Old Photograph Devil's Stone Invergowrie Scotland

Old photograph of the Devil's Stone in Invergowrie, Scotland. The legend of the Gows o' Gowrie stones states that they were thrown by the devil around Invergowrie in 1280. The prophecy comes from a verse by Thomas the Rhymer. Sir Thomas was born in Erceldoune, also spelled Ercildoune, presently Earlston, Berwickshire, sometime in the 13th century, and has a reputation as the author of many prophetic verses. Little is known for certain of his life but two charters from 1260 and 1294 mention him, the latter referring to " Thomas de Ercildounson son and heir of Thome Rymour de Ercildoun ". Thomas became known as " True Thomas ", supposedly because he could not tell a lie. Popular lore recounts how he prophesied many great events in Scottish history, including the death of Alexander III of Scotland.



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Old Photograph Tay Street Perth Perthshire Scotland

Old photograph of Tay Street in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. Perth Sheriff Court dates to 1819 and is an outstanding example of Greek Revival architecture by the eminent London architect Sir Robert Smirke. It is situated on Tay Street overlooking the River Tay to the East and is a significant piece of early 19th century civic architecture. Perth Sheriff Court was built by Sir Robert Smirke in 1819 to replace the county and court functions of the old Tolbooth. Sir Robert Smirke, born 1780, died 1867, was one of the foremost architects of Greek Revival architecture in Britain. Based primarily in London, he started his practice in 1806 and was immediately successful, both for public and private clients. Blog post of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day.



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

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Old Photograph Promenade Kirkcaldy Fife Scotland

Old photograph of people walking on the promenade in Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland. Kirkcaldy has long been nicknamed the Lang Toun, Scots for " long town ",in reference to the early town's one mile long main street, as indicated on maps of the 16th and 17th centuries. The street later reached a length of nearly 4 miles, connecting the burgh to the neighbouring settlements of Linktown, Pathhead, Sinclairtown and Gallatown, which became part of the town in 1876. The formerly separate burgh of Dysart was merged into Kirkcaldy in 1930.



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Old Photograph Kirk Street Campbeltown Scotland

Old photograph of cottages and houses on Kirk Street in Campbeltown, Argyll, Scotland. Campbeltown is one of five areas in Scotland categorised as a distinct malt whisky producing region, and is home to the Campbeltown single malts. At one point it had over 30 distilleries and proclaimed itself " the whisky capital of the world ". However, a focus on quantity rather than quality, and the combination of prohibition and the Great Depression in the United States, led to most distilleries going out of business. Today only three active distilleries remain in Campbeltown: Glen Scotia, Glengyle, and Springbank.



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

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Old Photograph Blackness Scotland

Old photograph of Blackness by the Firth of Forth, Scotland. This Scottish village is located 3.4 miles East of Bo'ness, 5 miles West of South Queensferry and 3.8 miles North East of Linlithgow. The village originally served as a port for nearby Linlithgow, which was a principal residence of the Scottish monarchs from as early as the 12th century. As a port, Blackness was later superseded by Bo'ness, and fell into decline from the 17th century. Of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day.



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

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