tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63520511758966014062024-02-20T10:35:16.385-06:00Battle of Barra 1308TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.comBlogger61125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-56923642006614927042018-05-23T23:05:00.001-05:002018-05-23T23:05:33.683-05:00Epilogue<br />
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This
is the 10<sup>th</sup> anniversary of the unveiling of the Battle of Barra
memorial and a fitting time to close out this blog.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It
was a great deal of fun to produce and I have met many interesting people.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
hope you enjoyed reading it.</span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But
now as I leave for the last time and glance back at the memorial, is it my
imagination, a trick of the light, or did I glimpse the hero king gazing out
over the scene of his long-passed triumph.</span></span></div>
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TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-63217304328043679102018-05-23T22:51:00.000-05:002018-05-23T22:51:36.205-05:00People to thank<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As
this blog approaches it’s ends I need to acknowledge the many people who have made
it possible.</span></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; margin: 0px;">
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Firstly,
a big thank you goes to the Meldrum and Bourtie Heritage Society (MBHS), who’s
work on the Battle of Barra 700<sup>th</sup> anniversary memorial, forms a
large part of this blog.</span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I
would like to especially thank Evelyn Munro, for providing pictures and
feedback on the progress of the memorial and coordinating with others to gather
information on various subjects. </span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">John
Pirie was instrumental is providing information on the original location of
Bruce’s seat and locating it in the rock pile where it lay for over half a
century. Also, for his work on the memorial.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngU60UEzu8yhIJeVwZ42HPEaIQVbihQ9lH4x__sWXacYyRYWhHplFgcvkpkaa0438xX1V-Ic3EyyS_5RLxqQjMY_pYU9w-Av4AveRvT_Hd2DGfORZULGggtyuSqtVE_xdlGvl1gTuOmU3/s1600/Unveiling_02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="645" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgngU60UEzu8yhIJeVwZ42HPEaIQVbihQ9lH4x__sWXacYyRYWhHplFgcvkpkaa0438xX1V-Ic3EyyS_5RLxqQjMY_pYU9w-Av4AveRvT_Hd2DGfORZULGggtyuSqtVE_xdlGvl1gTuOmU3/s400/Unveiling_02.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Doug
Smith for his work on the memorial and for providing details of the moving of
Sir Thomas and his lady from the kirk yard to its current location in Bourtie
Kirk.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="415" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjcHKVDLKXaLyLYUjYf71ZZT_mG2t4QEOjoFZ8k1aF2C9ej30g0LrUa-CpWLBupNAsGexoBVbtomIePilcNiSf0UFs5EkgdBwB2sBGxvC6Lj_fZOJbgGw1V-8aYbFYIAsxBa8tFhaEnK_/s400/Doug_Edited.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="353" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Doug Smith with Sir Thomas and his Lady</span></td></tr>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rev.
Hugh O’ Brien, of Meldrum and Bourtie parish, for taking the time to open the
church for me and allowing me to take pictures of Sir Thomas.</span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rachel
Ann Dressler who provided information on the possible dating of Sir Thomas and
his lady.</span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bob
Forsyth who provide the details of the Battle of Barra float, in the 1954
Meldrum sports.</span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Moira
Gregg for her Scottish Field article on the battle and providing the picture of
Wallace’s putting stone.</span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rev.
Angus H. Haddow for detail of the Grenago Stane from his work, </span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Dowsing
for Patterns of the Past – The Stone Circles of Aberdeenshire”.</span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
following for pictures</span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anne
Burgess – Elgin Castle.</span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Les
Harvey – Bruce Hill</span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chris
Lodge – Aikey Brae Stone Circle.</span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Martyn
Gorman – Slains Castle</span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Keith
Kaase - Bust of Robert I.</span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally
a thank you to my wife Juliet who offered encouragement and support and
consented to be dragged around various sites, as I sought information or photographs,
when we were supposed to be on vacation.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-hYx2Zd_N1g4MdxrHJsU-0qA3kH-D7PtypsbpcE0U7tl_ccp-w5UascrRs2__t9znHrHQZWX87GunVMsiof5nE8zdkJZKuUYAS81NY9PL7EdfwLkOMZ9LNX5Uub3rvmliXEat7mBqMYK/s1600/Juliet+and+Jim.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="1600" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-hYx2Zd_N1g4MdxrHJsU-0qA3kH-D7PtypsbpcE0U7tl_ccp-w5UascrRs2__t9znHrHQZWX87GunVMsiof5nE8zdkJZKuUYAS81NY9PL7EdfwLkOMZ9LNX5Uub3rvmliXEat7mBqMYK/s400/Juliet+and+Jim.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Juliet and Jim on Bruce's seat.</span></td></tr>
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<br />TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-47594519501942388312018-05-23T22:47:00.001-05:002018-05-23T22:49:05.370-05:00A Final Summary<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
Battle of Barra has tended to be a footnote in history, viewed as one small step
on the road to Bannockburn and ultimately independence, but I would contend
that is was a pivotal event in achieving Scottish independence.</span></span></div>
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<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Prior
to the 1307 campaign the Bruce cause was in tatters and no one could
realistically expect him to succeed, and although his fortunes improved during
1307, there were still several Scottish enemies who could probably individually
destroy his small force.</span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With
victory at Barra, he defeated the strongest of his Scottish enemies and went on
to destroy the Comyn powerbase in NE Scotland. Following this success, he went
on to destroy or neutralize his Scottish enemies, and within a year no Scottish
magnate had the power to resist him without English support.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shortly
after Barra, he captured Aberdeen and its port which offered him access to Europe.
It was for several years the only major European trading port held by Bruce. (Dundee
1312; Perth 1312; Leith 1314; Berwick 1318). During these years Aberdeen would operate
as a base for commerce raiding (basically piracy) and trade with Europe.</span></span></div>
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<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Without
the victory at Barra it is unlikely that Aberdeen would have been taken and
access to the resources to support the war would have been near impossible to
obtain in the quantities required. (For more details see post)</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><a href="http://barra1308.blogspot.com/2009/07/aberdeen-and-scottish-independence.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://barra1308.blogspot.com/2009/07/aberdeen-and-scottish-independence.html</span></a></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although
there was still a long and dangerous path to Scottish independence, after the
victory at Barra things would never <span style="margin: 0px;"> </span>be
so perilous as they were in 1306/7.</span></span></div>
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<br />TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-40545389632480159772018-05-23T21:56:00.001-05:002018-05-23T23:07:35.456-05:00Barra Today<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There
is nothing visible today which can be directly linked to the battle, and the
actual site is a matter of conjecture, however that does not mean that there is
nothing to see.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With
that in mind, I would like to highlight seven locations which may be of
interest and have featured in the blog.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>1:</b></span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Bruce’s Field is by tradition the site of the battle, it is located to the left
of the main Inverurie to Oldmeldrum road (B1970), when travelling towards
Oldmeldrum.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There
is little to differentiate is from the adjoining fields and there is nothing to
see from the road. It can best be viewed from the top of Barra Hill, which can
be reached by the footpath between “Blankets” and Bourtie Kirk. </span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">For precise details see below</span>)</span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmtCOjUBPMVgUcXR2VZ-ohQskTPSSjkpGZhBEfHvkvphHLGSYYZ-GiIvLFCZ-Ku3eIuXZsojY7i9c3luv4uqYKsivtvRDxHmdZFvCAx1sYyOo5yDtq_tWJWncUC-fubZgoh5LTtJxtR-x/s1600/Footpath_Sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="980" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmtCOjUBPMVgUcXR2VZ-ohQskTPSSjkpGZhBEfHvkvphHLGSYYZ-GiIvLFCZ-Ku3eIuXZsojY7i9c3luv4uqYKsivtvRDxHmdZFvCAx1sYyOo5yDtq_tWJWncUC-fubZgoh5LTtJxtR-x/s320/Footpath_Sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">The entrance to the footpath from the Oldmeldrum end.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/797939"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/797939</span></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0by1TrVzdJSl5O_WNf2XH0rwMIabn3q4qa5rA_wzoFk5kQwZITbbkQtggr5VhfB8GWH9AC0WB6YAwttS-YsVHH64atc3dsLci6OqBaKncosSKz4sLK4ui3LEyB6yWcbhdIhMN70oZmzle/s1600/The+Bruce+Field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="778" data-original-width="1034" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0by1TrVzdJSl5O_WNf2XH0rwMIabn3q4qa5rA_wzoFk5kQwZITbbkQtggr5VhfB8GWH9AC0WB6YAwttS-YsVHH64atc3dsLci6OqBaKncosSKz4sLK4ui3LEyB6yWcbhdIhMN70oZmzle/s400/The+Bruce+Field.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;">Bruce's Field from Barra Hill</span></div>
<div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>2:
</b></span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Barra Hill, is the location of three places of interest, which can be reached
by the footpath.</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>A: </b></span><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Iron Age hill fort which
predates the battle by over a millennium.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=11082"><span style="color: blue;">http://www.megalithic.co.uk/article.php?sid=11082</span></a></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWg3mQIXfzJS62-_F4B-lJ_vy2JvIJZxBzLOv9OFHxnMbr3rFosfzZGpERHOqHAe_vlCglAYcq6KJszKNiNTysnc4Y0VnrCl_WAmSk0nTH789UM7ZUZ0ViTEN4bqq2DPJqoysmCn7Sk0Py/s1600/Comyn+Camp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1022" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWg3mQIXfzJS62-_F4B-lJ_vy2JvIJZxBzLOv9OFHxnMbr3rFosfzZGpERHOqHAe_vlCglAYcq6KJszKNiNTysnc4Y0VnrCl_WAmSk0nTH789UM7ZUZ0ViTEN4bqq2DPJqoysmCn7Sk0Py/s400/Comyn+Camp.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Iron Age hill fort and Comyn's Camp</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span><br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>B:
</b></span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Comyn’s camp, which is the same location as the hill fort, is by some
traditions where the Earl and his army camped the night before the battle.
However, there is no evidence to support these traditions.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>C:</b></span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Wallace’s putting stone, is a
large serpentine rock standing on Barra hill, which according to legend was
thrown by Wallace from Bennachie, into Comyn’s camp to aid the king’s army.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">See
post for details: </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><a href="http://barra1308.blogspot.com/2008/10/wallaces-putting-stone.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://barra1308.blogspot.com/2008/10/wallaces-putting-stone.html </span></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVUAOJ075o93_KrR3GarlkQ32qml8W17VxulyoxGsavCN6UuU-64VuHK0sPo2Ebo5_5J4ko0Lwq988tDZO7zN6XxZvfUwjSkYXdjVmWBoETdLVJAfW550K1XshnO6cgdw3ZWNvWDi54Fy/s1600/Wallace%2527s_Putting_Stone%255B1%255D_Border.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="646" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVUAOJ075o93_KrR3GarlkQ32qml8W17VxulyoxGsavCN6UuU-64VuHK0sPo2Ebo5_5J4ko0Lwq988tDZO7zN6XxZvfUwjSkYXdjVmWBoETdLVJAfW550K1XshnO6cgdw3ZWNvWDi54Fy/s400/Wallace%2527s_Putting_Stone%255B1%255D_Border.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Wallace's Putting Stone</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>3:</b></span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Bourtie Kirk is the location of two stone figures, a knight and a lady, who are
associated with the legend of Thomas De Longueville. Legend has it that Sir
Thomas a companion of Robert I, was mortally wounded, and in true Robin Hood
fashion fired an arrow, to determine where he should be buried. </span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
Kirk is not open to the public, but there are regular services. (See link
below)</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.meldrumandbourtiechurch.com/bourtie"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.meldrumandbourtiechurch.com/bourtie</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"> </span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For
more information see Marion Youngblood’s book “Bourtie Kirk 800 years”</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclDfbEzVn2gE6KsDLtH7czV7WbjDw4wVqYj8ZKexCadBdP3sG0RoEVEvvEQ9oVVglGoFXJomhrfjKwiFjp97QxZ6d2S6jm6l73TE_VLDEIq4a_3bEC9JrCy9ipXc8WGF7Pu5SIMrOPxoe/s1600/Lady+and+Knight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="654" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiclDfbEzVn2gE6KsDLtH7czV7WbjDw4wVqYj8ZKexCadBdP3sG0RoEVEvvEQ9oVVglGoFXJomhrfjKwiFjp97QxZ6d2S6jm6l73TE_VLDEIq4a_3bEC9JrCy9ipXc8WGF7Pu5SIMrOPxoe/s400/Lady+and+Knight.jpg" width="272" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Sir Thomas and his Lady</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>4:</b></span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
Lawel Hill, features a legend of the battle where Robert I’s army gathered
cattle and tied lanterns to their horns and stampeded them at Comyn’s army.
