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78 Forth Naturalist and Historian, volume 22
AN ASSOCIATION OF HERITAGE SOCIETIES IN MID-SCOTLAND
Bill Inglis
University of Stirling
On Saturday October 17 last year at a meeting attended by representatives
of 16 local societies it was decided to establish an Association of Heritage
Societies for Mid-Scotland.
Why? The unanimous view was that an Association could
Develop a range of activities which most individual societies found
difficult eg conferences, specialist workshops, visits to major centres of
historical interest and publications.
Behind this broad aim was the desire to
Generate increased interest in the Scottish past.
Enhance our understanding of Scotland’s heritage.
Sharpen individual and group abilities to investigate Scotland’s history.
To date 13 societies, principally focussing on local and family history,
archaeology and civic issues have formally joined the Association.
On Saturday March 13 over 100 people went by bus to Edinburgh to visit
the Museum of Scotland and Mary King’s Close. On Sunday April 18 Richard
Fawcett and Peter Buchanan of Historic Scotland introduced over 60 members
of the Association to the restored Great Hall of Stirling Castle.
On Saturday May 22 at Stirling University the Inaugural Conference was
attended by over 40 people. The theme was “Evidence of Our Past” in which
speakers concentrated on the documentary and physical evidence of
Scotland’s history. The keynote address was by Fiona Watson of the
University History Department describing “The Changing Faces of William
Wallace”.
The remaining speakers were drawn from member societies.
Ron Page (Stirling Field and Archaeological Society) concentrated on recent
archaeological investigations in Stirling, Craig Mair (Bridge of Allan Local
History Society) on the gravestones of Old Logie Kirkyard, Bill Inglis
(Dunblane Local History Society) on 17th and 18th century inventories, Alison
Brown (Drymen Local History Society) on compiling a local photographic
archive and Archie Smith (Callander and District Heritage Society) on 18th
century estate plans. In general everybody was impressed by the variety, local
relevance and liveliness of the presentations.
In the coming year, in addition to winter visits and a conference in the early
summer, the Association will be producing its first publications and a number
of specialist workshops in cooperation with Stirling Council, and the Scottish
Local History Forum. (For further details of the Association please contact Bill
Inglis 01786 822962)