queen of Scots meet Lord Darnley? On what date and occasion?
There is unconfirmed evidence that they may have met in France (presumably at the French royal palace in Paris) in 1559 as he came to congratulate Mary and her husband, Francois II, on their accession to the throne.
There is a later more ...
Answered on : 23 Aug 2010
Where is there a statue of James Young Simpson in Edinburgh?
The statue is located in Princes Street Gardens West and is maintained by Edinburgh City Council.
The SCRAN website (part of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland) has the following information on the ...
Answered on : 23 Aug 2010
I'm looking for the Scottish Gaelic translation for "You are half of me" and "You complete me".
You are half of me is "s tu mo leth eile" and "You complete me" is "tha thu ga mo bhèanamh slà n".
...
Answered on : 23 Aug 2010
Was the former site of Clydebank College in Kilbowie Road bombed during the Clydebank Blitz and, if so, what stood there before?
The area that you are interested in was a park known locally as The Mothers Rest. This particular area was not bombed during the Blitz but either side of the park was hit.
You might be interested to know that the Local Studies department ...
Answered on : 23 Aug 2010
I'm trying to trace the origins of "binger" - a slang expression, commonly used in the West of Scotland to describe a faller or loser in horse racing?
There seems to be uncertainty about the origin of the term, but the Dictionary of the Scots Language www.dsl.ac.uk suggests that it may have evolved from 'on the bing' or 'on the heap.' Bing means heap or pile so a ...
Answered on : 18 Aug 2010
My Grandmother used to sing this song: "Rainy, rainy, rattlestany, rainy not on me. Rain on Jacky Frisco, far across the sea." What can you tell me about that?
This appears to be quite a well-known children's rhyme. However, the third line usually refers to John o' Groats, and not 'Jacky Frisco'. The version that I have found most often is as follows:
Rainy rainy rattlestanes
Dinna rain on ...
Answered on : 18 Aug 2010
Did the Jacobites use the saltire as a symbol, or was it just in general patriotic use at the time ?
There appears to be considerable evidence that there is a strong connection between the use of the saltire flag and the Jacobite cause, as it was no longer an official flag after the Union of the Crowns. Scottish patriotism at that time would have ...
Answered on : 18 Aug 2010
How many Jacobites were transported to the USA after Culloden?
There are transportation records for 794 prisoners being sent to America after Culloden.
This information was taken from a google book search viewing:
The Highland Scots of North Carolina, 1732-1776 By Duane Meyer ...
Answered on : 30 Jul 2010
When was the East Terracing at Hampden named the Jock Stein terracing, when and why was the name dropped?
According to the Scottish Football Museum, the East Terracing at Hampden was named the Jock Stein Terracing in 1986, following Steinâs death the previous year.
This title was used by the SFA and the SFL but not by Queenâs Park ...
Answered on : 27 Jul 2010
When did the first women's magazine appear in Great Britain and what was it called?
The first woman's magazine to appear in Great Britain appears to be the Ladies' Mercury, published for only four issues in 1690.
The information is given in web articles from the British Library and from the Guardian newspaper (see weblinks ...
Answered on : 21 Jul 2010
Why is Little France in Edinburgh called Little France?
The entry for Little France in Rev. Wilson's nineteenth-century Imperial Gazetteer of Scotland gives the following answer:
"Little France, a hamlet at the foot of Craigmillar-hill, in the parish of Liberton, Edinburghshire. The French ...
Answered on : 21 Jul 2010
How many different dialects are there in Scotland?
This is a complex subject as dialects can be defined in different ways, and there can be distinct local differences within a fairly small geographical area, for example between Dundee and Forfar.
The Scots Dialect Dictionary, ...
Answered on : 12 Jul 2010
When did education become compulsory in Scotland and what was the liklihood of working class children being able to attend school in the 19th and early 20th century?
Thanks for your enquiry. Schooling in Scotland did not become compulsory until 1872, when the Education (Scotland) Act was passed. This applied to all children between the ages of 5 and 13.
For more background, there is a short piece on ...