(See post for details.) </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="line-height: normal; margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://barra1308.blogspot.com/2008/06/some-thoughts.html"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;">http://barra1308.blogspot.com/2008/06/some-thoughts.html</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span> </span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lawel
hill is located to the south of Barra Hill and can be viewed for the summit.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIX4HCO_0XrPPICW_Xclm4RLzSDAKP104WueWkuOuo-frHnzUC7bYgeGOjCdBQB_xkxICS_rHt3Hxx8SE4uDsAEXIYirtXDTSjeaqsL0iYxEtolInz6ijz-Kp4fbaPHlh8ov2g0uDjx75/s1600/Looking+towards+Lawel+Hill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="440" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIX4HCO_0XrPPICW_Xclm4RLzSDAKP104WueWkuOuo-frHnzUC7bYgeGOjCdBQB_xkxICS_rHt3Hxx8SE4uDsAEXIYirtXDTSjeaqsL0iYxEtolInz6ijz-Kp4fbaPHlh8ov2g0uDjx75/s400/Looking+towards+Lawel+Hill.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Lawel Hill from Barra Hill</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: #b45f06;"></span>
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>5:
</b></span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The original site of Bruce’s seat, was just off the old footpath which ran up
the eastern slope of Barra Hill. For details of the location and see John
Pirie’s account.</span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://barra1308.blogspot.com/2009/07/bruces-seat.html"><span style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://barra1308.blogspot.com/2009/07/bruces-seat.html</span></span></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzRV800lA_XTHC3e_HkpK-nqrHYwy7CCWhPC0k-pni-P07NCrsRAsU9mVJRaH8gKUFQ7ALrTei_FVO_wDvnHz71aRSjv1ukYCNuqUidDPeZgdQ_lvT-zBCHGf_KlS-bCRuvnxOJPxdLgt/s1600/Barra+Hill+from+Golf+Course.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="524" data-original-width="1026" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCzRV800lA_XTHC3e_HkpK-nqrHYwy7CCWhPC0k-pni-P07NCrsRAsU9mVJRaH8gKUFQ7ALrTei_FVO_wDvnHz71aRSjv1ukYCNuqUidDPeZgdQ_lvT-zBCHGf_KlS-bCRuvnxOJPxdLgt/s400/Barra+Hill+from+Golf+Course.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">The east side of Barra Hill from the golf course</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"></span><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: blue;"></span>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>6:
</b></span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Grenago Stane, is located on the 14<sup>th</sup> fairway of Oldmeldrum golf
course.</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.oldmeldrumgolf.co.uk/the-groaner-2/"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.oldmeldrumgolf.co.uk/the-groaner-2/</span></span></a><span style="margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This
according to legend is where the Earl of Buchan is said to have lamented his
defeat. (For details see post)</span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><a href="http://barra1308.blogspot.com/2008/10/grenago-stane.html"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;">http://barra1308.blogspot.com/2008/10/grenago-stane.html</span></span></a><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue;"> </span> </span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It
can be viewed from Kirk Brae, just take care to avoid flying golf balls.</span></span></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/898972"><span style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/898972</span></span></a></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnE2ozOTSAs-1qtnUlfXtxDL9ZD-Q8Pg4-ntUA2psJv_nfTe8szuUDCTWPJAQNb0mrxK2akthprXIILak7u4L45zU7d2cFOYg_rls6TaB2l-W38VnPiNlmA0U5HrkzBfHgv_a77rbC8Ben/s1600/The+Grenago+Stone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="622" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnE2ozOTSAs-1qtnUlfXtxDL9ZD-Q8Pg4-ntUA2psJv_nfTe8szuUDCTWPJAQNb0mrxK2akthprXIILak7u4L45zU7d2cFOYg_rls6TaB2l-W38VnPiNlmA0U5HrkzBfHgv_a77rbC8Ben/s400/The+Grenago+Stone.jpg" width="322" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">The Grenago Stane</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #783f04; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>7:
</b></span><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Battle of Barra Memorial, was unveiled ten years ago, and details of the
project are included in numerous posts on this blog. It is located on the north
side of the Barra roundabout, on the B9170.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuvncgAPWjpTJSF2gq6vV2Qek32vGmZyZYWlGWgiHF9Qft7mXMiNaTINh_DqM0j-laCeo3-Bb2KMxrMLabg1VPt6BH1l5S_ACuL35ccYE7HSH0Oka3eo4hhSZwRw-C07pV4KbQTPZae29/s1600/Barra+memorial.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="604" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwuvncgAPWjpTJSF2gq6vV2Qek32vGmZyZYWlGWgiHF9Qft7mXMiNaTINh_DqM0j-laCeo3-Bb2KMxrMLabg1VPt6BH1l5S_ACuL35ccYE7HSH0Oka3eo4hhSZwRw-C07pV4KbQTPZae29/s400/Barra+memorial.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">Battle of Barra memorial</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"></span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
battle field today is described in the “inventory boundary” and “battlefield
landscape” sections of the Historic Scotland battlefield inventory.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/BTL18"><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/BTL18</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="color: #0563c1;"></span><span style="color: black;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><span style="color: blue;"></span></div>
</span></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One last thing, if you are visiting any of the locations, please treat them with respect.</span></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike><span style="color: #b45f06;"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-89924744888460371922018-05-22T22:07:00.000-05:002018-05-24T10:34:07.131-05:00The Comyns the final chapter.<br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; margin: 0px;">As seen in an earlier post </span>the
Comyns had prospered in the first three decades of the 13<sup>th</sup> century and
assumed a dominant position in Scottish affairs which would last until their
final defeat by Robert at Barra.</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><a href="http://barra1308.blogspot.com/2012/04/comyns-3.html">http://barra1308.blogspot.com/2012/04/comyns-3.html </a></span></div>
<span style="color: blue;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">In
the coming years this dominance would be challenged by rivals, but the Comyn
party would work together to thwart the efforts of their various challengers.</span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">When
William the Earl of Buchan died in 1233, his son Walter, Earl of Mentieth and
Lord of Badenoch, assumed the leadership and confronted the challenge from
their north eastern neighbors, the Bissets and the Durwards.</span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The
suspicious death of Patrick of Atholl in 1242, was the opportunity the Comyns
needed to attack their Bisset challengers who had been gaining more influence with the King (Alexander II). Walter and John Bisset were implicated in the death and
the Comyns, with the support of other nobles achieved the exile of the pair.
Fleeing to England the Bissets encouraged the interference of Henry III in the
affairs of Scotland, an unfortunate reality accepted by most in Scotland, but
which would lead to disaster before the end of the century.</span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">At
the close of the reign of Alexander II, the Durwards rose to be the principle
advisers to the king, and on his sudden death they retained control during the
minority of Alexander III. The Comyns seized the young king and his queen taking
control of the government, forcing out the Durwards. The Durwards sought
Henry’s assistance, and again all were forced to accept his intervention. (It
should be noted that Alexanders queen was Henry’s daughter, and he did have
genuine concerns for her safety).</span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">This
is the period in which the later chroniclers paint the Comyns as “over mighty
subjects”, but they were by then partisan Bruce/Stewart spin-doctors, and
sought to unfairly discredit the Comyns.</span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">For
the remainder of Alexander III’s reign the Comyns were prominent in the affairs of
the realm, and on his untimely death were instrumental in stabilizing the situation
and provided two of the Guardians of the realm during the first interregnum.
