Tour Scotland Video Penguin Statues St Marys Parish Church Outside The Overgate Centre Dundee

Tour Scotland video of Penguin statues by Angela Hunter on a wall by St Marys Parish Church outside The Overgate Centre on ancestry visit to the city of Dundee, Scotland. Dundee played an important role in the Reformation, and John Knox asserts in his History of the Reformation that " the first face of a public church Reformed " was that of St Mary's in Dundee, by 1556. The church dates back to 1190, when it was founded by David, Earl of Huntingdon, brother of William the Lion, King of Scots. The original buildings have not survived. In 1303 the church was burnt by an invading English army. Following a further invasion in 1547 the church was burnt down again. In the late Middle Ages, Dundee's was the largest parish church in Scotland. In 1841 three of the City Churches were again destroyed by fire. Two were rebuilt, the South Church or St Paul's and the East Church or St Mary's. St Mary's, now known as Dundee Parish Church (St Mary's) was rebuilt being completed in 1844 to the design of William Burn.

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Old Photograph Inversanda Ardgour Scotland

Old photograph of Inversanda in Ardgour, Scotland. This area has formed part of the territory of the Clan MacLean ever since the Clan MacMaster was removed from the territory in the 15th century. In the late 17th century the massacre of the MacDonald clansmen marked the point when the fortunes of the MacLean clan began to wane, and by 1691 the Campbells had gained possession of most of the MacLean estates. Clan Maclean participated in the Jacobite risings of 1745 to 1746, supporting the House of Stuart and the Jacobite cause. Many members of the clan were killed fighting at the Battle of Culloden. Many MacLeans dispersed to other countries such as Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand.



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Old Photograph Hope Road Kirkmuirhill Scotland

Old photograph of houses on Hope Road in Kirkmuirhill, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. In the 1860s Kirkmuirhill and Blackwood were in the parish of Lesmahagow and the parish church was in Lesmahagow. The parish has an area of 64.9 square miles. Lesmahagow has 8 neighbouring parishes; namely Avondale, Carluke, Carmichael, Dalserf, Douglas, Lanark, Muirkirk and Stonehouse.



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Old Photograph Isla Bank Mills Keith Scotland

Old photograph of Isla Bank Mills on Station Road in Keith, a small town in Moray, Scotland. The Mills were established in 1805 for the production of tweed. When George Kynoch purchased the Isla Bank Mills similar mills in Scotland were closing down. As better breeds of sheep were introduced into the area, finer unprocessed wool became available. The Cheviot, with bright illustrious fleece, and the Black face ewe were crossed with Border Leicester. Tweeds were the first powerful export from the Mills. The better quality of wool from local sheep enabled Kynoch to concentrate on labour. Expertise in sorting, willeying, blending, fettling, scouring and drying, carding, combing, spinning, doubling, warping, headling, sleying and warp twisting, weaving, and overlooking emerged. In the latter 19th century the Mill added the finishing techniques of scouring and milling, drying burling, raising the nap and shearing, boiling and brushing, mending or darning, and pressing and packing.




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Old Photograph St. Margaret's Dominican Convent Hawick Scotland

Old photograph of St. Margaret's Dominican Convent in Hawick, Borders Scotland. St. Margaret's was the first convent of its kind in Scotland, built over three years between 1909 and 1912, for nuns of the Third Order of Saint Dominic. The group of sisters transferred from their original base at Stone, Staffordshire, England, and set up temporarily at 14 Buccleuch Street whilst architect Reginald Francis Joseph Fairlie designed the convent and chapel. A meeting chaired by Reverend Johnman was held in the Town Hall ahead of the building work, with many Teries opposing the plans. However, building went ahead as scheduled and the dedication of the Chapel was reported in the November edition of 'Building News' in 1912. Alterations were made to the house in 1922, including the addition of Saint Catherine's room. The site was converted to a Home For Incurables, run by the Dominican Sisters. This was opened by Archbishop McDonald in 1934, with accommodation for up to forty five patients. The Catholic Herald reported in 1936 that most nuns had also been trained as nurses, and that the Mother Prioress was actively seeking contributions towards the debt involved in building and starting the home. In October 1958, a meeting held in the Town Hall proposed a ground breaking sheltered housing project for the elderly on ground adjoining Saint Margaret's. This was completed by architects Aitken & Turnbull, of Buccleuch Street, in 1966, with a new two storey building of nine houses. The adjoining hall was demolished in 1970. In 1987, the nuns became too elderly themselves to look after the residents and left the town. The home was then taken over by a voluntary committee. Since 1999 it has been run privately and is today known as the Buccleuch Care Centre, which incorporates the former St Margaret's Home and Buccleuch Rest Home.



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

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