Old Photograph Finstown Orkney Islands Scotland

Old photograph of cottages, houses and people in Finstown, Orkney Islands, Scotland. Formerly called Toon o' Firth, the origin of the name is thought to come from an Irishman named David Phin who came to the area in 1811. A soldier with the 9th Royal Veteran Battalion, he married a Kirkwall girl in 1813. In 1820 he opened an ale house which was called the Toddy Hole by arrangement with John Miller of Millquoy. Four years later they quarrelled and Phin left for Aberdeen, but his name remained.




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Old Photographs Prestwick Scotland

Old photograph of people by the beach in Prestwick, Ayrshire, Scotland. From Robert the Bruce to James VI, King of Scots, numerous Kings have traversed the coastal walks in and around Prestwick and Troon.

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Old Photograph Hoddom Castle Scotland

Old photograph of Hoddom Castle, located 3 miles south west of Ecclefechan, Scotland. The lands of Hoddom or Hoddam belonged to the Herries family, allies of the Bruce family who were Lords of Annandale from 1124. It passed to the Carruthers family, and then to the Maxwells. At the core of the castle is an L-plan tower house, built in the 16th century. It was probably built for Sir John Maxwell, who acquired Hoddom in the mid 16th-century when he married the heiress Agnes, Lady Herries.


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Tour Scotland Photograph Witch Monument Dunning June 23rd

Tour Scotland photograph shot today of the Maggie Wall witch monument just West of Dunning, Perthshire, Scotland.



Tour Scotland video of the Maggie Wall witch monument just West of Dunning, Perthshire, Scotland.

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

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Witch Hunting in Scotland. Between the late sixteenth and early eighteenth centuries Scottish courts prosecuted hundreds of women and men for the crime of witchcraft, an offence that involved the alleged practice of maleficent magic and the worship of the devil. Scottish witch-hunts claimed far more victims than the prosecutions that took place in the more heavily populated kingdom of England. Witch-Hunting in Scotland presents a fresh perspective on the trial and execution of these people for inflicting harm on their neighbours and making pacts with the devil. Brian P. Levack draws on law, politics and religion to explain the intensity of Scottish witch-hunting. Topics discussed include the distinctive features of the Scottish criminal justice system, the use of torture to extract confessions, the intersection of witch-hunting with local and national politics, the relationship between state-building and witch-hunting and the role of James VI. Scottish Calvinism and the determination of zealous Scottish clergy and magistrates to achieve a godly society, are also examined as key factors. This original survey combines broad interpretations of the rise and fall of Scottish witchcraft prosecutions with detailed case studies of specific witch-hunts. Throughout, extensive comparisons between Scottish witch-hunts and those that took place in England, New England and continental Europe are made. Witch-Hunting in Scotland makes fascinating reading for anyone with an interest in witchcraft or in the political, legal and religious history of the early modern period. Witch-hunting in Scotland: Law, Politics and Religion.

Tour Scotland Photograph Video St Serf's Church Dunning

Tour Scotland photograph of St. Serfs Church in Dunning, Strathearn, Perthshire, Scotland. The 12th or 13th century former parish church of St. Serf, where the Dupplin Cross is displayed in Dunning



Tour Scotland video of the Dupplin Cross in Dunning, Strathearn, Perthshire, Scotland. The Dupplin Cross is a carved, monumental Pictish stone, which dates from around 800A.D. It was first recorded by Thomas Pennant in 1769, on a hillside in Strathearn, a little to the north of Forteviot and Dunning. The Dupplin Cross is a high cross, that is a free-standing stone cross. The cross is carved from Old Red Sandstone. It is carved with various scenes, religious, martial and traditional Pictish animal carvings. The cross can be viewed in the 12th century tower of St Serf's church in Dunning. If you haven't seen the Dupplin Cross, I would urge you to visit between April and September.

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

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Tour Scotland Videos Dalai Lama Visit To Dundee June 22nd

Tour Scotland video shot today of the Dalai Lama arriving in the City Square on his visit to Dundee, Scotland.



Tour Scotland video shot today of the Dalai Lama speaking in the City Square on his visit to Dundee, Scotland. Tenzin Gyatso, shortened from Jetsun Jamphel Ngawang Lobsang Yeshe Tenzin Gyatso, born Lhamo Dondrub is the 14th and current Dalai Lama, as well as the longest lived incumbent. Today he was paying a visit to the City of Dundee. Very windy today in Dundee, thus audio quality is not very good.

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

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Old Photographs Hillswick Shetland Scotland

Old photograph of crofters cottages at Hillswick, Shetland, Scotland. This island village is on the side of a sheltered voe called Ura Firth, in the northeast corner of Mainland. During the days of the Haaf Fishing Hillswick was developed into a fishing station by Thomas Gifford, the Laird of Busta. The village continued to play a role in the fishing industry well into the 20th century, and was often used as a safe haven by trawlers from all over Scotland.


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