(John II of Badenoch and Alexander Earl of Buchan).</span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Following
the death of Margaret, the heir to the throne, the Comyns supported the Balliol
claim, during the period of the “Great Cause”, in which Edward I was asked to
adjudicate the claimants to the throne, </span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">However,
the Comyns also had a weak claim to the throne through Richard Comyn’s marriage
to Hextilda, the daughter of king Donald Ban. John II of Badenoch also had a
claim to the throne due to his marriage to Eleanor the sister of John Balliol,
but that claim would always be subservient to that of John Balliol and his descendants.</span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Edward
ruled in favor of John Balliol who became King of Scots, but Edward’s heavy-handed
approach eventually lead to war.</span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">The
Comyns would consistently support the Scottish side during the war and John Comyn
III, co-led the Scottish victory at Roslin in 1303, but about a year later the Comyns
and the other Scottish magnates submitted to Edward, and it appeared the war
was finally over.</span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">But,
two years later Robert the Bruce, murdered John Comyn, in Greyfriars church,
the pivotal event that led to Scottish independence and consigned the Comyns to
the historical dustbin. </span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">Robert
after numerous setbacks, eventually crushed the Earl of Buchan at Barra, and
went on to totally destroy Comyn power.</span></div>
<span style="color: #b45f06;"></span><br />
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;">It
is somewhat ironic that the Comyn family rose to power by crushing two campaigns,
launched from Moray, to seize the Scottish throne, but were themselves destroyed
by a third. Also, that the last senior male heir of the family, (John IV) who
had for a century defended the Scottish crown should be killed fighting on the
English side at Bannockburn.</span><br />
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
<b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike>TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-34998162552694944672018-05-03T08:48:00.000-05:002018-05-22T22:08:18.928-05:0010 years on<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It
has been a long time since I posted, but with the 10<sup>th</sup> anniversary
of the unveiling of the Battle of Barra Memorial is coming up, I have decided
to close-out the blog and commemorate the anniversary.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Between
now and the 23<sup>rd</sup> of May, I plan to clean-up the blog, and make
around half a dozen new posts, with the final one on the 23<sup>rd</sup> May.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /></div>
<h3>
</h3>
TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-85122739488292922132013-04-10T23:13:00.001-05:002016-05-17T13:43:48.219-05:00Historic Scotland’s – Inventory of Historic Battlefields<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZauDmM2XnnOV2s6UAwAktcYhZ3emxx2o6_ATlIlS8Py6hQVmye-MWcK61BWP7hLNaDi8sO0_4OoGqnsofCH6QTTAEiRVzqvWqIN0_UP-VsOSRAzBZ6vz09K8ih1kCpkAIuRuHHXs1F1S/s1600/The+Bruce+Field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZauDmM2XnnOV2s6UAwAktcYhZ3emxx2o6_ATlIlS8Py6hQVmye-MWcK61BWP7hLNaDi8sO0_4OoGqnsofCH6QTTAEiRVzqvWqIN0_UP-VsOSRAzBZ6vz09K8ih1kCpkAIuRuHHXs1F1S/s320/The+Bruce+Field.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center">
</div>
<h3 align="center">
<span style="color: #783f04;">Bruce's Field viewed from Barra Hill</span></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<span style="color: #783f04;"></span><br />
<span style="color: #783f04;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Historic
Scotland has identified the Battle of Barra as worthy of inclusion in their
list of battlefield sites, considered to be of national importance.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #783f04;">
</span><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #783f04;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Follow this
link for detailed information on process and the purpose of the current
inventory.</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #783f04;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="color: blue; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/battlefieldconsultation">http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/battlefieldconsultation</a></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"></span><br /></div>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The
consultation and report on the Battle of Barra have been completed, </span></span></span></span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">and details
can be found, at the following link:</span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">
</span><div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman";"><a href="http://portal.historic-scotland.gov.uk/designation/BTL18">http://portal.historic-scotland.gov.uk/designation/BTL18</a></span></span><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">The report gives
an outline of the battle and related history, as well as maps showing the
boundaries of the site, suggested deployment of the opposing armies, and the
location of points of interest.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The aim of
the reports is to raise awareness of these important sites, so please visit the
Historic Scotland site.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times new roman";">
</span></div>
</span><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-22594676833740615712012-04-25T20:39:00.000-05:002012-05-12T10:33:00.428-05:00The Comyns 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Following the successful suppression of the 1211 MacWilliam
rebellion, the Comyns continued to expand their influence and land holdings. William
Earl of Buchan, played an increasingly </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">important part on the national scene, </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKWMSqlk5zvT7iaL0LoistvtoCLAmuWdYP05jYybqzHX1XqRwYn6z-mrfGTQZT-mP__aGPyUM2hsYrFwF5i4Pb1-cDBWtqZZyDIYJ1DahAWzSlk5B8fSXfe9iR24kgLgcNswr8K4KNewN/s1600/Deer+Abbey+For+Post__02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhKWMSqlk5zvT7iaL0LoistvtoCLAmuWdYP05jYybqzHX1XqRwYn6z-mrfGTQZT-mP__aGPyUM2hsYrFwF5i4Pb1-cDBWtqZZyDIYJ1DahAWzSlk5B8fSXfe9iR24kgLgcNswr8K4KNewN/s320/Deer+Abbey+For+Post__02.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">witnessing charters from places as widespread as the north of England,
and Fyvie, in his own heartland. He also played a key role in the coronation of
Alexander II at Scone, in 1214 following the death of his father. Although the Comyns held lands throughout
Scotland and England, William began to consolidate their power in the North
East, and under his patronage Deer Abbey was founded in 1219.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElZ9njjH5T01wppl2vsGf97MsAbNwO_ULE9gwZ-5oe8NmLsWevst8eHnjQC2WZezlaswmWTQihYghU_gA2VaFLNcDMM3yyev93rA7XvciEXg9uxDhE7Kod6JlbIfd4A0w96lHCNCXQRH9/s1600/Deer+Abbey_For+Post_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiElZ9njjH5T01wppl2vsGf97MsAbNwO_ULE9gwZ-5oe8NmLsWevst8eHnjQC2WZezlaswmWTQihYghU_gA2VaFLNcDMM3yyev93rA7XvciEXg9uxDhE7Kod6JlbIfd4A0w96lHCNCXQRH9/s320/Deer+Abbey_For+Post_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>The Abbey of Deer<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span>*</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This consolidation an expansion continued in a relatively
peaceful fashion until 1229 when another MacWilliam rebellion erupted out of
Moray. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Alexander II, having failed to suppress the rebellion in
person, again appointed William, the Warden of Moray, with the authority and resources
to “get the job done”. The Comyns duly complied, and the heads of Gulleasbuig
and his sons were delivered to the King, who in gratitude conferred the Lordship
of Badenoch on William’s son Walter. The
royal “enforcers” now directly controlled a swath of land across the breadth of
northern Scotland, in the shape of the Lordships of Lochaber, Badenoch, and the
Earldom of Buchan. This effectively stabilized the north for the crown and
ended the MacWilliam threat for good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So as another generation prepared to “assume the mantel”,
they had the benefit of the huge support structure, created by Richard and
William, based on, landholding, ties of marriage, and a large following of
allied families, all of which made-up the formidable Comyn Party. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6JFtFZRz5zCbt7IoLaa6Hv0AQPaZTAm1BbZqX-0eMqcZU7Wb8R_DOYDPdLHOvpRNQXyi-gAOV-AIfpkp6WrQVGpIZB44lxr95LTTi-DBzloM77S-8X5BXVMGJUHEa2AzaNQ8UKEPt13C/s1600/Comyn+Connections_Border.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm6JFtFZRz5zCbt7IoLaa6Hv0AQPaZTAm1BbZqX-0eMqcZU7Wb8R_DOYDPdLHOvpRNQXyi-gAOV-AIfpkp6WrQVGpIZB44lxr95LTTi-DBzloM77S-8X5BXVMGJUHEa2AzaNQ8UKEPt13C/s320/Comyn+Connections_Border.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Source: Alan Young (The Comyns)</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">But things would not always go smoothly, because there were
other “new men”, who also wanted a share of the Scottish pie. </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #783f04;">* For exact location of Deer Abbey follow this Geograph link: </span><a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2917066"></a>
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<a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2917066"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2917066</span></a><br />
<br />TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-36621217822205585132012-04-20T20:22:00.007-05:002012-04-21T21:24:59.950-05:00Sir Thomas – The Final Word<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSClSfXc766PcSfuN7Mc_SzRYEv7J1lsCmvWrKLO5euQczzfvqrTSL_NizNob-owHcUqbmILbXQrYZ_Jh6jDS0Np67IJwahTaQLAtn6yEDciFzJcLMJq9Ck8a5-w45Lud45jPuciq7D6i/s1600/of+Armour+and+Men.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733661111408985522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtSClSfXc766PcSfuN7Mc_SzRYEv7J1lsCmvWrKLO5euQczzfvqrTSL_NizNob-owHcUqbmILbXQrYZ_Jh6jDS0Np67IJwahTaQLAtn6yEDciFzJcLMJq9Ck8a5-w45Lud45jPuciq7D6i/s320/of+Armour+and+Men.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 320px; margin: 0 0 10px 10px; width: 214px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #993300; font-family: georgia;">Having devoted so much blog time to the good Sir Thomas, I was thinking, “enough is enough”, he does after all appear to be no more than a colourful local legend. But! - Although I would probably never know whom, the effigies represented, I was still intrigued as to their date. During my research I came across an excellent book by Rachel Ann Dressler, called, “Of Armor and Men in Medieval England”, in which she studies three specific early 14c English knight effigies.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #993300; font-family: georgia;">Rachel is Associate Professor of Art History at the University of Albany, NY.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #993300; font-family: georgia;">I decided to ask if she would give an opinion on the figures, and e-mailed her a link to the blog and some pictures, which she was kind enough to review and her reply is below.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #993300; font-size: 130%;"><i><br /></i></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #993300; font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;"><i>Dear Jim,</i></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #993300; font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;"><i> Having looked at the photo, I would venture that the effigies date certainly after mid-13c but before 1315. Since the figures are abraded it is a little difficult to tell, but my inclination is early fourteenth century. I hope this helps.</i></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #993300; font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;"><i>Best,</i></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #993300; font-family: georgia; font-size: 100%;"><i>Rachel</i></span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #993300; font-family: georgia;">So, it appears that the figures are close in time to the battle, and certainly concurrent with the period of sporadic internecine warfare from Alexander’s death until the Scottish victory at Bannockburn. Of coarse this did not end the violence, but it was more focused in the border regions after 1314.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #993300; font-family: georgia;">We now have the tantalizing possibility that the effigy really does represents one of the fallen of Barra, but, could just as easily represent a minor noble who died in his bed. One of the points to emerge from Dressler’s book is that the martial splendor of the effigy did not always accurately reflect the life of the man it commemorated. They were often in fact no more than “sculptural spin”.