We have had an enquiry from Dick Denton who writes:
One of my wife’s relations, Acting Major William Henry Peddie of the 21st
Foot, was Fort Major at Stirling Castle from 1818 until he died in November 1871
aged 78.  He appears to have succeeded another Peddie of the 21st, probably
a relation.  I am trying to find some details of the role of the Fort
Major, and something about the appointment – how was the Fort Major selected,
was the appointment for life, was the Fort Major always on half pay, etc?



I wonder if any of your members has taken an interest in this subject and
could give me some help.  Or if somebody could advise where best I should
turn to get answers.

There is an entry about  Henry Peddie in William Drysdale's Old Faces, Old Places and Old Stories of Stiring (Second Series) 1899, p.149-150 and a photo of Peddie facing page 160; I will post the photo in the next few days. The entry says that Peddie was 'mentioned in our first series' ie the previous volume published in 1898. That must be just a passing mention under some other head as Peddie does not have a named section in that volume. Does anyone know where in the book it is?

Peddie is mentioned, very much earlier in his career, in James Irvine (ed) Parties and Pleasures; the diaries of Helen Graham 1823-1826, Paterson.
It is clear that the editor had further information about the Peddies which might have come from the fuller version of the diaries (which I understand still survive in manuscript). The Index has entries for:
Peddie, Master Crofton 213-4 and note  298
Peddie, Mr William, 113, 149, 204, 213-4, 216 and note 148.

The photo of Major Peddie from Drysdale's 'Old Places etc' is displayed below along with another -from much earlier in Peddie's career - sent by Dick Denton. It would also be worth his while checking out the death certificate, if he has not yet done so. He might also contact Central Scotland Family History Society http://www.csfhs.org.uk/ whose members carry out genealogical research.

Meanwhile of any readers know more or have further leads on the Peddies, we would be pleased to hear from them

Following Jane Petrie's splendid presentation in November, her talk has now been posted as PDF on this site; http://www.stirling-lhs.org/stirling-council-archives.html

Archival work is key to the development of Scottish and local history. Without it we just keep repeating ourselves. And Jane's talk provided a great sample of the riches we have, here in Stirling and on our doorstep, FOR FREE!

For people who have not used them before, the idea of visiting the archives might sound a bit intimidating. But these are OUR records. The staff are pleased to be able to help you find what you are inerested in. Give it a whirl and give yourself a treat!

From Stirling's Butt Well, the path winds steeply up the hill in a series of short zig-zags. I had climbed it many times without thinking about the retaining walls which define the path. But, some time ago, knowning that this area had been the Great Garden created by James IV around 1493, it dawned on me that they form terraces. And that they (or parts of them) could be survivors from that famous landcape.
The chance collapse of a section of one of the walls obviously provided a research opportinity and it was very good news indeed that Stirling Council's new archaeologist Murray Cook was as keen as SLHS to seize the occasion. He was able to get AOC Archaeology to carry out a survey using GPS; SLHS member and archaeologist Stephen Digney is peparing to survey the collapsed area in more detail as reinstatement proceeds. And it looks increasingly likely that we can use all this as a springboard for further research on the historic landscapes around Stirling Castle. The Haining, after all, lies between the Castle and the King's Knot, where we carried out research during the summer (see the Projects and Development pages).
And research provides knowledge - the knowledge which can help preserve the landscapes and interpret them for future generations.
Stirling Castle is now rightly presented as a royal residence. But that residence could not have worked without the surrounding landscapes, the gardens, the stables, the laundry facilties and so on.
It is worth remembering that history is key to tourism, one of Scotland's most important industries. Without research, we just keep telling the same old stories. And, after a while, those begin to look very tired indeed. Research is an investment not an indulgence.
Today we issued a press release and you can see reports eg at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-16195566
We hope that shortly we will be announcing new initiatives to take this research further.

Today we have put up some new pages on the website about an important aspect of Stirling's history - the burial grounds. A couple of years ago, a major restoration of the Valley Cemetery recreated a splendid space at the Top of the Town and gave the cemetery a real buzz. Fiind out more (and how to find out even more) by going to the Stiring's' History pages and following the links to the various cemeteries.
And if you want more information about this - or any other part of Stirling's past, just let us know by posting a comment and we will see what we can do.

During the course of conversation today I recalled a correspondence I had back in 1991 with Mr Duncan McNaughton of which, happily, I had kept a transcript;
'this [the church divided into two halves by a wall] was the situation until the 1930s when it was decided to restore the building. This necessitated excavation of the choir to provide for a new choir room etc. Being the history teacher at the High School at that time, I was very interested in this and paid frequent visits to watch the results. From close under the floor of the choir down the whole depth excavated - say 10 to 12 feet - the ground was packed full of decaying and decayed bones, proving that this area had been the public burial ground of the burgh before the West Church was built. They were packed - literally like sardines in a barrel. Only one find was made, a sepulchral chalice in pewter, now kept in the church. it lay a few feet below the floor and the person by which it was lying had been buried in a coarse, black robe held together by copper clasps. Unfortunately the cloth disintegrated on exposure to the air & I couldn't preserve any. The person unknown but must have been someone of note. At one time I thought it might be Archbishop Morton, executed for supporting Mary Queen of Scots, likely in Broad Street or at the Old Bridge [It was, in fact, Archbishop John Hamilton who was executed on Broad St in 1571]. But as far as memory goes after more than 50 years, I have my doubts, as I now think there were burials above him & I don't think the new clergy would have allowed these at the end of the sixteenth century.'

