This is a searchable database, set to grow in the future.


ClacksPast contains basic details of all the archival collections held in Clackmannanshire Archives. More in-depth details will follow. Several of the small sports and industry collections have already been catalogued down to individual item level.

Our Local Studies Library records include books, flimsier "pamphlet" material maps, photographs and slides. Details and images of several hundred older slides and photographs have been entered along with catalogue records on the themes of sport and industry.

Records for the entire Museum collection can be seen on ClacksPast. Some, such as Fine Art, several processional banners and other selected items, contain more detailed information, while others are, at the moment, basic. Further information will be added in due course.

It is at http://www.calmview.eu/ClacksPast/CalmView/

This society's conference, 'Lessons from the past, lessons for the future' will be held in the Baptist Church, Stirling on 24 Oct 9.30am to 4pm. They keynote speaker is Professor Tom Devine discussing 'The Puzzle of Sectarianism in Modern Scottish Society'.

There is a wide range of other topics, one which I thought particularly intriguing being

Nikki Macdonald (Edinburgh University) ‘A certain poisoned sweetness’: deviant speech and rituals of reconciliation in Early Modern Scotland, 1560-1610'


You can download the details and booking form, either as a word document or as a PDF.

Note that it's only £10 for the day.

Earlier this week, John Harrison, chair of the Society, attended a meeting hosted by Historic Scotland about the future of the King's Park. A group of academic historians and archaeologists who were present have issued a statement about the park's future at this period when ownership is in question.

The matter is of the gravest importance. For 900 years, the park has belonged to The Crown - basically, it has been in public ownership. The threat is that the Crown Estate Commissioners might sell the land to a diversity of new owners.

Divided ownership would inevitably make long-term protection of these unique historic landscapes more difficult - perhaps impossible. They have long been (and remain) a vital national and local asset.

The group, which included Chris Smout, Historiographer Royal, agreed that the best solution is transfer to ownership by Scottish Ministers as is already the case for the Castle itself and for the King's Knot. Scottish ministers would pass effective management to Historic Scotand and existing stakeholders (including the Golf Club and the general public of Stirling) would continue to be involved in day to day management.

It would be really good to have your comments on this issue, either by email or, best, via the comment facility on the blog.




You can see the statement which we issued here.

These symposia have been running since 1975 so clearly there is a winning formula at work. This year's event will be held on 17th Nov and looks like another good day, a mix of expert speakers on diverse but related topics.
This year's theme is 'How Green is My Valley' and looks at changes (and generally at positive changes) in the local environment in the historic past, in the present and (so far as we can estimate) into the future.
Speakers include Chris Smout, Historiographer Royal in Scotland, talking about pollution of the Forth - the historic trough and the gradual recovery; this will be based on work for Chris's forthcoming book on the Forth and its catchment.

Stephen Digney  (SLHS member) will be talking about the King's Knot as a royal garden - a source of leisure for the leisured, of beauty, taste and fashion.

John Harrison (also not unknown to SLHS members) will be talking about the clearance of the peat mosses - but also about their survival.

There is lots more and you can download the programme, booking form and further details


.

Something over a dozen people turned up for the visit to the King's Knot on the morning of the 15th and another ten or so in the afternoon.
As is always the case with visits to these landscapes, people are amazed and delighted to find out that so much of interesting has been going on under their noses without them knowing about it. There is a real eagerness to know more - not just about the Knot but about its wider setting.

As ever, the question was raised about returning the Knot to 'how it used to be'. But most people recognise that there are too many unanswerable questions for that to be possible - and that, in any case, the Knot has not had one state in the past but has evolved over time. Which time do we want to return it to?


Let's hope that, before too long, we have more information based on sound research and that, one day, the entire area will be better presented and interpreted.


Here is a picture of one of the groups, in the glorious sunshine, too!

We have just posted the latest report on ground penetrating radar studies at the King's Knot, complementing geophysics reports published earlier.

This confirms the earlier evidence of deep trenches beneath the present structure and gives new information about the profile and depth of the trenches;

Go to the Page directly by clicking here;

A reminder of a chance to visit Stirling's King's Knot on Saturday 15th Sept as part of Doors Open Day and hear about SLHS work investigating the history of the Knot and of the King's Park more generally.
Stephen Digney, who was to have led the walks, will not now be able to make it, due to work committments elsewhere. So, John Harrison will be doing the honours instead.

Meet at the corner of Royal Gardens either 10am or 2pm for an hour's visit. No rough walking but be prepared for what the weather might do.

It's free! All we

This project has been developing for some time and now comes the 'official launch'.


This is a database of all known people of Scotland between 1093 and 1314 mentioned in over 8600 contemporary documents.

The People of Medieval Scotland is an outcome of two projects, The Paradox of Medieval Scotland (2007-2010) and The Breaking of Britain (2010-2013), funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC).


You can find the database a

We have had an enquiry about James W Campbell (1846-1938) from one of his descendants.

Amongst other activities, he wrote the following articles about local and Scots historical issues;

1910-11 ‘The Life of a Scots Laird in the Seventeenth Century’, Transactions of the Stirling Natural History and Archaeological Society, 33, 87-106.

1920-21           ‘Some Local Jacobites: A Plea for Clementina Walkinshaw’ Transactions of the Stirling Natural History and Archaeological Society, 43, 159-174.

1923-4             ‘Some Recollections of Stirling and its Vicinity 70 years ago’, Transactions of the Stirling Natural History and Archaeological Society,44, 94 – 116.

1925-26           ‘The Story of Murrayshall’ Transactions of the Stirling Natural History and Archaeological Society,48, 9 -31.

1926-27           ‘The Ancient Family of Montfichet or Mushet in Menteith’ Transactions of the Stirling Natural History and Archaeological Society,49, 186-200

1927-28           ‘Humorous Reminiscences’, Transactions of the Stirling Natural History and Archaeological Society,50, 136.

His sister in law (Isabella Murray Wright) was the writer of the Stirling Letters, published by The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum in 1998, so a good deal is already known about the family.

Campbell was the Bank of Scotland Agent for nearly 40 years, a  Sheriff- Substitute and a JP, ,retiring in 1913. There was a presentation on his retiral and the enquirer is aware of his obituary.

Does anyone have further information? If so, you can post a ‘comment’ on this post or email us at [email protected] and we will forward your email (anonymously, if you prefer).