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #993300;">The last paragraph on the dust cover explains:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #993300; font-family: georgia;">“Ultimately, Dressler’s analysis of English knight effigies demonstrates that the masculine warrior during the late Middle Ages was frequently a constructed ideal rather than a lived experience.”</span></b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #993300; font-family: Arial;">With that said I think it is time to finally lay Sir Thomas to rest.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJT-aTYWpJ5q3hBPlyeiyshg6T8krRJzlUOTMNRkgw1jSZ28BuM8NydiKT0e9bhHllujLJpOmVEJ9OsfYe9oSEjBEzWyE2SyMHoqkbG-runMvZdc1xpeX_Wdi-wV7DrzBbUNBiYHyZqai/s1600/Lady+and+Knight.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5733659922449557442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUJT-aTYWpJ5q3hBPlyeiyshg6T8krRJzlUOTMNRkgw1jSZ28BuM8NydiKT0e9bhHllujLJpOmVEJ9OsfYe9oSEjBEzWyE2SyMHoqkbG-runMvZdc1xpeX_Wdi-wV7DrzBbUNBiYHyZqai/s320/Lady+and+Knight.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 218px;" /></a><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #993300; font-family: georgia;">RIP - Sir Thomas and Lady de Longueville</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #993300; font-family: georgia;"><br /></span></b></div>TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-71385482363683932372011-09-11T21:09:00.004-05:002012-04-06T22:19:54.305-05:00Battle of Barra Blog Wordle<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">Since I have had such a long break from the blog, I felt I needed to go over and review all the previous posts. I also have just discovered the Wordle application, which can be found at:</span><br /><a href="http://www.wordle.net/"><span style="color:#000099;">http://www.wordle.net/</span></a><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#993300;">The following is the description form the site:<br /><strong>“Wordle is a toy for generating “word clouds” from text that you provide. The clouds give greater prominence to words that appear more frequently in the source text.”</strong><br /><br />So what I did was enter in most of the text, from the fifty postings and this was the result.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pHNsawQSd-2n2TqMC3EVYpQUf-EeVc0cugO-n35nm0u2QCUn8A0IkKom8ajwXOtrUIo913HRCmENVPCVD37AmKN7Xif9b1Od3UzgyHAX3CT0WcNNsYfDd6zen59Vvbz_bYKgzfJXe_2v/s1600/Barra-02.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 253px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5651296298441930674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pHNsawQSd-2n2TqMC3EVYpQUf-EeVc0cugO-n35nm0u2QCUn8A0IkKom8ajwXOtrUIo913HRCmENVPCVD37AmKN7Xif9b1Od3UzgyHAX3CT0WcNNsYfDd6zen59Vvbz_bYKgzfJXe_2v/s400/Barra-02.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div>TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-71431624492307498842011-09-02T23:05:00.006-05:002018-05-20T08:39:33.746-05:00Bruce Statue<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTAUrTwj4LzJyatbRUJkFJHcp2VfVuNNubE1wEdC01PLsOSJGxyhY9fMAzh82XXIbcEOLC6tOfLElm_QZu3YQ4HNkWZITNuMwxAT1mU8BMJOeCB9iPHbR-QcAJ3L6BYvI6CIRIDgWTiAT/s1600/RB_03.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647982360358207650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTAUrTwj4LzJyatbRUJkFJHcp2VfVuNNubE1wEdC01PLsOSJGxyhY9fMAzh82XXIbcEOLC6tOfLElm_QZu3YQ4HNkWZITNuMwxAT1mU8BMJOeCB9iPHbR-QcAJ3L6BYvI6CIRIDgWTiAT/s400/RB_03.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 269px;" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #993300;"> It has been a longtime since I posted, but I do really need to get going, and bring the Barra saga to a conclusion.<br />So! Inspired by Juliet’s website creations; here goes.<br />There has not been a great deal that has happened in the long break, but significantly, Aberdeen has finally unveiled its statue to commemorate the city's connection to the hero King.<br />I am just back from a short trip to Scotland and had the opportunity to visit the statue, which, was unveiled on the 6th of May in front of a refurbished Marischal College.<br />I will not attempt to describe the statue, because Aberdeen City Council, and STV have done a great job in presenting the details, which can be viewed on the links below.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-B2Au65IUbMRFpTXjyQJwIJN4exTcv5Ek3dSGj5FVY2AsfGa495wzV7lhhCCQ3BXVjb7zqbQaivTaQ40eGdevz_irKm2KaCovr22KLwjwfweLN_n0QsFUPr4rxVL-nInDM3YrkFofssuj/s1600/RB_01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647982126123942418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-B2Au65IUbMRFpTXjyQJwIJN4exTcv5Ek3dSGj5FVY2AsfGa495wzV7lhhCCQ3BXVjb7zqbQaivTaQ40eGdevz_irKm2KaCovr22KLwjwfweLN_n0QsFUPr4rxVL-nInDM3YrkFofssuj/s400/RB_01.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 197px;" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://news.stv.tv/scotland/north/248075-120000-robert-the-bruce-statue-unveiled/"><span style="color: #000099;">http://news.stv.tv/scotland/north/248075-120000-robert-the-bruce-statue-unveiled/</span></a><span style="color: #3333ff;"><span style="color: #000099;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #993300;">I plan to post again next week.</span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wh0xuwPghDoMctyC5s6PnMDVJ_ZQUxdS62xsaZoIRAfgPH49Pcm8QzmwGpZjrHR70ewJJLVL3ow6-M7W1qFokZi30koBJHXODlO_dXW1eynhUqOUsXN7I4ugw3KlKupR_cdfFrwS7C5u/s1600/RB_02.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647981195720724146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4wh0xuwPghDoMctyC5s6PnMDVJ_ZQUxdS62xsaZoIRAfgPH49Pcm8QzmwGpZjrHR70ewJJLVL3ow6-M7W1qFokZi30koBJHXODlO_dXW1eynhUqOUsXN7I4ugw3KlKupR_cdfFrwS7C5u/s400/RB_02.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 389px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> </div>
TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-61735489913736826512009-08-09T11:06:00.010-05:002012-04-06T22:24:40.427-05:00The Comyns 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYi71FunUk6b4AkE5yCA_5gf0G135YY3pgq4QcRLpWFN7hsyDONF53Vrk3T0qMLOMYdbKPGOW-dzLJ3x3L7M3H5DPoDM9WfWGP55QvlRpw9J0-gnha0mERXRdADcn2p4WcR3z5hwuhHFD/s1600-h/Book+Cover.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367999071166265426" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 138px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYi71FunUk6b4AkE5yCA_5gf0G135YY3pgq4QcRLpWFN7hsyDONF53Vrk3T0qMLOMYdbKPGOW-dzLJ3x3L7M3H5DPoDM9WfWGP55QvlRpw9J0-gnha0mERXRdADcn2p4WcR3z5hwuhHFD/s200/Book+Cover.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#993300;">Last year I promised future post(s) covering the Comyn family, their rise to pre-eminence, prior to their rapid eclipse by Robert I.<br />Well here we go.<br />First I would like to draw attention to an excellent book, by Alan Young,<br />which was published in 1997, “Robert the Bruce’s Rivals: The Comyns, 1212 – 1314”,<br />As previously discussed in this blog the Comyns have over the years received an extremely bad press and Alan Young set out to redress this balance and as he states in the conclusion of the first chapter;<br />“A Comyn perspective is necessary to test the Bruce –oriented version of thirteenth-century Scottish history and the Comyns’ traditional role in it as traitorous rivals to Robert Bruce”.<br />However one reviewer did remark that; even a book dedicated to the Comyn family history could not escape the shadow of Robert the Bruce in the title.<br />Prior to this book it was necessary to trawl through numerous books, papers and articles, for the average person to get a perception of the Comyns, and even then it tended to be less than flattering. </span><br /><div><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#993300;">Some histories maintain that a Robert de Comines, who came over with William the conqueror in 1066 and was awarded lands in Northumbria for his services, was the founder of the Scottish dynasty. The name may derive from the area of Comines, in the French/Belgian border area. Other sources say the name is derived from the herb cumin, and that, this was the origin of the three sheaves on the coat of arm. The real origin may be a combination of both or none.</span></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisX0bbGSnlBd-kMQOLbbmF3QAtrCekx6Bg82i_P4d2xiQFz5L05_en-OHPTnN5vOtD87kr_MGS1XuTaxXy2UbxoAhXEif54z0CD87I3M8MhG2M7Wvi29sdJu5BhlsyxgWKQlrPN_50Ardk/s1600-h/Koeh-198.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367998149457297362" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 243px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisX0bbGSnlBd-kMQOLbbmF3QAtrCekx6Bg82i_P4d2xiQFz5L05_en-OHPTnN5vOtD87kr_MGS1XuTaxXy2UbxoAhXEif54z0CD87I3M8MhG2M7Wvi29sdJu5BhlsyxgWKQlrPN_50Ardk/s320/Koeh-198.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#993300;">Alan Young believes that the Comyns were not of a “noble” family like the Bruces, but that their origins were as humble clerks, from the Bayeux or Rouen areas.<br />Like many of the new aristocracy of Scotland the Comyns arrived in the train of David I during the 1120s. William Cumin was David’s chancellor, and appears to have obtained advancement for his nephew Richard, prior to returning to England to pursue his ecclesiastical ambitions. Richard had lands in the north of England and was granted lands in southern Scotland by David; he also obtained further land by marriage to Hextilda. (Who was the granddaughter of Donald Bane, giving the Comyns their first claim to the Scottish throne). Throughout his life Richard’s importance to the Scottish crown grew, and the evidence indicates that he was a close advisor of David and his son Earl Henry, as well as Malcolm IV and William, increasing his land holding and being appointed justicair of Lothian in the 1170s. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justiciar"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justiciar</span></a></span> <div><div><div align="left"><span style="color:#993300;">So by the time of his death in 1179 he was a very important man whose families’ future was inextricably linked to the fortunes of the House of Canmore.<br />Richard was succeeded by his son William who continued his good work.<br />William consolidated and expanded the family land holdings in southern Scotland, and continued to be a close adviser of King William, he witnessed numerous Royal charters and participated in diplomatic missions, particularly in relation to the sometimes difficult relations with England. William was sheriff of Forfar by the end of the 12th century, and was appointed to the senior justiscairship of Scotia (Scotland north of the Forth) in 1205.<br />This was probably and effort on behalf of King William to enforce royal authority in the north, which had been difficult and unruly throughout the Canmore era.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#993300;">William did not have long to wait for trouble, and 1211 saw a Mac William uprising, lead by Guthred, to press the claims of the House of Moray to the crown. At the head of a large royal army William with the support other northern lord suppressed the rebellion and captured Guthred. The King then came north to consolidate the victory and take hostages as a guarantee of future good behavior.<br />Following this success William, who appears to have been acting in the temporary role of warden of Moray, was rewarded with an influential marriage to Marjory the heiress to the earldom of Buchan. He therefore became the first “Norman” earl, by several decades, and moved the Comyns in to the first rank of Scottish nobility. This was truly a symbiotic arrangement, because whilst the Comyns attained their dynastic advancement, the crown acquired an “enforcer”, who was now ideally placed and willing to deal with any further disturbances to the Kings peace in the north.<br />This was Williams second marriage, it is not known who his first wife was, but the offspring of that marriage would found the line of Badenoch, and the offspring of his marriage to Marjory would be earls of Buchan.<br />As Alan Young states; </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#993300;"></span><br /></div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#993300;"><strong>“ By 1212 the Comyns had real power – the Comyn century had begun!”</strong></span></div><br /><div></div></div></div></div>TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-71499046201178817462009-08-03T23:25:00.007-05:002009-08-04T05:56:37.569-05:00Robert the Bruce<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WOvVDogfrpFUgflDGv-jHbUGMbqMlOqL6eOVUXXJP91rPb06doWygRWDAp2g3RKcQPOMLUpOfD6B2vgJhrDa0UdQUcbuinu6McvyrhYCyKxQ86a5UueFdv9o8onKonp6poqM0JgvePCn/s1600-h/Robert+the+Bruce.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365961389897187378" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 204px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 207px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WOvVDogfrpFUgflDGv-jHbUGMbqMlOqL6eOVUXXJP91rPb06doWygRWDAp2g3RKcQPOMLUpOfD6B2vgJhrDa0UdQUcbuinu6McvyrhYCyKxQ86a5UueFdv9o8onKonp6poqM0JgvePCn/s320/Robert+the+Bruce.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#993300;">I am currently working on a post(s), about the Comyn’s, but it requires quite a bit more work.<br />Some of you may be wondering what there is to say, about the “losers”, that takes so long, but I believe there are several important aspects of the history of the Comyns, which help explain the actions of Robert, after the battle of Barra. Also they deserve to have their side of the story told.