Old Travel Blog Photograph St Mungo's Shrine Cathedral Glasgow Scotland

Old travel Blog photograph of St Mungo's Shrine in the Cathedral in Glasgow, Scotland. Kentigern known as Saint Mungo was born around 518 at Culross in Fife and brought up by St Serf at the monastery there. By 543 he had began missionary work at Cathures on the Clyde, the site of modern Glasgow. The Christian King of Strathclyde, Roderick Hael, welcomed Mungo and procured his consecration as bishop, which took place about 540. For thirteen years he preached in the area, living an austere life. A large community grew up around him and ultimately it became known as Glasgow. About 553 Mungo travelled to Wales, where he visited St David and founded St Asaph's Monastery before returning to Glasgow about 581. He died around 603 and is reputedly buried on the spot where Glasgow Cathedral now stands.



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

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.

Old Travel Blog Photograph Blacader Aisle Cathedral Glasgow Scotland

Old travel Blog photograph of the Blacader Aisle in the Cathedral in Glasgow, Scotland. Robert Blackadder, born 1445, died 1508. was Glasgow's first Archbishop and was University Chancellor from 1483 until his death. Previously Bishop of Aberdeen, Blackadder became Bishop of Glasgow in 1483. He sided with the future King James IV and rebel nobles who defeated and killed King James III at the Battle of Sauchieburn in 1488, and a grateful James IV petitioned the Pope for the see of Glasgow to be elevated to the status of archbishopric. In spite of opposition from the Archbishop of St Andrews, Blackadder became Archbishop of Glasgow in 1491. Archbishop Blackadder was responsible for the building of the Rood Screen at the entrance to the choir of Glasgow Cathedral, and the Fergus Aisle, which became known as Blackadder's Aisle. He died on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1508.



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

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.

Old Travel Blog Photograph Of A Tourist By Greyfriars Bobby Edinburgh Scotland

Old travel Blog photograph of a tourist by the Greyfriars Bobby dog statue in Edinburgh, Scotland. Greyfriars Bobby was a Skye Terrier who became known in 19th century Edinburgh for spending 14 years guarding the grave of his owner until he died himself on 14 January 1872. The story continues to be well known as active oral history in Edinburgh, through several books and films, and became a prominent commemorative statue and nearby graves act as a tourist attraction. The best known version of the story is that Bobby belonged to John Gray, who worked for the Edinburgh City Police as a night watchman. When John Gray died he was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard, the graveyard surrounding Greyfriars Kirk in the Old Town of Edinburgh. Bobby then became known locally, spending the rest of his life sitting on his master's grave.



Tour Scotland video of the Greyfriars Bobby statue in Edinburgh, Scotland.



Tour Scotland video of the gravestone of Greyfriars Bobby in Edinburgh, Scotland.

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

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.

Old Travel Blog Photograph Scolpaig Tower North Uist Outer Hebrides Scotland

Old travel Blog photograph of Scolpaig Tower on the Isle of North Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. The name probably derives from the Old Norse scolpvik, or Scolp Bay, a scolp being a large Hebridean vessel, probably relating to the nearby bay where such boats may have landed. It was built in about 1830 by Dr Alexander MacLeod, who was the factor of the North Uist estate. It was erected to provide employment for the purpose of famine relief. Built over an Iron Age dun on a small islet in Loch Scolpaig, the Gothic style folly has an octagonal footprint and appears as a two storey structure surmounted by a crenellated parapet. The tower is surrounded by a low stone wall that was probably constructed at the same time. The original dun has disappeared entirely. Today the tower is open to the elements and serves as a nesting place for birds. North Uist is the tenth largest Scottish island. North Uist was hit hard during the Highland Clearances, and there was large scale emigration from the island to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. North Uist surnames affected during the clearances were the MacAulay, Morrison, MacCodrum, MacCuish, and MacDonald. 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.

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.

Old Travel Blog Photograph Greyfriars Church Kirkcudbright Scotland

Old travel Blog photograph of Greyfriars Church on the corner of St Cuthbert Street and Castle Bank in Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. Originally a late 15th century Franciscan convent church, which incorporates the burial aisle of the Maclellan family, which is believed to have formed part of the medieval church. Greyfriars was taken over as a parish church in 1571 and rebuilt in 1730, only to be demolished later. It was converted back into a church in 1919, having served as a school since its demolition in 1838.



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

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.