<![CDATA[John's Scottish History Pages - Blog]]>Sun, 10 May 2026 21:08:07 +0000Weebly<![CDATA[Women and the Branks in Stirling]]>Sun, 08 Feb 2026 09:27:22 GMThttps://www.johnscothist.com/blog/women-and-the-branks-in-stirling​ 
It does not just seem a long time since my paper about the use of the horrible branks or ‘scold’s bridle’ in Stirling was published; (John G Harrison, 1998. Women and the Branks in Stirling, c. 1600- c. 1730. Scottish Social and Economic History, volume 18(2), p;114-131). It is, indeed, a long time!
Up to that time, whilst many historians mention the instrument, whether in Scotland or England, they were aware of only a few instances of actual use and there was a good deal of assumption in the accounts. The Stirling records revealed 44 branks-related punishments and 106 incidents where women were threatened or punished with the branks. Strikingly, the detail revealed that both accused and accusers (particularly before about 1670) were mainly  women married to artisan-burgesses – so they were not ‘the poor’ and would continue to live in the town after their punishment.
Salient findings were that the punishments were often for disputes with other women of similar status and social profile, not for disputes with their husbands, albeit after about 1670 the cases sometimes involved other high status men. The punishment was graded – from the threat of the branks, through having to carry the instrument through the town, to having to wear it in a procession through the streets, perhaps to the house of the complainer. And, most striking of all, their neighbours would remember their punishment and, perhaps, ‘cast it up’ later = on one occasion 19 years after the event! Reputation was central to these cases – the accused were, indeed,  women with disputatious reputations who now gained a reputation for being branked.
A few later publications cited the paper (particularly noting the comparison between the branked women and women accused of witchcraft). However, interest later seemed to fade and it has received little attention online. Only recently have enquiries and citations begun to bubble up again. So, I thought it worthwhile to raise it again here. I think it is a substantial piece of work, vividly illustrating several aspects of the social life of the Scotland of the period.
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]]><![CDATA[The King's Pool and James IV's Designed Landscape at Stirling]]>Tue, 18 Nov 2025 15:21:42 GMThttps://www.johnscothist.com/blog/the-kings-pool-and-james-ivs-designed-landscape-at-stirlingIt's always good to announce a new publication and I feel this one is rather special. It is, after all, not every day that a major new feature is revealed in a well-studied landscape - and I am likely to be amongst those most astonished by this finding of a hitherto unknown pool - clearly an ornamental water feature - just below Stirling Castle.
Another cause for rejoicing is that Stephen Digney agreed to participate in the write-up and has contributed very substantially to it.
Harrison, J.G. & Digney, S, 2025. The King's Pool and James IV's Designed Landscape at Stirling. Forth Naturalist and Historian, 48, p. 51-68.
]]><![CDATA[The 'PIn Wright' and some other Scots medieval heroes.]]>Sun, 26 Oct 2025 15:00:17 GMThttps://www.johnscothist.com/blog/the-pin-wright-and-some-other-scots-medieval-heroesA recent. informal enquiry reminded me of some notes I had made years ago about the carpenter, alleged to have severed Stirling Bridge, helping the great Scots victory of 1297.
It is a tale easily enough dismissed as a part of the practical evolution of the battle - as I show.
However, this and other improbable aspects of these tales do have, I suggest, a significant literary and rhetorical role.
here are my thoughts. I think there is a case for further researching these tales!. Any thoughts would be welcome.]]><![CDATA[Forth  Naturalist and Historian Conference 15th Nov 2025]]>Sat, 20 Sep 2025 11:11:22 GMThttps://www.johnscothist.com/blog/forth-naturalist-and-historian-conference-16th-nov-2025The FNH Conference is always 'a good day' with a wide variety of  talks and this year is special as it is the 50th event. And appropriately the theme is; 
      Changes in the natural and cultural heritage in the Forth Valley over the last 50 years.
I will be speaking about the Ochils - about what we have learned in the past 50 years and about how (dramatically) the Ochils are changing today. You can now download a recording of this (and the other talks) at https://www.youtube.com/@forthnaturalisthistorian2022/playlists.
Other talks include one on the establishment of the Forth Naturalist and Historian itself, one on the Antonine Wall, one of changing local butterflies and one on the rewilding at Argaty, with beavers and red kites to the fore.
So, lots of variety, there will be pleasant company and lively discussion. Why not put it in the diary?
Find details of the day, booking form etc here.


