We have had an enquiry about the origin of the name Tibbies Brae, at Cowie, east of Stirling. It refers to a road north of the village - I assume it is the slope down to the carse.

Tibbie is a short or familiar Scots form of the name Isabella (as in
Tibbie Shiel’s Inn, between Loch of the Lowes and St Mary’s Loch in the
Borders). It seems to have been most popular in the 18thand early
19th century.  The Scots  ‘brae’ meaning a hill would fit perfectly here. A quick search did not find any  examples of the name before the last few years when there are road repairs and  police reports which mention it online (see below).  It is not marked on modern maps, however, nor on the first Edition Ordnance Survey map at 6 inches to the mile
http://geo.nls.uk/search/mosaic/#zoom=16&lat=56.08782&lon=-3.86593&layers=000B0000000 which shows
Cowiebank, Hilton and  Cowiehall (from which other local roads take their names). I assume that Tibbies Loan, nearby, is named from Tibbies Brae.

There are several ways James might find more.
First, ask people who have lived in Cowie for years if they have any ideas. Trouble is they might have lots! At least, they would know if that is what they called it when they were children, for example. Does it refer just to the road, for example, or to the slope as a whole? One problem with names like this is that people assume there must, once, have been a 'real' Tibbie and then make up tales to fit!

Second, ask the local Library or the Local Studies staff at Stirling Central Library who might have dealt with similar enquiries previously.

Finally, if anyone else has any ideas, it would be good if you could respond via the blog or by email and good, too, if James could keep us informed.YOUR NAME NEED NOT APPEAR ONLINE IF YOU POST A COMMENT ON THE BLOG. 

 
http://www.theblendfestival.co.uk/list_of_roads_17_05_11.pdf 
for current reference to Tibbies Brae, 2011 as a road; other online
resources refer to Tibbies Brae by [at] Cowiehall Rd and to 'Tibbies Brae to the
A905'. In 2008 a Fun Run “Organised by the Community Council and Cowie Colts, runners will  take off from the community centre and run down Tibbies Brae towards Throsk.
They'll turn about at the road end and back up to the hall” (http://www.centralscotland.police.uk/localpolicing/falkirk_falkirk_tamfourhill.php?news_id=4319).


First Edition Ordnance Survey map at 6 inches to the mile
http://geo.nls.uk/search/mosaic/#zoom=16&lat=56.08782&lon=-3.86593&layers=000B0000000shows Cowiebank, Hilton and
Cowiehall for example but does not name Tibbie’s Brae.

A conference on 'Representations of Scottish Authority to 1603' will be held at Stirling University on Wed 8th Feb 2012. The keynote speaker will be Professor Richard Fawcett (University of St Andrews). Proposals for papers of 20 minutes are requested by Friday 16th Dec 2011. Further information from  [email protected] or  [email protected]

It is oganised by post-graduated students and will be of particular interest to post=grads but all are welcome to make proposals. I was unable to attend the last of these conferences (in June 2011) but will aim to be at this one which will concentrate on non-royal authority such as the nobles, the church, burgesses etc.

NOTE THAT THE DEADLINE FOR SUBMITTING PROPOSALS FOR PAPERS HAS NOW BEEN EXTENDED TO 31ST DECEMBER.

The Gough map, one of the first surviving maps to show a recognisable Britain (including Scotland) has been the subject of a major research project. It has been shown that it was produced in at least two stages in the 14th century. The map itself and an outline of the findings can be found online at http://www.goughmap.org/map/
You can search by 'modern' name (such as Stirling). An analysis of the way Stirling is presented on these early maps would be of great inte

 Friends of Kings Park will be holding their AGM in the  Stirling Smith Art Gallery and
Museum on  Wednesday 2nd November at 7.30pm.


Historian John Harrison,  Chair of Stirling Local History Society, will
be  the main speaker. John has carried out extensive historical research 
about Stirling Castle and recently produced a very attractive book on the
“Rebirth of Palace” at the castle, which is published by Historic Scotland and
  available at the castle book shop.

John will be talking at Friends of Kings Park AGM, about “Kings Park, our European Historical Landscape”  


There will also be two  other short presentations. The first  related to working towards Green Flag status in schools and public parks  and the  second by Stirling Skate-park Users group related to the planned upgrade of the  skate-park in Kings Park.


Dorothy Wilson,