The Isle of Iona – a special place even with the weather!
With the holiday season now in full swing I thought that this image would be most appropriate. Scotland is a beautiful country full of historic sites and castles, breath taking scenery and very friendly natives (most of the time!) I am ashamed to admit that I have travelled more extensively,
Polmaise: Stirling’s Star Ship
30 years after the closure of Polmaise No 3 and 4 Pits, it is important to remember the significance of the achievement of the coal industry and the men who made it. Recent additions to the Stirling Smith collections include a Stirling District Council publication, Polmaise, The Facts, arguing
30th Anniversary of the Polmaise Colliery Closure
This month sees the 30th anniversary of the closure of Polmaise Colliery 3 & 4, the pit which was first out in the Miners’ Strike of 1984, and last to return when the strike broke in 1985. British Coal announced the closure of Polmaise Colliery on 15 July 1987. Two
From Ceylon to Cambusbarron
Today’s story about the Scottish Women’s Rural Institute in Cambusbarron, heralds a special summer exhibition at the Stirling Smith, beginning 15 July. ‘Crafty Goings On!’ celebrates 100 years of the SWRI, now the Scottish Women’s Institute, and features intricate craft work from members of the Stirling, Clackmannan and West Perthshire
Stirling Golf Club Medal
A previous blog featured John Duncan (1861-1939) who was the professional at Kings Park Golf Club from July 1901 to his retirement in 1935 This image is of a medal presented by Stirling Golf Club in the early 20th Century Being won by:- J S McGregor 1904 J R Archibald
Bannockburn House
This is one of a collection of watercolours by the artist and antiquary Jane Ann Wright (1842 – 1922) in the Stirling Smith collections. She and her sister Isabella Murray Wright lived in Livilands and then Melville Terrace. They were part of an extended old Stirling family, who were historically
Polmaise Castle, Jane Ann Wright (1842 – 1922)
Few now remember Polmaise Castle, but as the annual march of the Gillies which takes place this Sunday 25 June at 2pm passes near to the site, its history is worth revisiting. The Save Gillies Hill campaign was set up to protect the historic hill from quarrying. Last century, Murrayshall
John Duncan, Stirling’s Golfing Professional 1901-1935
This week’s image is an old photograph of a John Duncan taken in 1932 On first inspection it shows an elderly man standing at a workshop bench possibly a joiner to trade Looking more closely, it became clear that there was more to the actual picture, than I had first
The Stirling Seal
This display box of carved oak contains a wax copy of the seal of Stirling. It was found at auction by Friend of the Smith Dr Robin Campbell and is a recent purchase for the Stirling Smith courtesy of the Stirling Common Good Fund. The seal was appended to