</span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#993300;"><br />I do not intend to do the same for Robert the Bruce, he has been well served by biographers, and his life and adventures are told in countless volumes. I will however offer this list of my favourites.</span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#993300;">Firstly are the two “classics”, one medieval the other modern:</span></div><span style="color:#993300;"><br /><div align="left"><br />“The Bruce” - by John Barbour. (The one I have used during my work on this blog is the Canongate Classics 1997 edition edited and translated by A.A.M. Duncan). There are also a number of versions available in various formats online.</div><br /><div align="left"><br />“Robert Bruce & the community of the Realm of Scotland” – By G.W.S.Barrow ( Edinburgh University Press 1988 edition)</div><br /><div align="left"><br />“Robert the Bruce” - by Ronald McNair Scott (Canongate 1988)</div><br /><div align="left"></div><br /><div align="left">“Robert the Bruce” – by Caroline Bingham (Constable 1998. This book was completed just before her death )</div><br /><div align="left"><br />“On the trail of Robert the Bruce” – by David R. Ross (Luath Press 1999 This is the tale of David’s personal journey on the trail of Robert the Bruce – he did have a motor bike [David that is])</span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#993300;">For those who may find the histories a little dry there is always Nigel Tranter’s “Bruce trilogy”. Whilst generally historically accurate, it is also a “ripping yarn”, of daring-do, as Robert and his lieutenants win Scotland’s freedom, “which no honest man gives up but with life itself.”.</span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#993300;">I would like to close by quoting from the forepiece of Caroline Bingham’s book</span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#993300;"></span></div><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#993300;"><strong>“His faults were of his time, his virtues were all his own”</strong></span></div>TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-38740011094305744542009-08-02T19:04:00.003-05:002009-08-02T19:08:57.822-05:00Aberdeen Update<div align="left"><span style="color:#993300;">Firstly August 2, is a big birthday day in our family. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#993300;">It is my father’s, my niece's and nephew’s birthdays.</span></div><span style="color:#993300;"></span><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-size:180%;color:#cc0000;">HAPPY BIRTHDAY<br />DAD - KAREN - STUART</span></div><span style="color:#993300;"></span><br /><span style="color:#993300;">Now to Aberdeen.</span><br /><span style="color:#993300;">I wanted to let you know that I have received a reply to my e-mail, for information, from Aberdeen City Council. My request has been passed to the relevant department, so I hope to have some information, in the near future, regarding the statue of Robert the Bruce, to share with you.</span>TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-23336876877816612842009-07-30T05:44:00.010-05:002018-05-20T08:34:52.628-05:00Aberdeen and Scottish Independence<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYrJBBnueCBTpGChxFiTAdun0OaLpzLbuNK9S0pQo1icxQq_k6JxvlResm8zZSkIkrhcEO-pbly0fNOrF2kyk1UdwLMIwtG0JWW3mQu_dDw2EdyS2EmcbAa6kpeY8uBr1aUvlC82nm3t0/s1600-h/Aberdeen+Crest_01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364204729066868002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYrJBBnueCBTpGChxFiTAdun0OaLpzLbuNK9S0pQo1icxQq_k6JxvlResm8zZSkIkrhcEO-pbly0fNOrF2kyk1UdwLMIwtG0JWW3mQu_dDw2EdyS2EmcbAa6kpeY8uBr1aUvlC82nm3t0/s400/Aberdeen+Crest_01.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 273px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 385px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">W. Stanford Reid, opens his 1954 paper “Trade, Traders and Scottish Independence”, with the comment that since the time of Barbour the war had been viewed in terms of the battles, sieges and the leaders, and that the economic elements had been largely ignored.<br />However; no matter how good the leaders, and their soldiers, they can never succeed, unless they can get the materials of war, and disrupt the enemy’s ability to do the same. So unless you have the ability to get “stuff” the war is lost.<br />In the previous post I discussed the granting of the freedom lands to the City, and the fact that this was for some great service to the cause, but not for fighting at Barra or storming the castle.<br />In this post I would like to look at how the good citizens of Aberdeen (and their allies) helped Robert get the stuff he needed, often by taking it from Edward.<br />Aberdeen was one of the major Scottish trading ports, and the first to be liberated by Robert; in fact it would be several years before any of the others fell. (Dundee 1312; Perth 1312; Leith 1314; Berwick 1318).<br />So the capture of Aberdeen sometime in the summer of 1308, gave Robert a control of a major port, with established European trade connections. Aberdeen had a large Flemish trading population and also had good relations with the German cities of the Hanseatic League. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanseatic_League"><span style="color: #3333ff;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanseatic_League</span></a> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;">England had maintained a navel blockage throughout the war, but much of the time it was redundant, because English land forces controlled Scotland and garrisoned its major castles and ports. The capture of Aberdeen would radically change this situation, with its large Flemish population and northerly location, it would prove difficult to blockade.</span><br />
<span style="color: #993300;">The Flemings generally had little love for the English, and were willing allies of Scotland. That they would defend their rights and freedoms was demonstrated early in the war when they fought to the last man defending the Red Hall, during Edward I’s sack of Berwick in 1296. It was said that they offered the fiercest resistance of all the defenders.</span><br />
<span style="color: #993300;">Aberdeen quickly established itself as the main trading an supply base for the Scottish cause, and the “legitimate trade”, quickly broadened into privateering, if not outright piracy. With Aberdeen as a Scottish base, Scottish, Flemish and Hanseatic vessels preyed on English commerce. They would bring the captured vessels to Aberdeen where there was a lucrative trade in “laundering” wool. (This involved the removing of the English customs seals, or cockets, and replacing them with Scottish ones.) Presumably, with the willing assistance of the Scottish customs officials. The wool was then taken to Europe and sold as legitimate Scottish produce. The captured vessels were generally sold on the continent, but I am sure some were sold or retained in Aberdeen and put into Scottish service.</span><br />
<span style="color: #993300;">Scottish and European traders also traded with England, and although Edward made efforts to limit this trade, it would appear that for many English merchants “business was business”. Goods were purchase in England under various subterfuges and then shipped to Scotland.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;">Throughout the war Edward II would attempt to limit the effectiveness of Aberdeen’s merchant/priveteers, through blockade, naval activity, and diplomacy, none of which were particularly successful. English diplomatic efforts did finally separate the Scots and Flemings in the 1320s, but by then it was too little too late, because Scottish forces, already controlled much of northern England as well as Scotland.</span><br />
<span style="color: #993300;">Had Edward immediately made a concerted effort to re-take and garrison Aberdeen, he may have been able to limit the effectiveness of Robert’s campaigns. But; not only did he fail to act effectively in this matter, he also left his remaining Scottish allies to the mercies (or otherwise) of Robert. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;">So with Buchan ravished, Comyn power smashed, and the lifeline to the continent in place Robert turned his attentions to his other Scottish enemies. More in a later post.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;">700 years ago the NE and Aberdeen in particular occupied a pivotal role in Scottish and European events, a position unsurpassed until the advent of the North Sea oil industry, which saw Aberdeen again step fully onto the European stage, as the oil capital. Last year it was decide to suitably commemorate Aberdeen’s crucial relationship with Robert and the Scottish cause, and Aberdeen City Council instigated a competition to design a statue of Robert I. Alan Herriot was the winner with an equestrian statue of Robert holding the charter to Aberdeen. My latest understanding is that the site for the statue will be outside Marischal College. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFuzwG9Cv5CykbWc8gXj_0XPLTag3oC4uVTMFlGIpErl9gKmU22VV1EEkzYpmmYD6tga_0W4YkMeD5JySkPtzaSVS_Iu8CbBS8STfwEPPkGuf4YTsEsJ9qEz1EzTw_njG0E37Ff1JiF-I/s1600-h/Wars+of+the+Bruces_Cover.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364204116972570146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdFuzwG9Cv5CykbWc8gXj_0XPLTag3oC4uVTMFlGIpErl9gKmU22VV1EEkzYpmmYD6tga_0W4YkMeD5JySkPtzaSVS_Iu8CbBS8STfwEPPkGuf4YTsEsJ9qEz1EzTw_njG0E37Ff1JiF-I/s200/Wars+of+the+Bruces_Cover.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 200px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 126px;" /></a><span style="color: #993300;"><br />This subject is vast and for those interested in more details, the article mentioned in the introduction is excellent. Also Colm McNamee dedicates a whole chapter in his book the “Wars of the Bruces”, to “The North Sea Theatre of the War and the Towns”, his book is on this blog's recommended list. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;">For those interested in Aberdeen’s long maritime history a visit to Aberdeen Maritime Museum, where Oldmeldrum resident, John Edwards is Keeper of Science and Maritime History, is a must. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;">Aberdeen Maritime Museum, Shiprow. AB11 5BY. Telephone: 01224 337712</span></div>
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TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-7669237870584773372009-07-20T21:30:00.010-05:002018-05-18T14:49:33.315-05:00Of Comrades and Bon Accord<span style="color: #993300;">One of the problems with the Battle of Barra is knowing who participated. Everyone loves a winner so we have no shortage of candidates who “assisted” the King, and a dearth of those who supported the Earl.<br />So who were the “lesser” men who participated?<br />I have come up with some possible participants on the Royal side, but none for the Earl of Buchan. (No surprises there then!!)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">Names which in later years would be synonymous with the north east, Keith and Gordon, are often credited with receiving their lands for service at Barra, but in May 1308 they still served the “dark side”. (That is not to minimise their later service to the King, – Keith would be one of the heroes of Bannockburn).<br />One who received NE lands in the 1320s was William de Irwyn (Drum), who is said to have joined Robert in 1306, and served him throughout the war, becoming his armour bearer and later secretary. Although there is no direct evidence of his presence it is reasonable to assume that as the King’s armour bearer he would have been at Robert’s side at Barra, and if the tales of him requiring to be held upright in the saddle by two men were true, one would surely have been William.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXBgSlMEQlK6BD8HGxMjbep1W56bX_bKJ-JMF0PRy0NVdLyEfM38St2ReiOoDxU4KRuGJHiKkR7nImPuiCl8uNzUoMpxQOzQZDpvLauROcgdZU-q7k5AMy_bh9KwY2HWbx-z-7KBWAHJw/s1600-h/Hay_Arms.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5360736100762448690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXBgSlMEQlK6BD8HGxMjbep1W56bX_bKJ-JMF0PRy0NVdLyEfM38St2ReiOoDxU4KRuGJHiKkR7nImPuiCl8uNzUoMpxQOzQZDpvLauROcgdZU-q7k5AMy_bh9KwY2HWbx-z-7KBWAHJw/s320/Hay_Arms.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 288px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 278px;" /></a><span style="color: #993300;">Another likely candidate is Gilbert de la Hay of Erroll, later to be High Constable of Scotland. Gilbert is said to have been with Robert from the start and was amongst those who came north with him in 1307.<br />An interesting tale is retold by the Rev. John Davidson, in his 1878 Inverurie and the Earldom of the Garioch, of an Inverurie farmer named Benzie, (I’m sure he meant Benvie – see everyone loves the winner!!!!!!) who with his eleven sons assisted Robert at Barra. He concedes that the tale is very similar to the founding legend of the Hays.