Old Photograph Murraygate Dundee Scotland

Old photograph of Trams, buildings, people and shops on Murraygate, Dundee, Scotland.

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Old Photographs Charing Cross Glasgow Scotland

Old photograph of Trams, people, buildings and shops on Charing Cross, Glasgow, Scotland. Charing Cross is situated north of the River Clyde at the intersection of Sauchiehall Street, St George's Road, Woodlands Road, North Street and Newton Street, as well as being at a major interchange of the M8 motorway. Formerly the gateway from the shopping area of Sauchiehall Street to the more prosperous Woodlands area, its architectural qualities were largely razed by the building of the motorway. It still marks the boundary between the City Centre and the West End of the City. Nearby landmarks include the Mitchell Library, the biggest reference library in Western Europe. Charing Cross was also part of the so called Square Mile of Murder, the location of a series of sensational murders which scandalised Victorian society,

Old photograph of Charing Cross, Glasgow, Scotland.



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Old Photograph Crichton Castle Scotland

Old photograph of Crichton Castle, Midlothian, Scotland. In the late 14th century John de Crichton who died in 1406 built a tower house here as his family residence. John's son, William who died in 1453, served as Lord Chancellor of Scotland, and was made Lord Crichton around 1443. In 1440 he had been partly responsible for organising the " Black Dinner ", where the young Earl of Douglas was murdered. As a result, he obtained the Douglas property of Bothwell Castle in Lanarkshire for himself. John Forrester of Corstorphine, a Douglas adherent, stormed and slighted the castle in 1445 in retaliation. William, however, reconstructed and extended the castle, and also built the nearby collegiate church. The 3rd Lord Crichton was a supporter of Alexander Stewart, Duke of Albany, and his lands and titles were forfeit in 1483, when Albany was sentenced for treason. Crichton Castle, along with Bothwell Castle, was briefly granted to Sir John Ramsey, who forfeited it in 1488.

That year, James IV granted Crichton to Patrick Hepburn, Lord Hailes, who was later made Earl of Bothwell. His son, the second Earl, died at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. Adam was succeeded by his son Patrick, who intrigued with the English against the Scottish crown, but eventually made peace with the regent, Mary of Guise. James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell sided with Mary of Guise during the Scottish Reformation, and when he took English money sent to the Lords of the Congregation, Regent Arran ordered an assault on Borthwick and Crichton, and the castle was besieged and captured by the Earl of Arran on 3rd November 1560. The castle was the scene of the marriage and wedding festivities, on 4th January 1562, of Patrick's daughter Jean and her first husband, John Stewart, Lord Darnley, Prior of Coldingham, and illegitimate son of King James V. John Stewart's half-sister Mary, Queen of Scots, spent a few nights at the castle while attending this wedding.

The Earl of Bothwell was implicated in Feburuary 1567 in the murder of Queen Mary's husband Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, and became Mary's third husband in May of that year. In December, all Bothwell's titles and estates, including Crichton, were forfeited. In 1568, Crichton, along with Bothwell's other estates, was granted to Francis Stewart, son of John Stewart, Lord Darnley, and Jean Hepburn, and thus bastard grandson of James V. Francis travelled in Europe, and he designed the very modern Italianate north range in the 1580s. He was created Earl Bothwell in 1577, but conspired against the young James VI, and was accused of witchcraft. He forfeited his estates in turn in 1592, and was forced to flee to Naples. His son Francis was reinstated, but laboured under his father's debts, and sold Crichton to the Hepburns of Humbie. It is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument administered by Historic Scotland.



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Old Photograph Michael Scott Tomb Scotland

Old photograph of the Michael Scott Tomb, Melrose Abbey, Scottish Borders, Scotland. According to legend, Melrose Abbey has a strange demonic connection. The 13th century wizard Michael Scott is said to be buried there. Through the power of prophecy he is said to have predicted his own death, by a small stone falling on his head.



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Old Photograph Falkirk Scotland

Old photograph of Falkirk, Scotland.

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