Glorious Glass
This window is one of two in a private billiard hall building in Stirling and is the distinctive work of the stained glass designer, John C Hall. Born in Glasgow in 1867 Hall attended classes at Glasgow School of Art in the early 1890s before launching out as an independent
Dunblane in 1887
This watercolour by artist John Bell shows a rural Dunblane of 1887. It is a recent purchase for the Stirling Smith collections courtesy of Dr Robin Campbell and the Stirling Common Good Fund. Not much is known about the artist. There are some works by him in York Museum collections
Ming Dynasty Cup, Chinese New Year, Stirling
Ming Cup The Year of the Rooster 2017 is now well underway. It was brought to Stirling by a huge Chinese dragon, dancing to the delight of the crowds at the Albert Hall, followed by a night of spectacular performances of Chinese song, music, dance, gymnastics and magic. This was
Municipal buildings, Stirling
Places change their geographical focus through time. For most of the twentieth century, Corn Exchange was the commercial, literary, ceremonial and municipal centre of Stirling. Shown here is a royal visit at the Municipal Buildings in 1929. The Municipal Buildings were opened less than 100 years ago in 1918, joining
Celebrating Robert Burns in Stirling
Stirling has always celebrated the work of Robert Burns, from the time of his visit in 1787 when he stayed at Wingate’s Inn (now the Golden Lion Hotel). For many years, 27 August, the day Burns dined with Dr David Doig of Stirling Grammar School and Lieutenant Forrester of the
The Barras Yet
The Barras Yet or Burgh Gate in the Port Street / Dumbarton Road area was the main entry into Stirling for at least 300 years. Demolished in the 1770s, it was the place where customs were collected and criminals were formally drummed out of the town. There are frequent references
Stirling Soroptimists
The sterling silver President’s chain and badge of office of the Soroptimist International of Stirling Club 1959 -2016 was one of many fine gifts to the Stirling Smith collections last year. It is always sad when a long – running organisation ceases to function, but the Smith looks after the
Disrupting Dementia
The Stirling Smith has a historic collection of Scottish tartans, woven in Wilson’s Mill, Bannockburn, 1750 – 1830. Until 29 January, there is a special exhibition on the development and creation of one of Scotland’s newest tartans – the Alzheimer Scotland tartan. The “Disrupting Dementia” tartan design project was the
St. Thomas
29 December is known as the feast day of St.Thomas Becket (1118-70) who was murdered in Canterbury Cathedral 846 years ago. He is depicted in several pilgrim badges, in the Neish Pewter Collection in the Stirling Smith. The example here shows him as Archbishop of Canterbury. Another showing his murder,
Stirling Artists
This column often features paintings which are part of the art history of Stirling and Scotland. The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum was founded by a practising artist, Thomas Stuart Smith, with his own paintings and works of his contemporaries as the foundation collection. The Smith, therefore has a