<br />That legend tells of the battle of Luncary in the year 980, when Kenneth III, was battling a Danish invading force and his army fled, until confronted by a father and his two sons carrying plough shears. They taunted the fleeing Scots with their cowardice, compelling them to return to the fight, assisted by their three plough wielding countrymen. With the Danes defeated and the kingdom saved from invasion, the father is said to have sat down exhausted and wounded, crying out Hay! Hay!, which became the family name. Needless to say this tale probably contains little truth, because like many of the Scottish aristocracy the Hays were Norman, and did not arrive in England till 1066, so could not have assisted Kenneth. The tale may incorporate, and embellish, the family history of an older Celtic line that was assimilated through marriage. The Hay arms are three red escutcheons (shields) on white, which are said to represent the father and two sons.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">Malcolm Earl of Lennox, is also reported to have travelled north with the king, and is another possible participant.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">The Rev. Davidson also mentions a document as follows:<br />“ It is a formal declaration by an antiquarian of credit, that he had perused documentary evidence of the facts connected with the Fergusons of Inverurie, now a widespread family. One writing bore that Walter Fergus of Crichie received hospitably in his own home the great avenger of his country, King Robert Bruce; and with his three sons and dependants, in the memorable battle of Inverurie, in the year 1308, afforded ready and manly aid, on account of which distinguished assistance King Robert gave him ample possessions of the adjacent lands of Inverurie”<br />I have found no other reference to the above.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">One of the outcomes of the victory at Barra was the capture of Aberdeen, probably sometime in July/August 1308.<br />Local folklore has the citizens of Aberdeen rushing to the aid of their king and assisting in the defeat of the Earl of Buchan. Another tale has them storming the castle and killing the English garrison. It is said that the origin of the city's motto," Bon Accord" was that it was the watch-word for the citizens engaged in the taking of the castle.<br />However there is no historical evidence for these stories, which may have been a way to explain Robert's endowment of the "freedom lands"* to the city, in the 1319.<br /><br />I believe that the endowment was given for the many services the city performed after it's liberation by the royal forces. (There will be more about Aberdeen’s contribution to the war in a later post).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">So in the final analysis we can only be sure of the main protagonists, the Bruce brothers on one side and Comyn, Moubray, and Brechin, on the other. It is highly unlikely that the citizens of Aberdeen participated, but there is a good probability that William de Irwyn and Gilbert de la Hay were with their King.<br />As for the others?; well my money is on James de Benvie leading the final charge. :)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">* The freedom lands of Stocket were given to the city in 1319 and were the foundation of the present day "common good fund".<br />For information on the Freedom Lands see:</span><br />
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<a href="http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/19326/details/aberdeen+the+freedom+lands+boundary+markers/"><span style="color: #3333ff;">http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/19326/details/aberdeen+the+freedom+lands+boundary+markers/</span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">Further details of the freedom lands, see Aberdeen city council web site.</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/planning-and-building/freedom-lands-and-marches#1579"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/planning-and-building/freedom-lands-and-marches#1579</span></a><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">NOTE: The battle of Inverurie mentioned above is the same as the battle of Barra.</span><br />
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TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-79547991298168313772009-07-07T21:30:00.010-05:002009-07-09T00:19:17.689-05:00Twitter<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355914116633289714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 232px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 105px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0AkTz-cT0_ruubHw0GismJIQtrgU94SKX7FaAP4nD35Q2Lc1_LgoFeTmj6mPUjstz-KF5kxOfqa6Y6rf0TRiuVEEtTP04gzyLteCV7TB0dlqF4J_cZxDvNHtN2Y_CtAoI_WquqnK_rf9r/s400/Twitter.jpg" border="0" /><span style="color:#993300;">I am just inserting a nonsense post as a bit of fun, especially for those of you who “twitter”. Twitter is a micro-blogging site where you provide updates, but they are limited to 140 characters.</span> <a href="http://twitter.com/"><span style="color:#3333ff;">http://twitter.com/</span></a> <span style="color:#993300;">(You can find me there @ ChauvinOn)</span><br /><div><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5355913540687009378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 102px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb6RhL7XxgRSeV7znV3V3_nz5VoUSCQhhkVN_FUmRUmNSlBcAXmwKsJdfPDtE_mZnYk0yu_4hgqsBkW2c1jLn0EgUcOaNnqzIgy5KGwQ69wVPRZoAupY5t5H17FJ516ux9pqP_fGA-UiIO/s320/Twitter_Panel_1.jpg" border="0" /> </div><div align="center"></div><div><span style="color:#993300;">I am researching a post on the Comyns, and I came across this paragraph in Fordun. *<br />The murder of John Comyn was covered in earlier posts, so I will not belabour the details.</span></div><div><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993300;">--------------</span></div><div><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><div></div><div><span style="color:#993300;">“The same year, after the aforesaid Robert had left the king of England and returned home, no less miraculously than by God’s grace, a day is appointed for him and the aforesaid John to meet together at Dumfries ; and both sides repair to the above-named place. John Comyn is <span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color:#660000;">twitted</span> </span>with his treachery and belied troth. The lie is at once given. The evil-speaker is stabbed, and wounded unto death, in the church of the Friars; and the wounded man is, by the friars, laid behind the altar. On being asked by those around whether he could live, straight- way his answer is : — " I can." His foes, hearing this, give him another wound ; — and thus was he taken away from this world on the 10th of February"</span></div><div><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993300;">---------------</span></div><div><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><div align="center"></div><div><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><div></div><div><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><div></div><div><span style="color:#993300;">It is interesting how the use of a word can change.<br />The word is derived from Old English “atwiten” to reproach.</span></div><div><span style="color:#993300;"></span> </div><div><span style="color:#993300;">* John of Fordun was a 14th century Scottish chronicler who died around 1384. His work was very supportive of the twin heroes Bruce and Wallace, at the expense of the "villains" Balliol and the Comyns</span> <div><span style="color:#993300;"></span></div><span style="color:#993300;">.</span></div>TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-52332605202656428082009-07-03T21:52:00.009-05:002009-07-03T22:30:32.726-05:00Bruce’s Seat<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iQJ4xES9GyJmPpI0FVTXr53oZ-T9V9npFVPfQQ1j7dIgYvyZsCIsgKMm8ZB0xFalCQWdDkGwZtbmDBXcHshtZgunu25yDoYxRz9NaRlXJ004M6yM8V0T-aHuOanyaLRTPtroT3ovOAAU/s1600-h/Bruce's_Seat.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354440636090142514" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 182px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6iQJ4xES9GyJmPpI0FVTXr53oZ-T9V9npFVPfQQ1j7dIgYvyZsCIsgKMm8ZB0xFalCQWdDkGwZtbmDBXcHshtZgunu25yDoYxRz9NaRlXJ004M6yM8V0T-aHuOanyaLRTPtroT3ovOAAU/s200/Bruce's_Seat.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#993300;">Well I have been very lax in posting, and this post is at least 6 months overdue. I am only going to touch briefly on Bruce’s Seat, because its history and its move to its current location have been covered in several earlier posts.</span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#993300;">When I visited Oldmeldrum last year I had the pleasure of meeting John Pirie, a driving force behind the memorial, who was able to tell me some history of Bruce’s Seat. Unlike today, the earlier footpath between Oldmeldrum, and Boutie, went around the eastern slope of Barra hill and the stone was located just off this path. John said he remembered it from childhood, and when in the 50’s the area was ploughed-up, the large stones were removed and placed in heaps, he marked the spot of this special stone. Half a century later he was able to identify it and help with its recovery and relocation as the centre piece of the battle of Barra memorial. ( John described the location of the stone as follows: Going up past Red House to the hill and straight on it was about 300m on just over the first fence dead ahead.)</span></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZUOT4kaSH8CIuneQXcy7QXmcN50O1ycfMW9w481Spw03sEPrNf4cdcOunH5smcpr9OG0LHTZ1L8Q5sRfrekkY9ZqN9I31Do9f1eZKzg2t3wrMsgdpEiXfPwyi0u4RBofBumoZS-rXnxF/s1600-h/Barra+Hill+from+Golf+Course.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354439256484436626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 204px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZUOT4kaSH8CIuneQXcy7QXmcN50O1ycfMW9w481Spw03sEPrNf4cdcOunH5smcpr9OG0LHTZ1L8Q5sRfrekkY9ZqN9I31Do9f1eZKzg2t3wrMsgdpEiXfPwyi0u4RBofBumoZS-rXnxF/s400/Barra+Hill+from+Golf+Course.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#993300;"> The eastern slop of Barra hill viewed from the golf course. </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993300;">Red House is in the centre.<br /></span><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2UUy2NzLn-L2LMHztHgpShxpB8-CtKcy-EeiopZkFGM2ShiZuk56TNPBTnSkBlZEsWE8CdUivv1wb22KkIOaGYkEMgdaVkdGfddUzmuC_qAMkAv8fOKzTxQuRvPjTsHM1D6QzQG4M3HI/s1600-h/Stone_Heaps.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354437917771697986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 241px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2UUy2NzLn-L2LMHztHgpShxpB8-CtKcy-EeiopZkFGM2ShiZuk56TNPBTnSkBlZEsWE8CdUivv1wb22KkIOaGYkEMgdaVkdGfddUzmuC_qAMkAv8fOKzTxQuRvPjTsHM1D6QzQG4M3HI/s320/Stone_Heaps.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="color:#990000;"> Heaps of stones dot Barra hill as evidence of the 1950's agricultural changes. These are viewed from the present footpath looking westward. Bruce's seat was in a similar heap but to the east.<br /></span><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354436482378163378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 235px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCm6Qi1M-oMas0gxcM3XGizrfONqrtcDoszDVO43KnTshdKdBFIKhEb7BPt6C4qIob3nqJbdcQcZnnUXhlObsNB8ds-8MrAQd1h5mB0qe4afRm90mdNX41jaax85eu_gROSO_NsLoP8Gig/s320/Footpath_Sign.jpg" border="0" /><span style="color:#993300;">The start of the present day footpath located behind "Blankets" </span></div><div align="center"><span style="color:#993300;"><br /></span><div align="left"><span style="color:#993300;">Thanks to John for all his assistance.</span></div><br /><div align="left"><span style="color:#993300;">Well that’s it for this one; I hope the next post is not so delayed.</span></div><div align="left"> </div></div></div></div>TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-87549253294181255952008-10-25T23:31:00.005-05:002018-05-07T05:59:08.222-05:00The Grenago Stane 2<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRzkpObQiqsOQguOhlvloScE93rRH8Y2Wz50wCUMu7MXWqfgVkdUjn7gmOxaPYoGS3cBR3xPQzGTI52VhRJG7E4QMqzdy-FklefUmmpvArK0V72opex2N9rNf2oCKwgg_sOzoe1CYxAGq/s1600-h/The+Grenago+Stone.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261318541406937746" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglRzkpObQiqsOQguOhlvloScE93rRH8Y2Wz50wCUMu7MXWqfgVkdUjn7gmOxaPYoGS3cBR3xPQzGTI52VhRJG7E4QMqzdy-FklefUmmpvArK0V72opex2N9rNf2oCKwgg_sOzoe1CYxAGq/s200/The+Grenago+Stone.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; height: 200px; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; width: 162px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">I have just received the OK to use the material from Rev. Haddow’s work, “Dowsing for Patterns of the Past – The stone Circles of Aberdeenshire”.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;">The following is the entry for the Grenago stane, for the full work go to: <span style="color: blue;">NOTE: The link was removed because the site was no longer available (May 2018)</span> </span><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">Quote.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;"></span><span style="color: #993300;"><br />This solitary stone stands in the middle of a golf course (Old Meldrum) and has no recorded associations with a stone circle.<br />“Grenago” means “groaning” and gets its name from the despairing cries heard from the Earl of Buchan at the stone when he fled from the Battle of Barra in 1308, his men being routed by King Robert the Bruce.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaF_ASoNt8_iS849F4xb89xt7gF9tTCpU8zGtSouBnESPk47HTOJymxiI0KqN7eY4Z9_tJW0g2vdDAY489SxL-reNatWPs-PwA9WIKmCu-nbhfm5-_UqolvqxxSMcdLdyhcdpKG2VTfe-M/s1600-h/Rev.+Haddows+Sketch.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261317625680209218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaF_ASoNt8_iS849F4xb89xt7gF9tTCpU8zGtSouBnESPk47HTOJymxiI0KqN7eY4Z9_tJW0g2vdDAY489SxL-reNatWPs-PwA9WIKmCu-nbhfm5-_UqolvqxxSMcdLdyhcdpKG2VTfe-M/s320/Rev.+Haddows+Sketch.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 306px;" /></a> <span style="color: #993300;">Fig. 37 shows the dowsing pattern pointing to a comparatively small recumbent stone circle of 7 stones including the recumbent. The variation of the rod`s response to the longest stone indicates a recumbent and its flankers close together; this was confirmed by the segment of energy between it and the centre of the circle where there is an elliptical shape measuring 10 feet 2 inches east-west by 8 feet 6 inches north-south.<br />The stone on the east of the circle was very close to the central area, i.e. 2 feet.<br />It is unusual for the recumbent and its flankers to be in the north-east.<br />These previous examples of standing stones show them, according to the dowsing pattern, to be part of stone circles and the position of the other stones could be found. As many stone circles have disappeared completely but their sities have been recorded, it should be possible by dowsing these areas to gain information regarding the type of circles which were there. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">End Quote</span></div>