Answered on : 12 Jul 2010
Why are "New Year" celebrations considered more important in Scotland than in the rest of the UK?
The main reason is that the celebration of christmas was discouraged by the Scottish Presbyterian Church. Christmas Day was a working day like any other until around the 1950s. Boxing day was made a legal holiday during the time of Queen Victoria ...
Answered on : 1 Jul 2010
Who was the first surgeon in Scotland/Glasgow to perform open heart surgery?
The first open heart surgery took place in Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 1959. This information is give in an article from the BMJ, see link below.
Answered on : 25 Jun 2010
Between the Dutch and Portugal, who was the first to explore, and settle in, Africa?
According to the World Book Encyclopedia, the Portuguese began to explore the West Coast of Africa in the 1400s. The Dutch took over many of Portugal's west coast trading posts in the 1600s. So the answer is the Portuguese. ...
Answered on : 25 Jun 2010
How many children in Glasgow and Scotland as a whole attend private schools?
According to government statistics, the percentage of children educated in independent schools in Scotland is 4.31%. I have included a link to the figures below.
Answered on : 25 Jun 2010
What evidence is there to suggest that Andrew Moray had a greater (or equal) role to William Wallace in the Battle of Stirling?
In the entry on Andrew Moray (aka Murray or de Moray) in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (ODNB), it states that: "Although his father was still an English prisoner, in early 1297 Murray assumed leadership of what had by now become open ...
Answered on : 17 Jun 2010
In the Scottish based movie I know where I'm going (circa 1940-1945), there is a scene with a red telephone box with a waterfall directly behind. Was this a prop or an actual location site? If it was filmed on location, does the phonebox still remain and, if so, is it in Scotland?
The film I know where Iâm going, released in 1945, was shot on location on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. The red telephone box, located at the waterfall, is an actual location and was not just a prop for the film. The telephone box is located ...
Answered on : 17 Jun 2010
What is the name given to the piece of fabric pinned to the shoulder of kilt-wearers?
The plaid. This was originally worn by working and lower class men. Consisting of woollen material; in wet or cold weather it was draped over head or shoulders to cover the body. When not in use, it was rolled and worn over one shoulder. It is ...
Answered on : 15 Jun 2010
Does the 50s chart hit 'There's a Moose Loose aboot this hoose' actually have any connection with Scotland?
Martin C Strong's 'The Great Scots Musicography', published in 2002, provides information about the song.
The band who released the song was 'Lord Rockigham's XI', the song was actually titled 'Hoots Mon'. The band formed in London in ...
Answered on : 15 Jun 2010
How tall is the Scott monument in Edinburgh?
The height of the Scott monument in Edinburgh is 61m,200ft.
...
Answered on : 14 Jun 2010
Where is the geographical centre of Scotland?
There are many conflicting answers to this question. We have used the Ordnance Survey published coordinates as they are the mapping agency for Great Britain. I have also included GB grid references, with and without inclusion of ...
Answered on : 14 Jun 2010
Where are the Lewis Chessmen?
Of the 93 pieces that have been found to date, 11 pieces are in Edinburgh at the National Museum of Scotland, and 82 are in the British Museum.
...
Answered on : 14 Jun 2010
In which Glasgow Park is it possible to see highland cows and Clydesdale horses?
Pollok Park houses both animal types.
The Clydesdale horses at Pollok are named Baron, Duke and TJ. Glasgow Green also houses Clydesdale horses Ben, Don & Jack.
The highland cattle (or collective term, FOLD) have a long association ...
Answered on : 14 Jun 2010
In what circumstances was (Charlestown) of Aberlour in Moray founded?
Charlestown of Aberlour, was founded in 1812 by Mr. Charles Grant of Elchies The name of Charlestown of Aberlour is after his son Charles.
It is now commonly referred to as Aberlour.
...
Answered on : 10 Jun 2010
When did Arthurlie Juniors last win the Scottish Cup?
Arthurlie Juniors last won the Scottish Cup on 17th MAY 1998. The match was played at Fir Park and the score was Arthurlie 4 Pollok 0.
...
Answered on : 10 Jun 2010
How do I find out what's in Scotland's libraries?
