History talks and events 1 - 7 May 2017

Upcoming family history talks and events in Scotland, 1 - 7 May 2017

Note that there may be a small charge for some of these events, and some may be for members only. We will be publishing lists of upcoming talks and events regularly - if you are organising a talk or event relating to Scottish genealogy or history, please let us know and we will be happy to add your events to our list.

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Tuesday, May 2 2017, 5 pm - 6 pm

William the Lion: Scotland's Forgotten King

Dr Alice Taylor

Venue: New Register House, Princes Street, Edinburgh

National Records of Scotland

Despite being Scotland's longest-reigning king before the Union, William the Lion (1165-1214) has not caught the popular imagination. His reign is one of great highs and lows. His military invasion of northern England was, an ambitious campaign, that ended in his capture and imprisonment, and his king being temporarily placed under English overlordship. Yet his reign also saw some of the most important developments in the formation of royal government in medieval Scotland. This talk will introduce William, explain his significance, and also suggest why his reign is not so well known as one might expect. Dr Taylor is author of 'The Shape of State in Medieval Scotland, 1124-1290' (2016). Free, book via https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/william-the-lion-scotlands-forgotten-king-tickets-33454616659?utm_term=eventname_text

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Tuesday, May 2 2017, 6 pm - 7 pm

The costs and consequences of building brochs

John Barber

Venue: Teviot Lecture Theatre in the Archaeology Department, School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Edinburgh

First Millenia Studies Group

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Tuesday, May 2 2017, 7.00 pm - 9.00 pm

"The deidis latterwills and legacies" - lifting the veil on past lives

Margaret Fox

Venue: Lanthorn Community Education Complex, Kenilworth Rise, Livingston EH54 6JL

West Lothian Family History Society

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Wednesday, May 3 2017, 7.30 pm

The life and times of a Bairn from Bainsford and AGM

Dr Sinclair

Venue: Smith Museum and Art Gallery, Dumbarton Road, Stirling

Central Scotland Family History Society

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Thursday, May 4 2017, 7 pm

The Railway Atlas of Scotland - two hundred years of history

David Spaven

Venue: The 252 Memorial Hall, Betson Street, Markinch

Markinch Heritage Group

Free to members and £2 for non members

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Thursday, May 4 2017, 7.30 pm

Robert Fortune of Kelloe, Plant Hunter, Adventurer and Spy

Isobel Gordon

Coldstream and District Local History Society

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Friday, May 5 2017, 11 am or 12:15 pm

A Guided Tour: Scribes and Royal Authority: Scotland's Charters 1100-1250

Professor Dauvit Broun and Joanna Tucker (University of Glasgow)

Venue: General Register House, Princes Street, Edinburgh

National Records of Scotland

For the first time precious examples from two of Scotland's most important collections of medieval charters are on show in National Records of Scotland. A special guided tour by guest curators, Professor Dauvit Broun and Joanna Tucker (University of Glasgow), of the National Records of Scotland's exhibition 'Scribes and Royal Authority: Scotland's Charters 1100-1250', will reveal the significance of some of Scotland's oldest charters and the scribes who wrote them 800 years ago. Numbers are limited so book your place now!
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-guided-tour-scribes-and-royal-authority-scotlands-charters-1100-1250-tickets-33520356288

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Friday, May 5 2017, 11.00 am

The Flemish in Scotland

John Irvine

Venue: National Mining Memorial Centre, Lady Victoria Colliery, Newtongrange, Dalkeith EH22 4QN

National Mining Museum Scotland

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Saturday, May 6 2017, 10 am - 4 pm

Unlocking the Tower

Venue: Bruce Crescent, opposite Citadel Place, Ayr, KA7 1JJ

Historic Environment Scotland

Join us for Unlocking the Tower, a free all day event to explore the unique history of St John’s Tower in Ayr. The day will be full of family-friendly activities, re-enactments and tours celebrating the tower’s heritage from historic graffiti to treasure hunts to laser scanning to virtual reality.
Join us throughout the day for...Treasure Hunt, Photography, Storytelling, Stone Rubbing + Grave Markers, Historical Graffiti, Laser Scanning, Tower Tours, Period Costumes, Soap Carving, Virtual Reality, Tale of a Scottish Tower: Meet the Author ...and more!
About St John's Tower
The Tower – the oldest building in Ayr – is the surviving fragment of the original 12th century parish church and has a unique and fascinating history. Oliver Cromwell constructed a fort on the site in the 1650s, and the church was commandeered as a store, mill house and chapel with the tower as an armoury and look-out. The church was pulled down in 1726 but the tower was retained as a navigation beacon.

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Saturday, May 6 2017, 9 am - 4.30 pm

Agriculture and Teind Reform in Early Modern Scotland

Venue: The Studio, Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh

University of Edinburgh

The day conference, ‘Agriculture, Economy, and Society in Early Modern Scotland’, will examine the economic, social and cultural experiences of life in agrarian Scotland, c. 1500-1750, and will lead to the project’s second book – an edited collection of essays.
The day will be convened by by Professor T. C. Smout, Historiographer Royal in Scotland, with closing remarks and a final discussion hosted by Professor R. A. Houston.
Places are limited and registration is now open!
The day delegate rate is £30/£20 concessions.
Delegates must reserve their place in advance here
For further information see http://teinds.shca.ed.ac.uk/conference/

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