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TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-79713446439266269582008-10-20T20:29:00.006-05:002018-05-18T14:35:27.537-05:00Wallace’s Putting Stone<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOWxesasuv43EeIMrApSaY6X37zHHY9Ncrf5661EeI5Cs0BcaoNi2wnv5a144hxw3Z3QM7pE-2OMaUQuTu5VepNUwV1tMqA8RzpsVs2oz1PJCdyrCgOr8GbcMlwBw6ZxDauiy5ShWealh/s1600-h/Wallace's_Putting_Stone_with_Oldmeldrum_in_background%5B1_Border.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259416303755721282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOWxesasuv43EeIMrApSaY6X37zHHY9Ncrf5661EeI5Cs0BcaoNi2wnv5a144hxw3Z3QM7pE-2OMaUQuTu5VepNUwV1tMqA8RzpsVs2oz1PJCdyrCgOr8GbcMlwBw6ZxDauiy5ShWealh/s200/Wallace's_Putting_Stone_with_Oldmeldrum_in_background%5B1_Border.JPG" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a> <span style="color: #993300;">Our next geological star is known as Wallace’s Putting stone, and is located within the hill fort on the summit of Barra hill. (NJ 8024 2570). It is an example of a glacial erratic, and is described variously as a green or serpentine rock. It is also the largest of our trio with a girth of 24 feet. Quite how it acquired the name is unclear, because to my knowledge William Wallace has no particular connection with the area, but as will be seen he is incorporated into the mythology of the battle. It is one of three stones of the same name, the other two being located in the borders one near Galashiels, and the other on Raeberry Hill in Dumfries and Galloway.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">There is a local folktale about Jock o’ Bennachie, a giant who guarded Bennachie.<br />Jock by all accounts was massive even for a giant but had numerous enemies, the main one being Jock o’ Noth. The two were said to have “traded compliments, in the shape of large bolders” which they hurled at each other. Wallace’s putting stone being one such bolder which went astray.<br />In one ballad Jock’s love, the Lady Anne, left him for Jock o’ Noth, and in his grief, Jock throws a boulder as the lovers stood on Tap o’ Noth, killing them both.<br />In the second Jock encounters a mystical woman whom he mistakes for the Lady Anne, and when he kisses her they both sink into the mountain and are never seen again. However legend has it that Jock is only asleep and when an enchanted key is found he will awaken and be free.<br />This legend is interesting because it was said that Bruce’s followers, during the period of his NE campaign, were spreading tales of a prophesy of Merlin.<br />One element of Arthurian legend is that Arthur is not dead, but sleeping, and will arise at the time of greatest need and lead the Celtic peoples to victory.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYkqe1oCeo_TcnB_aITn62UKzJVtbS_AhQprpe_63aG_T6jdvtKehp06x5rjrjY41N-cm_6808I89Y8Mz1Nt9LiiPDgw7xn58ySJgCXomQlAy6JSlStdRlu73BjNMLeHk08GTvi9hFcpW/s1600-h/Bennachie.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259415485255888418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimYkqe1oCeo_TcnB_aITn62UKzJVtbS_AhQprpe_63aG_T6jdvtKehp06x5rjrjY41N-cm_6808I89Y8Mz1Nt9LiiPDgw7xn58ySJgCXomQlAy6JSlStdRlu73BjNMLeHk08GTvi9hFcpW/s320/Bennachie.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">Bennachie</span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;">The Rev. Bisset, give the following account of the local legend of William Wallace and the Battle of Barra.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;">……..Jist at this time, whan a stir began amo’ them, (Comyn’s troops), Sir William Wallace, as wus agree’t on wi the Bruce, up’s wi’ a stane like a house-side, and wi the strength o’ 10 Galiahs, bungs’t frae the tap o’ Bennachie; and that they micht ken fa the compliment cam’ fra, he first prented the initials o his name (W.W.) i’ the side o’t. Fung it gaed thro’ the air and lichtin’ i’ the middle o’ the camp kill’t not a few, and gart the yird stot to the very clouds. The hurly wus noo complete, and oot o’er ither’s heeds like as mony sheep oot o’ a fauld………</span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;">And that is how the stone came to lie on the top of Barra hill in the middle of Comyn’s camp</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicw4Ynp-LXXDaH8kt4DomghCOLrc0-TSfFIOZ4bFuM508-uHjCNuoYHsb-k9RjAeFIHSOxAoFQknAGsP1kZLb-qGhdRcXixQCnAEmWL-BB-l6OW_7GAHnEIEPJmvCJvmSPRGnFwYURXeSQ/s1600-h/Wallace's_Putting_Stone%5B1%5D_Border.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259414014541697650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicw4Ynp-LXXDaH8kt4DomghCOLrc0-TSfFIOZ4bFuM508-uHjCNuoYHsb-k9RjAeFIHSOxAoFQknAGsP1kZLb-qGhdRcXixQCnAEmWL-BB-l6OW_7GAHnEIEPJmvCJvmSPRGnFwYURXeSQ/s400/Wallace's_Putting_Stone%5B1%5D_Border.JPG" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><span style="color: #993300;"> Pictures courtesy of Moira Gregg</span><br />
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TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-57661317964761858292008-10-14T19:51:00.013-05:002018-05-18T14:32:19.799-05:00The Grenago Stane<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFn0_v7yGVX5nM7hY1u-Il3enh_EkR7gNkbhmonDLl2w-gwV6x5m6EG33RwTRxzXPZk25VWBktp5U8HWN7hhh0ENSCBUp_lCU7tIDkKXBAY2FXxCQoMOuCAQAtTaXx6vKnMFCMXJExpiv/s1600-h/The+Grenago+Stone.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257194946008091650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxFn0_v7yGVX5nM7hY1u-Il3enh_EkR7gNkbhmonDLl2w-gwV6x5m6EG33RwTRxzXPZk25VWBktp5U8HWN7hhh0ENSCBUp_lCU7tIDkKXBAY2FXxCQoMOuCAQAtTaXx6vKnMFCMXJExpiv/s320/The+Grenago+Stone.jpg" style="cursor: hand; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px;" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">The Grenago Stane, or Groaning Stone”, is located on the 14th fairway of the present day Oldmeldrum golf course. </span><br />
<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.oldmeldrumgolf.co.uk/the-groaner-2/">http://www.oldmeldrumgolf.co.uk/the-groaner-2/</a></span><span style="color: #993300;"><br />For a more detailed location follow this link. <a href="http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/898972"><span style="color: #3333ff;">http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/898972</span></a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;">Legend has it that the Earl of Buchan lay beside the stone crying and groaning after his defeat by King Robert.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;">The stone long predates the battle of Barra, and according to the Reverend Angus H. Haddow B.Sc, in his work, “Dowsing for Patterns of the Past – The stone Circles of Aberdeenshire”, the stone once formed part of a long lost stone circle.<br />I had hoped to get permission to use some of the material, but have been unable to contact, the Rev. Haddow, so I am proceeding without it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;">The stone features in an 1870 poem by the Oldmeldrum poet, James Fraser.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #993300; font-size: 130%;"><strong>The Grenago Stane</strong></span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;">Oh wha hasna heard o’ the Grenago Stane<br />That stands on the richt o’ the road to Kilblean<br />Like A sentry, on guard east end o’ the common<br />The object o’ interest to man and to woman.<br />When a cowherd, lang, syne, my leifie lane,<br />I’ve mused on the past by the Grenago Stane<br />An’ the spirit o’ history from sleep did me summon<br />To see Earl Buchan the notorious Comyn<br />When routed by Bruce below Hill o’ Barra,<br />He fled from the field wi’ the speed o’ an arrow,<br />Wi’ Fire and wi’ sword is driven fae Bara,<br />Tae pillow his head on the Grenago Stane,<br />His broadsword is dimmed o’ its glancing sheen,<br />The presence o’ Bruce on the field o’battle<br />Scattered his foes like a herd o’ cattle,<br />While the Earl ske-daddled to the Grenago Stane,<br />Sick at seeing where the conflict had been.<br />Thanks to the burghers o’ brave Bon-Accord<br />They cam wi’ what strength the town could afford,<br />And that help, that lives yet in memory green<br />Laid Comyn to groan by the Grenago Stane.<br />The Earl while resting was heard to groan<br />Hence, says tradition, the name of the Stone.<br />And deny who list<br />That the Earl had been lodger by the Grenago Stane.<br />Five centuries and mair have passed away<br />Since our brave fighting fathers did sleep in the clay,<br />But wha disna gaze wi ‘sparklin’ e’en<br />To where Comyn lay doon by the Grenago Stane?<br />Proudly did the Royal Flags float o’er the field<br />When the rebel invaders were driven to yield,<br />So perish all rebels to the reign of our Queen</span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;">And bury their bones by the Grenago Stane. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;">Can anyone provide information on James Fraser? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;">The stone is also mentioned in a foot note by Fred R. Coles, in his 1902, “Report on stone circles of North Eastern Scotland” for the Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.<br />“Before quitting this district, I may note, in passing, the big boulder that goes by the name of Girnigoe, or Grenago Stone. It is, I think, an ice-poised boulder of whinstone, nearly 6 feet high, and roughly rhomboidal in contour, and stands on the commonty of Old Meldrum. In local histories it has a traditional association with a battle between Bruce and the Comyns.”</span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;">In modern times the stone apparently still retains the power to make grown men “groan”.<br />The Oldmeldrum Golf Club website carries the following warning:<br />“Look out on the 14th fairway for the Groaner or Groaning Stone, a large projection of ancient rock which inspired the club logo. If struck by a wayward shot, it can cost strokes by deflecting a speeding ball straight into oblivion”</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuxBJ907Hmm3NPyS4Luw-KlMHDxWOPUFgBPKword8m9GWN69Oa2dss7C0dYw1MbK2AdxutiQ_iBU0T4rWjLEMSkx7BGlEhlLEu692rpBOpWbUxRtmNPkLiyIT4ynmbStnKiZbSR9iqV9v/s1600-h/Barra+Hill+from+Golf+Course.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257192504950952162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYuxBJ907Hmm3NPyS4Luw-KlMHDxWOPUFgBPKword8m9GWN69Oa2dss7C0dYw1MbK2AdxutiQ_iBU0T4rWjLEMSkx7BGlEhlLEu692rpBOpWbUxRtmNPkLiyIT4ynmbStnKiZbSR9iqV9v/s400/Barra+Hill+from+Golf+Course.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">Barra hill viewed from the golf course.</span></div>