In reply to my letter to him he wrote:
'my memory is naturally vague on detail after nearly fifty years. However, I am almost certain that there were no skulls visible in the wall of the excavation and that the body with the chalice was in a horizontal position. The other fragments of bone visible were very small (as were his) and much decayed.... I have the impression that thse were mostly in a horizontal position, suggesting regular interment without coffins, suggesting a very early period, though there must have been considerable disturbance when the West Church [as above, this is correctly the East Church] was being built at the beginning of the sixteenth century.'

Duncan McNaughton produced the Index to the Transactions of the Stirling Natural History and Archaeological Society (1936); he also wrote A History of Old Stirling (1980) and some short notes and papers in the Transactions. And in 1999 he had an item 'My Stirling As Remembered 70 years ago' in the Forth Naturalist and Historian (volume 22 p. 117-132). The footnotes to that article give a brief biography. 
 
It would be fascinating if anyone can add to this story or has more information about Mr McNaughton, the cup (which the minister had in 1991).


Brian Morrison asks below whether the fact that the chalice was found near the site of the former High Altar of the kirk is significant?

Yes, it is. This was the most prestigious site to be buried - people might even that thought that it improved your chances of salvation! The area's prestige continued after the reformation, even after the removal of the altar; in the 17th century burial there cost up to £100 Scots whilst burial at the west end of the kirk was only £40. The last  burial in the kirk I am aware of is that of Rev Mr Mushet in the late 18th century. He is commemorated by a stone in the kirkyard quite close to the steps up from the kirk. But it relates that he was actually buried in the chancel of kirk. (For the burial rates see John G Harrison, 'Some early gravestones in the Holy Rude Kirkyard, Stirling' , Forth Naturalist and
Historian 13, 1990, 79-96.[You can find that at http://www.fnh.stir.ac.uk/journal/back_issues/index.php].
However, there is something of a puzzle here since the usual understanding is that the east end of the kirk was only begun in the early 16th century and numbers of burials within it can never have been very great. So, were these burials in private aisles around the smaller 15th century kirk, which lay to the west? Only a full-scale excavation could resolve the issue and that does not seem very likely! It would be useful to know more about the chalice as the style should give some indication of date.

I now see that, according to a report in the Glasgow Herald, this chalice was exhibited very shortlyafter being found, in 1938.(http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19380616&id=3UVAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xIQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2482,2571107)
It was then thought to be of thirteenth or fourteenth century date.
According to a report by Gammack in Proceedings of the Society of Antiquarlies of Scotland, a sepulchral chalice was found at Bervie in 1882 about five yards from the south east corner of the ruined church - so the idea of such a prestigious burial outside the church is not impossible http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_017/17_371_385.pdf According to 'Scottish Pewter-ware and Pewterers' by Ingleby Wood, this chalice was of fifteenth century date.

Popping into the Smith Museum a couple of days I ago I see that Craig Mair's new book about the history of Stirling Royal Infirmary is now out - early, as it was not expected till the New Year. And is it up to date? Well, with an account of the birth of the last babies in the old Maternity Unity on 11th July 2011, it certainly is!
It is well-presented with a good type and some excellent photos and whilst it is still on my rather tall pile of 'to read' books, I will be hoping to get round to the content before too long.

Craig Mair, Stirling Royal Infirmary: A History, NHS Forth Valley, 2011. ISBN; 978-0-9560480-4-2 £9.99

I see the book is now or should shortly be available online at Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stirling-Royal-Infirmary-Craig-Mair/dp/0956048048 and perhaps other outets and directly from Forth Valley Health Board at http://www.nhsforthvalley.com/news/2011/hospital-histories-make-great-gifts

For local people, it is avalable in Stirling Council Libraries, too.

No apology for posting this link, which has no direct connection with Stirling's local history. But I found the broadcast predictably perceptive and very moving, showing how all our lives are intermeshed with wider issues as Lisa Jardine describes her own encounter with family history;
 http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b017mz49

Back in October 2009 (gosh, how time flies!) Rosie McLaren gave a very lively presentation to the society about the Stirlng Arcade; there is a brief summary of her talk archived on the site.
We are still interested in learning more about the Arcade - memories and memorabilia or documented history etc. If you have anything (or know of someone else who does) do not hesitate to get in touch. Or, if you would like to research this topic, or any other part of Stirling's past, we might be able to give some leads and support.