Plastics are a wonderful material for creating all manner of useful items but as NRS conservator Andy McFarlane explains, they can create difficult conservation challenges... Whatever image comes to mind when you hear the word “Archives”, I am pretty certain it will be of something old, pre-modern. “Modern” and “Archives” seem contradictory - they just … Continue reading Plastic Fantastic: Archives and Modern Materials
Statistics on homeless deaths in Scotland
Today NRS published experimental statistics on homeless deaths in Scotland for the first time, in response to user demand. Similar information was produced by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) for England and Wales in 2018, and there has been considerable demand since then from a wide range of stakeholders for comparable Scottish figures. We … Continue reading Statistics on homeless deaths in Scotland
Accuracy and Fidelity: Scotland’s District Examiners
There are 678 Registrars in Scotland and they record around 140,000 "life events" every year. These include births, still births, marriages, civil partnerships, and deaths, and National Records of Scotland have been safeguarding these records since compulsory registration was introduced in 1855. That's a lot of records, and what many people don't know is that … Continue reading Accuracy and Fidelity: Scotland’s District Examiners
Scotland’s Changing Population
Demographic information about Scotland’s population Today we’ve published ‘Scotland’s Population 2018 - The Registrar General’s Annual Review of Demographic Trends’, and here our statisticians explain the key findings in the report. How is Scotland’s population changing? Scotland’s population has continued to increase and now stands at a record high of 5.44 million. Since 2008, … Continue reading Scotland’s Changing Population
Baby Names – how do we do it?
NRS released the lists of all babies’ first names registered in Scotland in 2018 this morning. We told you that Olivia and Jack headed up the lists for 2018, but how do we know this? How did we compile all this information? A lot of things have to happen behind the scenes before we can … Continue reading Baby Names – how do we do it?
From the NRS Archives: The Douglas Cause
Heir Hunters, 18th century style 250 years ago today, Britain was gripped by a scandalous court case that divided the nation. On one side: those who supported Archibald Douglas as the legal heir to his uncle, the Duke of Douglas. Ranged against them, those supporting the rival claim of the Duke of Hamilton, who believed … Continue reading From the NRS Archives: The Douglas Cause
The ‘Iolaire’ Disaster 1 January 1919
The Admirality yacht HMY Iolaire under the name "Amalthaea", Ness Historical Society, via Wikimedia CommonsThe first day of the New Year of 1919 brought tragedy to the Island of Lewis, when the naval yacht ‘Iolaire’ crashed onto rocks in the approaches to the harbour of Stornoway. Of the official total of 284 naval crew and … Continue reading The ‘Iolaire’ Disaster 1 January 1919
Please Sir, may I be excused?
Have you ever asked to be excused from jury service? Well you're not alone! For centuries potential jurors have sought to escape their civic duty on grounds of health, work or simple inconvenience. Here are some such requests which survive within the High Court of Justiciary held by the National Records of Scotland. Ill Health … Continue reading Please Sir, may I be excused?
Manuscript pedicure
There are many exciting things a Conservator can find between the pages of a manuscript. Not only animal droppings, human hair originating from unknown body parts, and other delights, but also something that looks very much like toe nail clippings. Except, at a closer look, they are actually quill pen shavings! After lines and lines … Continue reading Manuscript pedicure
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