You can search many of Scotland's libraries in one go using the CAIRNS service at: http://cairns.lib.strath.ac.uk
For other libraries you have to search their catalogues individually, you can find and access these catalogues using the SCONE ...
Answered on : 1 Jun 2010
Where would I find pre-1855 records of Catholic births and marriages which took place in Kirkintilloch?
Pre-1855 records of Catholic birth and marriages can be found in the Campsie Mission Records which date from the 1840s. These records (or copies of them) can be consulted at New Register House in Edinburgh, Strathclyde Genealogy Centre and the ...
Answered on : 25 May 2010
What is Robert Burns's date of birth?
Robert Burns was born 25 January, 1759 in Alloway, Ayrshire.
2009 was the 250th anniversary of Burns's birth, Scotland celebrated by holding Homecoming Scotland which included many events and festivals throughout the year.
...
Answered on : 25 May 2010
How many distilleries are there in Scotland?
The following website offers a map of over 125 distilleries in Scotland
http://www.scotchwhisky.net/distilleries/
There are 42 distilleries in Scotland you can visit as part of the Scotch Whisky Trails ...
Answered on : 25 May 2010
Was the dollar ever used as currency in Scotland?
During the reign of James VI, coins called James ryals were issued (from 1587 to 1581) and at a later date they became known as 'sword dollars', as they had a sword on the reverse side. They were silver coins worth 30 shillings scots (2 shillings ...
Answered on : 25 May 2010
How long is the Antonine Wall?
The Antonine Wall is 37 miles long.More information can be found at the following website
http://www.antonineway.com/
...
Answered on : 25 May 2010
Where is the most Northerly point in Aberdeenshire?
Rosehearty, Kinnaird Head (Fraserburgh) , Sandhaven and Troup Head are all given latitude 57 degrees 41.8 in the Ordnance Survey Gazetteer of Great Britain.
The Ordnance Survey maps indicate that Rosehearty is furthest north and this is ...
Answered on : 25 May 2010
Is it true that Scots never actually wore kilts during the period that Braveheart was set?
There seems to be a lot of contoversy over the dating of the kilt.
One quote is" Tracing origins of the outfit we know today as Highland Dress, and which most people think of as Scottish national dress,is not easy. The sources are few and ...
Answered on : 24 May 2010
Is there any evidence that the primae noctis decree ever existing or that it was used by King Edward, as was depicted in Braveheart?
According to the Dictionary of Foreign Phrases and abbreviations, there is no historically sound evidence for the existence of this practice.
Women in the Middle Ages : an encyclopaedia, states that:
"The privilege was first ...
Answered on : 24 May 2010
Is there any historical evidence that Edward II was actually gay, as depicted in Braveheart?
I have not come across any historical evidence that Edward ll was gay, although several sources indicate that he could have been bi-sexual if not homosexual.
Although he had 4 children with Isabella and at least one illegitimate child, he ...
Answered on : 24 May 2010
What is the history of Gretna Green as a wedding venue and where can I find any old photos of early weddings that took place there?
The laws in Scotland and in England were different by the mid-eighteenth century.
A couple over the age of 16 did not require their parent's consent but in 1745 an Act of Parliament in England resulted in parental consent as a requirement. ...
Answered on : 24 May 2010
Can Gaelic be understood in sign language?
According to the Scottish Association of Sign Language Interpreters (Northern Regional Office. Tel 0141 554 6611),
there is no different way of interpreting in British Sign Language for gaelic speakers.
...
Answered on : 24 May 2010
What is the most famous traditionally Scottish dessert?
The most famous Scottish dessert is probably cranachan, a simple soft fruit dessert that was traditionally reserved for celebrations. Although there are some variations, the recipe according to Whitaker's Scottish Almanack is: toasted oatmeal added ...
Answered on : 21 May 2010
What year did Princess Marjorie, daughter of Robert the Bruce, get married?
Who did Princess Marjorie marry?
Princess Marjorie married in 1315. She married Walter the Steward (or Stewart)
...
Answered on : 30 Oct 2009