]]><![CDATA[Honours of Scotland]]>Wed, 02 Apr 2025 13:59:10 GMThttps://www.johnscothist.com/blog/honours-of-scotlandIn 2017/ 2018 I produced a Report for Historic Environment Scotland The Honours of Scotland; Supplementary Information. It comprised finds made, over many years, about the Honours and related artefacts and was intended as a supplement to more systematic research by others. 
It seemed to vanish. However, I now see that, slightly edited, it has appeared online so I am providing a link.
​You can find the link by searching 'Honours of Scotland' + Harrison + 'Supplementary Information' which  leads to a PDF file of the Report.]]><![CDATA[Lecture; Environment and Landscapes of Medieval Stirling]]>Fri, 28 Feb 2025 09:04:25 GMThttps://www.johnscothist.com/blog/lecture-environment-and-landscapes-of-medieval-stirlingTo mark the 900th Anniversary of the accession of David I, Forth Naturalist and Historian held a big conference at Stirling University. I was pleased to be invited to speak (see notice of conference below). I spoke on The Environment and Landscapes of Medieval Stirling and the talk is now available (free) online here along with the other presentations given over the weekend.]]><![CDATA[Maternity Hospital, Stirling]]>Sun, 19 Jan 2025 15:03:21 GMThttps://www.johnscothist.com/blog/maternity-hospital-stirlingThe Stirling Historical Society has received an enquiry from a lady - all the way from the San Francisco, CA, USA  regarding the identity of a nursing home in Stirling which would have presumably been used as a maternity ward - where her mother was born on 1946. The lady will be coming to Stirling in March of this year and would like to visit the place where her mother was born. The building has since been identified as '2 Snowdon Place' and seems to be subdivided into flats. If anyone has any knowledge or memories associated with this building, please let us know.
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]]><![CDATA[Lecture in Alloa on 27 Jan]]>Mon, 13 Jan 2025 07:54:24 GMThttps://www.johnscothist.com/blog/lecture-in-alloa-on-27-janI have spoken several times to the Clackmannanshire Field Studies group over the years. I am talking on 27th Jan at 7.30pm in the Greenfield Hall.
The talk will be 'Centuries of Change in the Ochils' and will take a broad sweep from the medieval landscapes to the rapid and profound changes happening today.
Further details at https://cfss.org.uk/events/]]><![CDATA[David I - FNH Conference 2024]]>Wed, 25 Sep 2024 05:58:56 GMThttps://www.johnscothist.com/blog/david-i-fnh-conference-2024The Forth Naturalist and Historian Conference  has been an annual fixture in many diaries for almost 50 years. It is always 'a good day' bringing recent research findings to a wide audience.
This year, rather than the usual one-day event, it is spread over three days (1-3 Nov). Marking the 900th anniversary of his accession it willl focus on David's reign, his world, his impact. It will, as usual, be at Stirling University.
Booking is now open. The details can be downloaded here, with the booking form etc.

I will be one of the speakers, talking about the environment and landscapes of Medieval Stirling.

]]><![CDATA[Book Chapter on Agriculture - new publication]]>Wed, 24 Apr 2024 07:39:16 GMThttps://www.johnscothist.com/blog/book-chapter-new-publicationSome years ago, I was asked to contribute a chapter in a new book about Scottish agricultural history, the first overview for a good many years. It has taken a long time to get from ‘good idea’ to published book but a real book has now arrived in my porch.
John G Harrison, 2024. ‘Farming in the Stirling Area 1560-1750’, p. 176-198, in Agriculture, Economy and Society in Early Modern Scotland, edited by Cornell, H., Goodare, J., and MacDonald, A. R., Boydell Press, Woodbridge.
The other authors include T.C. Smout, Rab Houston, Julian Goodare and other well-known names. The contributions range from broad brush to detailed surveys as befits a study of such an important topic.
https://boydellandbrewer.com/9781837650484/agriculture-economy-and-society-in-early-modern-scotland/
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