The Tomb of King Robert the Bruce
King Robert the Bruce died on 7 June 1329. His body was buried in Dunfermline Abbey and his heart was taken on crusade by Sir James Douglas. Douglas got as far as Teba in Spain, where he was killed in battle with the Moors. The heart was returned for burial
Bluebird Buses, W Alexander & Sons Ltd, Raploch
Most of us have forgotten that Stirling was at one time a centre for the coach building industry, with the main coach works sited where Marks & Spencer now is, in Murray Place. The Raploch coach building works of W. Alexander and Son was set up in Drip Road in
McAree Brothers, Knitting Heaven
McAree Brothers, established in 1878, are described by current fans familiar with their shop in King Street as “knitting heaven in Stirling” on account of their yarn stock and knowledge of the world of knitting. As can be seen from this photograph of c1900, they have always had a close
Arts & Crafts Movment in Stirling
Today’s object from the Stirling Smith collections is an arts and crafts oak cabinet which has a door decorated with gesso. It was made by the furniture maker Henry T. Wyse and was part of the furnishings of No. 1 The Homesteads, Stirling. It was left to the Smith by
Sporting Excellence in Bridge of Allan
The University of Stirling is well–known as Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, a designation by the Scottish Government in recognition of the contribution made to Scottish sport. From the start of the University, the Gannochy Sports Centre was open to the local community. In 1981, the now-famous golfer Colin Dalgleish
Beaton’s Mill, Whins of Milton
With the rise of the internet, the sale of traditional holiday postcards is in decline. This lovely card was published by the Borestone Committee in 1907 and would have been sold at the Borestone Hut on the field of Bannockburn. Visitors often explored both Bannockburn and nearby Beaton’s Mill, the
John Ferguson (1882 -1928), Poet
Not much is known about John Ferguson. The photograph is from the Christmas Observer of 1928. He was born and raised in Stirling, and attended the High School, where the commemorative plaque, a recent gift to the Stirling Smith collections by Archie MacCallum, was put up after his death. Such
Mauchline Ware
At the height of the summer, it’s worth taking a look at how Stirling provided souvenirs for tourists in generations past. It is often said that modern tourism in the Stirling area began with the publication of Walter Scott’s Lady of the Lake in 1810. By 1814, when his novel
A London view of the Battle of Bannockburn, Liz Knutt
The Bannockburn exhibition at the Smith has some interesting new works of art. This painting, oil on panel, of Bruce slaying de Bohun is by the highly acclaimed London artist, Liz Knutt, who belongs to the Teddington Group. Liz Knutt trained at Edinburgh College of Art and spent many years
Dunedin, Stirling’s Sister City
It is 50 years since a partnership agreement was signed between Stirling and Dunedin, Florida. Twin towns or sister cities are a form of legal agreement made between towns and cities, to foster friendship and commercial links. The movement was started after the Second World War in 1947 to promote