I have been using Stirling Council Archives for rather longer than I care to confess. It continues to astonish me, what treasures and pleasures, surprises and delights, the records can reveal.
On the other hand, like other archive users, I am usually looking for information on a particular topic. Whilst much of what I find is extraneous to the search; however interesting in itself, it will be set aside when I come to write up results for publication.
But I was recently reminded of a find, from many years ago, which revealed a quirky story, insights into some aspects of life in early 18th century Stirling and also, most vividly for me, the almost entirely arbitrary chances of documentary survival. The story I have always carried in my mind, in fact, is that most records of the past do NOT SURVIVE!

You can find my thoughts, with images of several of the documents themselves, at 
http://www.stirlingarchives.scot/2026/08/01/serendipity-a-letter-of-october-1706-found-in-the-papers-of-stirling-burgh-court/

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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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The 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.

In 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.