Gaelic in Edinburgh: A Success Story
Eachdraidh Na Gàidhlig ann an Dùn Èideann: The History of Gaelic in Edinburgh James Gillespie’s High School are delighted to share that their “Eachdraidh Na Gàidhlig ann an Dùn Èideann – The History of Gaelic in Edinburgh” project, funded by a Jean Guild Grant, has emerged as a remarkable success. Igniting passion and curiosity among […]
The Scottish Linen Trade: The Picardy Weavers
The Picardy Linen Weavers in 18th century Edinburgh In the 18th century, a community of linen weavers from Picardy in France arrived and settled in cottages outside the limits of the royal burgh of Edinburgh. Today we know that area as Picardy Place. One of our Jean Guild Grant awardees, Jenny Bruce, has been researching this […]
Trinity Apse: OEC Members visit, July 2024
The Trinity Apse visit Members of the Old Edinburgh Club were thrilled with their recent visit to the Trinity Apse to hear a talk on the history of the Trinity Collegiate Church by Lizzie Swarbrick and Jean Guild Grant awardee Jill Harrison, who organised the visit for the OEC and Scotland’s Churches Trust. The members showed just […]
Manuscript Cataloguing and the Butchart Bursary
Amanda Ramsey has followed in the footsteps of Matthew Ferrie on his Jean Butchart Bursary, cataloguing manuscripts held by the Edinburgh Central Library. We asked Amanda to reflect on her work as a placement student there and introduce how she is helping us improve access to back issues of the Book of the Old Edinburgh […]
General Register House: A Proper Repository
Laying the foundation of General Register House, 1774 Two hundred and fifty years ago today, on 27th June 1774, the foundation stone of Register House was laid. Although the biographer and diarist James Boswell thought the ceremony lacked the appropriate pomp, it was a long-awaited start to providing an appropriate home for Scotland’s national records. […]
Where is the old Scottish Parliament hiding?
Old Edinburgh Reborn: Update Where is the old Scottish Parliament Building hiding? Remarkably there are significant parts of the old Scottish Parliament Building still in existence if you know where to look. Robert Sproul-Cran’s new blog gives us an update on his research and explains where he has found some of the answers. You may […]
Books and Borrowing 1750-1830
Access the new Books and Borrowing Database The Books and Borrowing Database, containing borrowing records covering eighteen different Scottish libraries active in the period between 1750 and 1830, is now available. Using formerly unexplored and underexplored borrowing records, the Books and Borrowing project has created a new resource that reveals hidden histories of book use, […]
Winner of Great Debate 2024: Emma Crow
National debate for schools The Historical Association recently announced the winner of the Great Debate 2024: Emma Crow from Broxburn Academy, Broxburn, West Lothian. The Old Edinburgh Club was asked to provide a judge for the Scottish Finals and we were represented by Jo Chapman. Jo and her fellow judges selected Emma and we are absolutely delighted to be able […]
Reviving the Trinity Stones: Easter update
Last week Jill Harrison was out and about in Edinburgh looking for more pieces of her Trinity Stones jigsaw puzzle and gives us her Easter update. “I had been alerted to an exciting new fragment in a secret location and it would indeed appear to be another example of a fascinating medieval stone. A […]
Launch of Volume 19 of ‘The Book’
The latest issue of the Book of the Old Edinburgh Club The latest edition of ‘The Book’, the Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, Volume 19 is out now. As ever it contains an absorbing collection of original articles on Edinburgh’s rich history. Wilson Smith, the Editor of the Book of the Old Edinburgh Club […]