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TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-49260079379659732542008-10-06T21:10:00.003-05:002008-10-09T22:44:48.005-05:00Stoned in Meldrum<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdn0Cb_o9WZeDNqkdJ5D_DNAu5Ou9etMYRSfpZIgJS7ExNNLeCFj7BLUpFWGIuozbGuMsNFJtSAfxn3AoVYqPtoQt9dHtc4Ksg0vUwPe6UJCFI5vZHEEpyp_wWvve4ikI4piM6kx9hBfh/s1600-h/Stones.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254229261568038546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdn0Cb_o9WZeDNqkdJ5D_DNAu5Ou9etMYRSfpZIgJS7ExNNLeCFj7BLUpFWGIuozbGuMsNFJtSAfxn3AoVYqPtoQt9dHtc4Ksg0vUwPe6UJCFI5vZHEEpyp_wWvve4ikI4piM6kx9hBfh/s400/Stones.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#993300;">Now that things are back to normal, I would like to look at some of the current places around Meldrum, which have connections with the battle, legendary or otherwise.<br />I have already looked at Bruce’s Field, Comym’s Camp, Bourtie Kirkyard, and would now like to look at three of the most common objects to be found around the locality, namely big stones.<br />There are three specific stones in the vicinity with associations to the battle, and I would like to deal with them in the following order, The Grenago Stane, Wallace’s Putting Stone, and Bruce’s Seat.<br />But firstly I would like to speculate on why such common objects are often associated with important events. Has this to do with our ancient past? The North East is rich in stone circles, and other prehistoric sites, or is this need to associate events to the stones part of some long lost folk memory? Is it that a particular stone had significance to a particular age, and when that time passed, the stone or place of significance was transferred to the beliefs or legends of the current age? In the way it is said that pagan sites were often adopted by the early Christian church.<br />Any thoughts?<br />Next post “The Grenago Stane</span></div>TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-36796864658963117182008-09-24T21:51:00.008-05:002008-09-24T22:11:47.039-05:00After Ike<span style="color:#993300;"><br />Just a quick post to say, that we are all OK here in Tomball Texas, following the passage of hurricane Ike.<br />Ike arrived in the area in the early hours of the morning of Saturday 13th , and we were very fortunate that the only damage to our property were a couple of fences down and countless branches, some of them large blown down. Some in our area were less fortunate and had trees fall on their houses. But all of us here were far more fortunate than the people in Galveston and other areas on or near the coast.</span><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249788034265435794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAfqHFHhyphenhyphenGAeuT5e9N7go3NhDyvj3qcTEq6Q9alKJB3NruvYxrkwg5x2rt-KJgbP2AZHDS8LvcXPOZQTsbtBpN_8049y8Q5VoNzWvKJIxM7QL8AGCZ0VBdFyUfjUlASHTwgv64oa22p09/s400/After+Ike+01.jpg" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5-3SLszF-hwxoLnJIpthlOiMxW0p804YZ9v2mRIlSVBokod9Np2__A88QM__DMr0a6hwXsndVagVpovLh9CgG-F9roIMT4EZfVTIg2IwEA_hAvPpG2AMRDE5GWUKQSe0BvHk1oOM3st_/s1600-h/After+Ike+02.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249787781533173026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5-3SLszF-hwxoLnJIpthlOiMxW0p804YZ9v2mRIlSVBokod9Np2__A88QM__DMr0a6hwXsndVagVpovLh9CgG-F9roIMT4EZfVTIg2IwEA_hAvPpG2AMRDE5GWUKQSe0BvHk1oOM3st_/s400/After+Ike+02.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#993300;">We finally had electricity restored last night, so Juliet and I are so relieved.<br />I am finally back on line so thought I would post an update and let everyone know that,</span><br /><br /><div><div align="center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#993300;"><strong><em>“Normal service will be resumed shortly”</em></strong></span></div></div>TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-17711015177676088672008-09-05T23:10:00.012-05:002018-05-18T14:27:11.147-05:00The Moving of Sir Thomas<div align="left">
<span style="color: #993300;">When I started this topic I had no idea that there would be so much material on Sir Thomas, but for now I think this will be the final chapter, but one can never tell.........<br />The Rev. Bisset, in the 1845 Statistical accounts, has this to say about the legend of Sir Thomas and Barra<br />This derives some vraisemblance from two rather rude images of a knight in armour and his dame, which occupied a niche in the old church of Bourtie. They lie now in the church-yard, neglected like the stranded remains of Polydorus. It is hardly necessary to remark, that no such knight as Sir Thomas de Longueville is known historically to have been amongst the followers of either party.<br />(I believe that the Polydorus referred to was the son of Praim (King of Troy), who was murdered by Polymestor, and his body left to rot. See Wikipedia entry on the subject for more details.</span> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymestor"><span style="color: #3333ff;">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymestor</span></a><span style="color: #3333ff;">)</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcopSUtbIxJa0Ldf2A5WvtLpKKrP2Chw2iceeWiEVydnqlGP6rwWg2dKzJePHXwvVHGmVmMTS_zZL1vHe1t9c-Xk885ojvHsxUGQHMl_Hdos6cRI-PpDSPQFKzgZGY8iCcfUaZNmNpEkr/s1600-h/Bourtie+Kirkyard.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242760792868323698" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcopSUtbIxJa0Ldf2A5WvtLpKKrP2Chw2iceeWiEVydnqlGP6rwWg2dKzJePHXwvVHGmVmMTS_zZL1vHe1t9c-Xk885ojvHsxUGQHMl_Hdos6cRI-PpDSPQFKzgZGY8iCcfUaZNmNpEkr/s400/Bourtie+Kirkyard.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /> </a><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">Bourtie Kirk yard</span><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">Ninety years later a young Doug Smith was part of a team who moved the “stranded remains”, from the kirk yard to their present position inside the kirk.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">Below is Doug’s account of the move:</span><br />
<span style="color: #993300;"><br /><em>"The effigies were moved from the churchyard to inside Bourtie Kirk in 1956. Tom Webster was the contractor. He also completed the Meldrum Kirk restoration in 1954. Willie Henry, foreman mason, was in charge. Kenneth Macmillan was the minister of both Bourtie & Meldrum kirks.<br />The effigies lay side-by-side close by the right of the path, approximately mid way between the entrance gate and the kirk doors. (I am certain they lay facing the kirk and due east)<br />There was significant weathering of the effigies which was the reason for moving them inside. Controversy and much debate took place about the move.<br />This job was far removed from the usual run -of -the mill work we did and proved challenging and interesting, not forgetting heavy.<br />No mechanical lifting aids were available. We used pick-axe handles to move them ( 6 of us in pairs) through the narrow doors with a tight turn into a small room, upended them and fixed them to the wall. Now they were facing west."</em></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2xAvxUqNgvOdMwCNsPt3jSgHJKth-U7k2fAh2iABCakFcSnj1VrswbnxuZ7__gWypYbVywUYWbdtIKh4-ByNbQ9zNa2T4rQVcYPqyt6AwsEIJ9123jSbY7KdXkq_qL9m38ZCkTtIqh8p/s1600-h/Doug_Edited.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242759978781953346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2xAvxUqNgvOdMwCNsPt3jSgHJKth-U7k2fAh2iABCakFcSnj1VrswbnxuZ7__gWypYbVywUYWbdtIKh4-ByNbQ9zNa2T4rQVcYPqyt6AwsEIJ9123jSbY7KdXkq_qL9m38ZCkTtIqh8p/s400/Doug_Edited.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">Doug with the figures he moved half a century ago</span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;">Doug also confirmed that they had to carry-out some repairs to the figures as well as securing them to the wall.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">Further insight into the move comes from the “Random Memories”, of the late Rev Kenneth MacMillan, who was also provost of Oldmeldrum from 1956 -1957 and was the driving force behind the restoration of Meldrum Parish Church.</span><br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242759042966183714" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglU5zTeQ9Rq55ZFFU3BivG0SvR0ldRZ-SCzUAFCDtEQLFbDOAV0lFx1xT4u08DuKTTNSqwrCO1UAxxiE7sGstDDKD_b-Zl4tWoz7vT3BJumtx3ZkJeYdx539cHjHRgPRHiuvhxOCzDM6vb/s400/Rev+MacMillan_framed.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /> <span style="color: #993300;">Rev Kenneth Macmillan wearing his Provost chain of office</span><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">In 1950/1951 Mr. Mackenzie of Bourtie House made a strong attempt to have the effigies placed in the body of the church. Mr. Mackenzie, who was a member of the firm of A. Marshall Mackenzie, well known Aberdeen Architects, drew up the plan with the effigies lying side by side on a plinth. This would have dominated the interior of the little Kirk, and found little favour with the congregation. At the meeting of the congregation held to decide whether to agree to the plan or not there was much discussion, then one of the elders (Proctor) killed the idea by saying, “We have enough sleeping members in the kirk without having more!”<br />The effigies remained outside until 1956 when a small section of the vestibule was turned into a museum and with the help of Tom Webster, the Old Meldrum builder, Sir Thomas and his Lady were set standing side by side on one of the walls. The church bell, which had fallen down and cracked, nearly killing the beadle as it fell, found a place in the museum. Also a pedestal font, found by workmen clearing the ditches near the church and three long handled offeratory ladles, one dated 1690 were among the treasures.<br />In a short time there were many less “sleeping members” and many more awake to the fact that the Bourtie Kirk was still the Parish church and that Bourtie was still a parish. It would be hard to forget names like Stronach of Selbiehill, Green of Collyhill, Manson of Smithycroft, Cooper of Shadowside, Morris of Greenford, and Miss Thompson who ran the Sunday School. They were all Bourtie folk with a sense of belonging.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyxsD-OKw0cEH3s9H2JPOjwa5kdcYlJDVE66dK2QSSovU_052HnXypHUnB7XtEo0ngrq-vSlxvTLEEEn3TTl3E7HevGvAoT_uVOALwHlJDb-rDNB4HyULXYhOv2ouSdHsFya0fIL31ktb/s1600-h/NOTES.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242758081522365826" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXyxsD-OKw0cEH3s9H2JPOjwa5kdcYlJDVE66dK2QSSovU_052HnXypHUnB7XtEo0ngrq-vSlxvTLEEEn3TTl3E7HevGvAoT_uVOALwHlJDb-rDNB4HyULXYhOv2ouSdHsFya0fIL31ktb/s400/NOTES.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />
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<span style="color: #993300;">Once again I have Evelyn to thank for providing a copy of the notes shown above, which are in the possession of the MBHS. A longer version of the notes also appears in Marion Youngblood’s book “Boutie Kirk - 800 Years” , which is well worth a read for anyone with a deeper interest in history of the kirk.<br />For those interested in the modern day church, information can be found on the following site:</span><br />
<a href="https://www.meldrumandbourtiechurch.com/"><span style="color: blue;">https://www.meldrumandbourtiechurch.com/</span></a><br />
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TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6352051175896601406.post-21192549275481086672008-09-05T22:58:00.011-05:002008-09-08T23:18:48.740-05:00Legion Update<span style="color:#993300;"></span><br /><span style="color:#993300;">Once again due to the hard work of Evelyn, we have some answers on the “Meldrum Sports” picture.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbSWstFf45gKDSoKiZzmq_91n4wQwtOyuWcGaw3FUJGsFZRCaWNW8IWRHFQoFP656ef75J0vtJa32nXI8c4K2WVSDdVGFlBEk5jpRls33Gh-0L6t0S7zcsZ1UzkJXo20TrQwnscQlkAF-/s1600-h/battle_of_barra_(legion)_border.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242755311735418450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbSWstFf45gKDSoKiZzmq_91n4wQwtOyuWcGaw3FUJGsFZRCaWNW8IWRHFQoFP656ef75J0vtJa32nXI8c4K2WVSDdVGFlBEk5jpRls33Gh-0L6t0S7zcsZ1UzkJXo20TrQwnscQlkAF-/s400/battle_of_barra_(legion)_border.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#993300;">Past secretary of the Sports committee, Bob Forsyth, found the answers following a search of his collection of old “Sports” programmes.<br />The year was 1954 and the Sports that year were opened by The Marquis of Aberdeen</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNRvDKywk8Pi0J7edbW4QGrk-1EqOVpkXIjRKf0NPRMwSYwm5tQnHBzwkQAa1n6a1g-EaWa6k86O41SWSHHMNafU1BPSr8edfClMkdzsQHbYKuOBm90BEu9bxvy7Ww4tOzDPTTkOYwZHo/s1600-h/1954_Meldrum_Sports_Programme_Cover_01.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242754299585672034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHNRvDKywk8Pi0J7edbW4QGrk-1EqOVpkXIjRKf0NPRMwSYwm5tQnHBzwkQAa1n6a1g-EaWa6k86O41SWSHHMNafU1BPSr8edfClMkdzsQHbYKuOBm90BEu9bxvy7Ww4tOzDPTTkOYwZHo/s400/1954_Meldrum_Sports_Programme_Cover_01.jpg" border="0" /></a> <span style="color:#993300;">In 1954 the Oldmeldrum Branch of the British Legion presented an ambitious re-enactment at Meldrum Sports entitled: </span><br /><br /><div align="center"><strong><span style="color:#993300;">'A Pageant in Four Scenes'</span></strong> </div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lMPUDt1nOC87Zt5h_54wiJAywjpxDb83jrOx4F7CIHWMmVqX3J27xvoOSBNGnqc9E1tkDgPzCiFDsK2McM5RJK1iCTxiwvANV6_Ny52a8Ofad6nbPBlQg90Ks8smHRweeyiVYPIej7Lg/s1600-h/Programme.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242753517832777154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lMPUDt1nOC87Zt5h_54wiJAywjpxDb83jrOx4F7CIHWMmVqX3J27xvoOSBNGnqc9E1tkDgPzCiFDsK2McM5RJK1iCTxiwvANV6_Ny52a8Ofad6nbPBlQg90Ks8smHRweeyiVYPIej7Lg/s400/Programme.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#993300;">We now also know that Sir Thomas de Longville was played by George Meldrum, who at one time had a shop in the Square - in 1954 it was Gall and Bruce's shop.<br /><br />The Pageant must have been some undertaking; the programme has pages of historical notes, too many to reproduce here. But this must have been the norm for the time because the following year they presented an equally ambitious re-enactment about the Raising of the Gordons. 12,000 attended that year & Richard Dimbleby opened the Sports.<br /><br />Thanks Evelyn and Bob for all your efforts.</span> </div><div></div><div></div></div>TyauvinOnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11452882817363202503noreply@blogger.com0