Old Photograph Town Bell Ringer Newburgh Fife Scotland

Old photograph of the town Bell Ringer on the High Street in Newburgh, Fife, Scotland. A dead bell, or deid bell, was a form of hand bell used in Scotland and northern England, in conjunction with deaths and funerals up until the 19th century. Before the Reformation, friars in Glasgow rang the dead bell through the streets for the repose of the soul of the deceased, especially if the individual was a benefactor of the church. It is known that the ancient bell of Saint Mungo was used for this purpose. From 1454 a record survives of the bell being rung annually for the soul of Johne Stewart, the first Provost of Glasgow, who had left lands and property to the church. A record of 1509 for Sir Archibald Crawford of Cadder also shows that the ringing of the dead bell sometimes took place more than once and was intended to encourage others to pray for the deceased, his ancestors, and other Christian souls. In 1594 the presbytery of Glasgow attempted to recover the right of use of the dead bell, arguing that it was an ecclesiastical and not a secular function.



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

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.

Tour Scotland Photograph Junior Highland Dancers Ceres Fife

Tour Scotland photograph of Junior Highland Dancers at the Highland Games in Ceres, Fife, Scotland. Blog post of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to travel and visit one day.



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

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.

Tour Scotland Video Perth And District Pipe Band 2015 Kilt Run Perth Perthshire

Tour Scotland video of Perth And District Pipe Band performing at the 2015 Kilt Run at North Inch Park on ancestry visit to Perth, Perthshire, Scotland.

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

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.

Tour Scotland Video Strathearn Pipe Band 2015 Kilt Run Perth Perthshire

Tour Scotland video of Strathearn Pipe Band performing at the 2015 Kilt Run at North Inch Park on ancestry visit to Perth, Perthshire, Scotland.

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

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.

Tour Scotland Video Dancing On Stage 2015 Kilt Run Perth Perthshire

Tour Scotland video of dancing on the stage at the 2015 Kilt Run at North Inch Park on ancestry visit to Perth, Perthshire, Scotland.

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

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.