Very old tonight
As a wee boy I was taken by my Granny to a theatre in Edinburgh to see a production of ‘Peter Pan’. Since then I have been fascinated with shadows. … Continue reading Very old tonight
Tag: orchard
‘Two inner gates’
16 April 1809, Marieville, Stirling: ‘Got the two inner gates at the back of the house put up. They were made out of part of the Lime trees that grew … Continue reading ‘Two inner gates’
MARIEVILLE
It is likely that you will have never heard of: I had not heard of it either. It once stood tall on Upper Bridge Street, Stirling, and was one of … Continue reading MARIEVILLE
BEWARE THE FLY!
This poster was issued by Stirling Burgh’s Sanitary Inspector in 1927 to local shops and businesses: The stern language now reads as dramatic, but at this time the antibacterial effects … Continue reading BEWARE THE FLY!
wilder and more memorable
Opening voice: Alastair McIntosh [BBC Radio Scotland ‘Thought for the day’, 15 August 2018 Closing voice: Professor Philip Davis, Director Centre for Research into Reading, Literature and Society, University of … Continue reading wilder and more memorable
No.1 Shrub Place
From No.1 Shrub Place, Edinburgh, a dynasty of gardeners grew. No.1 Shrub Place was where Melville Christie and his wife Jane raised their family. Melville Christie was employed as a gardener … Continue reading No.1 Shrub Place
Garden Cottage
For nearly half-a-century Nicol Cathie was gardener at Airthrey Castle. He and his wife lived in Garden Cottage by auld Logie Kirk. Garden Cottage has been abandoned for many years … Continue reading Garden Cottage
Sandy Islet
On Monday I took a walk along the Allan Water towards Stirling and it’s castle. Leaving Mossgrove, I passed the play-park where children are currently no longer free to play … Continue reading Sandy Islet
Gourdiehill
Patrick Matthew of Gourdiehill, Perthshire (1790 –1874) was a true social maverick. Many folk more able than I, are endeavouring to secure his proper place in history. On Gourdiehill, cultural … Continue reading Gourdiehill
“Golden Nap”
It is not recorded when sap stopped rising in this ‘Veteran Pear Tree’. It grew in the orchard of our family, in the charming village of Blairlogie. The above description … Continue reading “Golden Nap”
“Sold to one of Scotland’s wealthiest women”
In May of this year I visited an estate near Newport in Fife that had just been sold. I found the faux-Tudor-Italianate House to be dilapidated, and to my eyes, … Continue reading “Sold to one of Scotland’s wealthiest women”
The oval walled garden
At the beginning of the week I visited an estate near Newport in Fife that has just been sold. The faux-Tudor-Italianate House is dilapidated, and to my eyes, not attractive. … Continue reading The oval walled garden