Historic Environment Scotland (HES) are asking members of the public to help commemorate unrepresented figures from the country’s past. Continue reading Your chance to rewrite history!
Tag: history
granton:hub history meeting rescheduled
Dear All,
Please find attached the notes from the first meeting of the history sub group, granton:hub.
You will see that the meeting agreed to a second meeting for this Saturday coming. However we are unable to meet then so the date of the next meeting is Saturday 20th August 10am – 12 noon.
I do hope you can make that and please invite others that you may feel would be interested in making this a success.
The meeting will be as before in Madelvic House, Granton Park Avenue, upstairs in the big room. There will be tea and coffee.
Barbara Robertson
Mary Queen of Scots returns to Leith!
Mary Queen of Scots docked in Leith with The Edinburgh Dungeon to lead a drama workshop afternoon at Leith Academy recently. Continue reading Mary Queen of Scots returns to Leith!
More burials discovered in Leith playground
Further evidence of human remains thought to date back to the 17th Century or even earlier have been unearthed by archaeologists in a Leith school playground.
The outlines of at least nine coffins have been identified in the grounds of St Mary’s Primary School in Leith as part of an excavation by Morrison Construction in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council.
The findings follow the discovery on an individual skeleton over the Easter break while investigative works took place for a new classroom building.
Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “The new information coming from the site is proving to be even more significant than previously thought.
“The school community has been very interested in the excavation and the findings. The children have been eager to learn about the new discoveries and as the excavation continues, we’ll find out more about the former inhabitants of Leith.”
John Lawson, City of Edinburgh Council Archaeologist, added: “Leith and the surrounding area has a rich archaeological history. These excavations have unearthed what appears to be a complex cemetery thought to date from the 15th to the 17th centuries, containing at least nine graves including adults and young children buried in coffins.
“The discoveries of these burials in this location, although always a possibility, is nevertheless a surprise. Further excavations will reveal more evidence which will allow us to accurately date these burials and how they relate to the history of Leith.”
The area containing the remains has been fenced off but the school remains open. The new classrooms will still be built but will no longer open in time for the new school term due to further necessary archaeological analysis, expected to last until the end of June. All existing and new pupils will be accommodated.
Urban detectives needed to record city’s small places
Get hands on with history in new community project
Local residents are being asked to get hands on with history by taking part in a nationwide initiative to record the littlest local landmarks in Scotland’s towns and cities. Continue reading Urban detectives needed to record city’s small places
Bowtow bones spark medieval mystery
Ahoy, matey: is this the face of a salty sea dog?
The skeleton of a man discovered in a school playground could be that of a 600 year old criminal or pirate. The remains were found by the City of Edinburgh Council at the Capital’s oldest working Primary School last year while survey work was being undertaken to build an extension.
Victoria Primary School is situated close to Newhaven harbour, one of Scotland’s historic fishing villages. Workers had expected to find remains of the original harbour and shipbuilding but instead uncovered human bones.
Archaeologists first believed the remains were Bronze Age because they were in such a poor condition and found alongside 4,000 year old shards of pottery, but the bones were carbon dated to the 16th-17th Centuries. AOC Archaeology with forensic artist Hayley Fisher then created a facial reconstruction of the skull, which they believe belonged to a man in his fifties.
Councillor Richard Lewis, the city council’s Culture Convener, said: “Edinburgh has an undeniably intriguing past and some of our archaeological discoveries have been in the strangest of places.
“Thanks to carbon dating techniques, archaeologists now know that the skeleton was likely to have been a murder victim – and quite possibly a pirate. It’s fantastic that through the Council’s archaeology and museums service, we are able to investigate such discoveries and add to our understanding of Newhaven’s heritage.”
A gibbet – commonly used to execute witches and pirates – stood on the edge of Newhaven dockyards 600 years ago and it is believed the man could have been murdered in the device for criminal behaviour or piracy and discarded in nearby wasteland.
Due to the condition of the bones and location of his burial close to the sea and gibbet rather than any of three nearby graveyards, it is believed the man was likely killed before being displayed in plain sight of ships to deter fellow pirates. An unceremonious burial in a shallow, unmarked grave suggests he had no relatives or friends in the area.
Laura Thompson, Head Teacher at Victoria Primary School, added: “As the oldest working primary school in Edinburgh, we are proud of our history and heritage and the school even has a dedicated museum to the local area.
“The pupils think it’s fantastic that a skeleton was found deep underneath their playground. The archaeologists will hold a special lesson with some of the children about how they have used science to analyse the remains and it will be a good learning opportunity for them.”
Made in Granton
Community group plans peoples’ exhibition
We are holding a one-day ‘History of North Edinburgh’ event, an exhibition of things, film and photos in the former office of the Madelvic electric car company in Granton Park Avenue (off West Granton Road) on Saturday 24 October from 11 am- 3pm.
The theme is the people, industry and workplaces of North Edinburgh.
Did any members of your family work in the Madelvic factory all those years ago? Or more recently in Parsons Peebles, the Wire Works, Salvesens, the Gas Works; what about trawling, whaling, fish merchants, on the trams or other industry in North Edinburgh? Both men’s and women’s work of course!
