As part of Scottish Archaeology Month Stephen Digney will lead another bout of survey work on the Nissen Huts at the Haining, below Stirling Castle - 10 am - 4pm.

Back in early April Stephen and other staff from the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland led a previous day's survey work. A dozen or so people enjoyed a good day and learned a great deal, both about surveying and about the history of the area and of Nissen Huts in general.

The Haining is the field 'behind' the King's Knot with access from Royal Gardens or from the Knot enclosure.

Previous participants are welcome to return - but no experience is necessary.

It is essential to book in advance = contact Stephen Digney stephen.digney@rcahms.gov.uk.

Sensible clothing and footwear are advised - the area can be muddy and weather is always uncertain. There will be a break for lunch (own arrangements).

We understand that the walk around the King's Knot area, previously advertised for 12-noon, will not now take place.

For further details of Scottish Archaeology Month local events see
http://www.stirling.gov.uk/__documents/temporary-uploads/economy,-planning-_and_-regulation/doors-open-day/dodam-booklet-2014-.pdf

Dr Fiona Watson will be speaking on 'Bannockburn; King Robert's Best Laid Plans' at an event hosted by FNH at the Raploch Community Centre, starting at 7pm on 12th June.

Dr Watson is well known as a broadcaster as well as a leading historian of medieval Scotland and the event is timed to correspond with the 700th Anniversary of the famous battle.

All are welcome and there is no formal charge but donations to FNH (which publishes the leading local wildlife and historical journal) will be gratefully accepted!

Pre-booking is strongly advised as a big turnout is expected; the contact details etc are on the flyer.


There will also be a short AGM of the Society.

News arrives of a Conference on this most crucial of Scots battles and with a good array of diverse speakers.
DO NOTE THAT BOOKINGS ARE VIA THE CONTACT BELOW, NOT THROUGH SLHS

The Battle of Bannockburn, 1314  
A University of Stirling conference, 25-26 June 2014 (at Forth Valley College, Stirling, 10am-4.30pm) £55 waged, £35 unwaged (including lunches)  
The battle Bruce meant to fight (David Caldwell) ]
The dynamics of recruitment in England (Andrew Ayton)
The heraldry of the English army (David Simpkin)
The archaeology of Bannockburn (Tony Pollard)
The breaking of the aristocratic nexus (Michael Brown)
Barbour and Bannockburn (Sarah Tolmie)
Recreating the Bannockburn environment (Alasdair Ross)
The terrain: Scientific and Archival Approaches (Richard Tipping)
Sir William Allan, Bannockburn and Scottish History (John Morrison)
Bannockburn in modern Scottish literature (Ted Cowan)
Re-presenting Bannockburn as heritage (Scott McMaster)
Bannockburn and memorialisation (Michael Penman)  
For registration or further details contact Dr Michael Penman, University of Stirling, FK9 4LA, 01786 467575, m.a.penman@stir.ac.uk

Following on from earlier work at the King's Knot and elsewhere in the Kings Park, we will be conducting a survey in the Haining (next to the Knot) on Friday 4th April.

No experience is necessary as the work will be supervised by staff from the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland and full instructions will be given.

We need no more than 12 people to ensure that the work can be properly overseen and that there really is something for everyone to do! Please email for further information.

It is essential that you let us know if you wish to volunteer  by emailing us. All bookings will be confirmed.

The main focus of the survey will be the bases of some of the Nissen Huts, constructed during WWII along the margins of the Haining. Volunteers will gain new skills and we will all gain new knowledge about the huts and their context as parts of the wider landscapes.

The work will not be arduous but you will need to  be reasonably fit - "active-retired" is fine. It will be a fun, relaxed day doing something really useful.

Stirling Council Archives holds many riches - the greatest source for our local history and invaluable, too, for family history and other local studies.

They are holding a FREE open day, 10am to 4pm on 16th Nov. and all are welcome, to find out more about the resources which Archives offer and how they may be able to help YOU.

Archivists will be on hand to answer your questions and to suggest how you might be able to crack that tricky problem!

Stirling Council Archives can be found at 5 Borrowmeadow Road, Stirling (on the Springkerse Industrial Estate).

You can download the flyer with links to further information here.

The 'Scottish Ten' project is a stunning, international project. David Mitchell, local resident and Director of Conservation at Historic Scotland will be talking about it on 28th Oct at 7.30pm in the Smith.

You can download the poster with full details of this event, hosted by Friends of the Smith, by clicking here..

As usual, the new season starts on the last Thursday of October and, also as usual, we have lined up an interesting programme.

Though Cambusbarron is so close to Stirling it certainly remains a distinct community with its own identity - and its own history. Peter Paterson has studied Cambusbarron for many years and has published a number of booklets and other items. So, his talk (which will be very copiously illustrated) should be fascinating.

All meetings are on the last Thursday of the month, monthly from October to April but with no meeting in December. Meetings are in the Smith Museum and Art Gallery in Stirling. You can join at this first meeting (£10 for the season); visitors are always welcome but we do ask for a small contribution. Students and people under 18 FREE. You can see the details of the rest of the season on the home page of this site.

This is a 'general interest' group. You do not need to have any great knowledge of the history of Stirling to find it interesting and even useful.