This Week in History: Isabel MacDuff and Robert the Bruce

This Week in History: Isabel MacDuff and Robert the Bruce

With attention focused on the approaching 700th anniversary of the Battle of Bannockburn, it’s worth taking a look at the events and figures instrumental in the lead-up to the momentous battle. Strangely absent from the legends surrounding Bannockburn is the role played by women, even though one largely looked-over heroine enabled Robert the Bruce’s claim […]

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Macbeth News: Blockbuster Set to Film on Skye, Windfarm Threatens Hill Fort

Macbeth News: Blockbuster Set to Film on Skye, Windfarm Threatens Hill Fort

The Isle of Skye has been confirmed as a shooting location for the latest version of Macbeth to take to the silver screen. The Hollywood blockbuster, starring Oscar contender Michael Fassbender in the title roll, has received £200,000 worth of support from arts body Creative Scotland for several on-location shoots due to take place later […]

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Mary Queen of Scots and Pierre de Boscosel

Mary Queen of Scots and Pierre de Boscosel

16th century Scotland was a dangerous place for those in the higher echelons of society. Apart from the likelihood of dying on the battlefield or being murdered as the result of a local feud, it was not uncommon to fall foul of the executioner’s axe. Death by execution was quite a common occurrence and was […]

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Who Was St Ninian?

Who Was St Ninian?

Scotland is to welcome Pope Benedict XVI for his first visit to Britain on 16 September, which is St Ninian’s Day. The Pope begins his visit in Edinburgh, where a St Ninian’s Day parade will welcome him to the city. But who exactly was Saint Ninian, and what was his historical significance? The precise details […]

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Border Reivers-Kinmont Willie Armstrong

Border Reivers-Kinmont Willie Armstrong

The capture and rescue of Kinmont Willie Armstrong brought together three of the most colourful characters in the history of the Border Reivers. The impasse that existed between Sir Walter Scott, probably the most notable person to live on the sixteenth century Border, and Thomas Lord Scrope, English West March Warden, is a story of a clash of personalities of awesome proportions. Kinmont Willie? He was lost in the diplomatic wrangling. His capture changed nothing. He went on to reive until his death in about 1603.

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Stewart Stamp Series Issued by Royal Mail

Stewart Stamp Series Issued by Royal Mail

A new series of stamps by the Royal Mail have been issued, depicting the Stewart monarchs who ruled Scotland between 1406 and 1603, the year of the Union of the Crowns. The series starts with James I (1406-1437) and stops at James VI (1567-1603) who went on the become the king of England, uniting to […]

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