We need you! We are looking for copies of any photos, stories, memories, artefacts, interesting things to share in an exhibition. We are hopeful that this will go on to create a permanent museum of North Edinburgh.
If you have anything you could contribute to this please contact us as soon as you can …
Barbara Robertson barbara-robertson@teleosvet.co.uk 07825154114
or Willie Black w.black@blueyonder.co.uk 07515686421
or madelviccommunity@gmail.com
granton:hub
at the Madelvic
Walking in West Pilton
This Thursday sees the last in a successful series of local walks. Join PCHP’s band of walkers for an evening stroll and an opportunity to discover the hidden history of West Pilton …
Walk leaves The Prentice Centre at 7pm
Edinburgh’s top dog to be honoured today
‘Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all’
Edinburgh is to honour the life of its most famous canine with a special event at Greyfriars Kirk today.
Greyfriars Bobby, the loyal terrier known for guarding his master’s grave for 14 years after his death, passed away 143 years ago and is buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard.
The city council is marking the date with a commemorative ceremony organised by the Library and Information Service. Among the participants will be Greyfriars Bobby lookalike Maggie the Cairn terrier, sporting a specially-designed coat and badge in honour of her double.
Also attending are members of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, who will speak about the fire which gutted Old Greyfriars in the mid-19th century, shortly before Bobby’s arrival.
As the one o’clock gun sounds, the time at which Bobby is said to have left his master’s grave each day for a free meal at a nearby café, pupils from George Heriot School will lay flowers on the grave. This will be followed by ‘Tribute to Greyfriars Bobby’, played on bagpipes by Jennifer Hutcheon.
Deidre Brock, Depute Lord Provost, who will host the event, said:”Greyfriars Bobby, whose memorial reads ‘Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to us all’, still inspires enormous affection and respect in people across the globe.
“Even now visitors flock to see his grave, his statue, and the many mementos of his life displayed in our Museum of Edinburgh, marvelling anew at the timeless story of the little dog who would not leave his master’s grave.”
After the death of Bobby’s owner John Gray, the then Lord Provost, Sir William Chambers, ensured the dog’s freedom by purchasing a license and dog collar, allowing him to roam the graveyard.
Capturing the hearts of passers-by every day, Bobby’s statue was erected a year after his death in 1872 by the Ladies Committee of the RSPCA, and has since become a landmark for the capital.
Such is the popularity of Bobby’s statue that the wee dog famously had to have a ‘nose job’ in 2013 – hundreds of thousands of citizens and tourists have rubbed Bobby’s nose for good luck over the years and his nose had to be renewed!
Today’s event, which is supported by local charity The Grassmarket Community Project, will also involve members of the Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home, who will be running a special Greyfriars Bobby-themed stand at the Central Library from 10am till 2pm.
Porty pottery – do you dig it?
Residents in Portobello are being urged to take a closer look at their own back gardens this weekend to help archaeologists uncover the secrets of the area’s once-thriving pottery industry.
The area has a rich industrial heritage, with a ceramics industry that thrived in the town for more than 200 years.
Dig Portobello, an initiative from Portobello Heritage Trust (PHT) which is supported by the City of Edinburgh Council and The National Lottery through the Heritage Lottery Fund, will see small trenches dug to examine potteries from Portobello’s past.
Councillor Richard Lewis, Culture Convener for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “Edinburgh has a fascinating history and this project will really allow members of the community to discover sections of Portobello – and their own back gardens – that have been buried for almost 250 years. Budding archaeologists don’t even need to have their own garden to dig in as selected pieces of council-land will also be unearthed.”
Portobello Heritage Trust’s chair Margaret Munro said: “We can’t wait to start digging. We are very proud of our heritage, but want to know more about our industries. This project gives everyone in the community the chance to find out more over an exciting weekend of activities.”
Get involved
The people of Portobello are being encouraged to sign up and dig a small trench no more than 1m x 2m in size in their gardens, with the guidance of professional archaeologists. Those without gardens or people from outside the area can also take part, as the council has given permission for test pits to be dug on selected areas of council-owned land.
A range of activities will take place over the weekend, all based at or starting from The Wash House Community Centre on Adelphi Grove. Volunteers of all abilities are encouraged to sign up for free geophysical survey training on Friday 29 August at 12pm and an introductory talk at 7:30pm. The archaeological explorations will take place from 10am on Saturday 30 August–Sunday 31 August.
The project will also provide guided walks around Portobello and a range of drop-in workshops, including sessions on ceramics, artefacts, and ‘Wee Pottery Workshops’ for children. The full timetable and information on how to sign up can be found at AOC Archaeology.
To sign up for the geophysical survey training, to take part in the excavations, or to register your children, please contact the Portobello Heritage Trust with details of which days you would like to participate. Please specify whether you are digging in your own garden, and please let them know of the address.
Contact Margaret Munro of the Portobello Heritage Trust on 0131 657 2866 or munroporto(at)hotmail.com