Old Photographs Galston Ayrshire Scotland

Old photograph of Galston, East Ayrshire, Scotland. The name Galston means " place of the strangers " from the Gaelic word Gall, a stranger, and the Toun or Ton was a farm and its outbuildings. John Goldie, miscellaneous writer, was born in the parish of Galston in 1717 ; he moved to Kilmarnock, where he carried on the business of cabinetmaker, subsequently of wine merchant. He is author of a volume entitled Essays on Various Subjects, humorously known as Goldie’s Bible, and is held in grateful memory as a friend of Robert Burns. He died in 1809. The 17th century Presbyterians were against burials taking place within churches. In 1609 John Schaw of Sornbeg decided to bury his recently-deceased wife within Galston Church. He entered the kirk with a party of armed men and proceeded to break up flagstones and dig a grave where he interred his wife's body. He was fined £20 for this action and promised never to attempt this act again. Handball was popular in these parts during the 19th century and Galston was the site of the most important competition, held on the Saturday of the Glasgow Fair. Cessnock castle by Galston, dates from around the 15th Century. The Duke of Portland had it restored by 1900 and is now a private house. After her defeat at the battle of Langside, Mary Queen of Scots is reputed to have taken refuge there. Other visitors of note include the reformist preacher John Knox and the poet Robert Burns. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day.



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Tour Scotland Photographs Reflections Dusk Perthshire January 29th

Tour Scotland photograph shot today of reflections at dusk South of Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland. Trees and cloud reflected this afternoon in the River Isla, South of Blairgowrie.

Tour Scotland photograph shot today reflections at dusk South of Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland.

Tour Scotland photograph shot today at dusk South of Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Old Photograph Road Menders In Perthshire Scotland

Old photograph of two road menders North of Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. In the old days roads in Perthshire were maintained by road menders. Heaps of stones for that purpose were kept in various locations near each road.



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Old Photograph Of Young Scots In Perth Perthshire Scotland

Old photograph of young Scots in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Old Photograph Of Black Watch Soldier In Fife Scotland

Old photograph of a Black Watch soldier in Cupar, Fife, Scotland. The Black Watch regiment was created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881, when the 42nd Royal Highland Regiment of Foot, The Black Watch, was amalgamated with the 73rd Perthshire) Regiment of Foot to form two battalions of the newly named Black Watch, Royal Highlanders. The 42nd became the 1st Battalion, and the 73rd became the 2nd Battalion. The 1st Battalion saw action at the Battle of Tel el-Kebir in September 1882 during the Anglo-Egyptian War. It was in combat again at the First and Second Battles of El Teb in February 1884, the Battle of Abu Klea in January 1885 and the Battle of Kirbekan in February 1885 during the Mahdist War. The 2nd Battalion suffered heavy losses at the Battle of Magersfontein in December 1899 during the Second Boer War. The 1st Battalion landed at Le Havre as part of the 1st Brigade in the 1st Division in August 1914 for service on the Western Front. It saw action during the Retreat from Mons in August 1914, the First Battle of the Marne in September 1914 and the First Battle of the Aisne later in September 1914; it also took part in the advance to the Hindenburg Line in September 1918. The 2nd Battalion landed at Marseille as part of the Bareilly Brigade in the 7th Meerut Division in October 1914 for service on the Western Front. It took part in the defence of Givenchy in December 1915 and then moved to Mesopotamia later that month and saw action during the siege of Kut in Spring 1916, the fall of Baghdad in March 1917 and the Battle of Istabulat in April 1917. It transferred to Palestine in January 1918 and took part in the Battle of Megiddo in September 1918.



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