The latest edition of the Scottish Local History Forum’s newsletter Clish-Clash, is now available.
Old Weavers Comprehensive List
OLD WEAVERS AND OTHER OLD PEOPLE OF DUNFERMLINE, 1900-1915 – A LIST FOR THE FAMILY HISTORIAN. Compiled by Jean Barclay This is a list of the names, addresses and ages of the old men and women who attended the `old weavers` drive` each July from 1900-1915. They are taken from reports in the local press, which sometimes included group photographs. The drives were originally just for old hand-loom weavers but from 1906 invitations were extended to `any respectable man of 60` and from 1909 to women. There are some discrepancies in the lists due to incorrect reporting of ages and addresses and because several people shared the same name. 1900: Visit to Glensherup Reservoir, the source of Dunfermline`s water supply. `Dunfermline Hand-loom Weavers Drive to Glensherup`, Dunfermline Press, July 21 1900, Dunfermline Journal (Supplement), July 28 1900. Attendees (names, addresses and ages). No addresses were originally given but they have been added from later lists, Changes of address and the year recorded are indicated in brackets: Anderson, Alexander, Baldridgeburn, 74, Anderson, Andrew, 82, Anderson, Robert, Pittencrieff St, 88, Bernard, Andrew, 62, Beveridge, George, Moodie St, 77, Boag, Robert, 82, Bowie, James, Albany St, 80 (Castleblair Lane 1905), Brand, John, Bothwell Place, 74, Brown, William, 82, Burt, John, 84 Golfdrum St, 70, Christie, Thomas, 73, Clark, John, 74, Clark, Thomas, Maygate St, 63 (37 Bridge St.1907), Coutts, Charles, 67, Cummings (or Cumming), John,…
June Trip 2019
Sunday 16th to Tuesday 18th June 2019 Full report, with photos, now available at “On a Wee Highland Daunder“. This year’s trip will be a two night visit to the Highlands, based at the Coylumbridge Hotel, near Aviemore. We will set off at 8:15 am from the Glen Car Park, Pittencrieff St, on the morning of Sunday 16th June and travel by coach to Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Centre (NTS) where we will have a light lunch followed by an afternoon exploring the battlefield and the excellent visitor centre opened in 2008. Those of you with NTS membership please remember to bring your cards, as Culloden and Hugh Millar’s Cottage are NTS sites. On Monday, we drive across the Kessock Bridge to the Black Isle where we’ll visit Fortrose Cathedral, Rosemarkie and Cromarty. We’ll have the opportunity to explore the villages and visit some of the excellent local museums such as Groam House, Hugh Millar’s Cottage and the Courthouse museum. On the final day we will visit Cawdor Castle with plenty of time to explore both the castle and the beautiful gardens. Lunches and snacks are available at the castle’s courtyard cafe. We break our journey home, with a stop for high tea at the Salutation Hotel, Perth. Looking forward to an excellent trip!
Abertay Historical Society Publications
Those who attended our April 2019 talk “Quite Happy – The Diary of James Fyffe, Cattle Dealer, 1836 – 1840” presented by Prof. Richard Oram, will remember that Richard pointed out that the diary itself is available on line from Abertay Historical Society. In fact they offer a selection of publications on the history of Perth, Dundee and Tayside on their excellent website, as well as many older publications, available as PDFs, to download for no charge.
Photo of Mary Thomson
When writing the article about Mary Thomson and the Female Industrial School, a great deal of searching was done to try and find a photograph of Mary or some of her pupils but with no success. This photograph was found in the Journal Almanac 1913, a copy of which is in the Local History Section of Dunfermline Library. Mary retired in 1881 and this picture was probably taken around that time. It is extremely grainy in appearance but perhaps someone has the original print in their photo album? If so please contact the website.