This post is the first in a series looking at some of the most striking and interesting items in the collections of National Records of Scotland. Sir Duncan Campbell died in 1631 at the age of 81, after running the estates for 48 years. Neil MacEwan, head of the family of hereditary poets in the … Continue reading Treasures of National Records of Scotland: Gaelic eulogy on Sir Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy, 1631
Doors Open Days: Discover General Register House
September marks a special time of year in Edinburgh. The summer is easing into autumn, the frenzied energy of the Fringe and International Festivals is calming, and the city prepares to open unique, interesting and significant buildings as part of Scotland’s largest free festival – Doors Open Days! With so much choice, how do you … Continue reading Doors Open Days: Discover General Register House
Church records – Reform, dissension and coals for the poor
The Kirk Session records held by National Records of Scotland are available to view free on Scotland's People. With over 6,000 volumes now online, these church records offer a fantastic insight into the lives of people in Scotland, spanning almost 350 years. Our colleagues work with both the original volumes and documents as well as … Continue reading Church records – Reform, dissension and coals for the poor
Doors Open Days 2025 at General Register House
National Records of Scotland (NRS) is taking part in Doors Open Days (DOD) again this year, on Saturday 27th September. The aim of DOD is to give everyone the opportunity to explore some of the most architecturally and culturally significant buildings in Scotland, places which are not usually open to the public or which usually charge an entry … Continue reading Doors Open Days 2025 at General Register House
Oban: the Charing Cross of the Highlands
"A more hurried, nervous, frenzied place than Oban during the summer and autumn months it is difficult to conceive. People seldom stay there above a night. The old familiar faces are the resident population. The tourist no more thinks of spending a week in Oban than he thinks of spending a week in a railway … Continue reading Oban: the Charing Cross of the Highlands
The NRS guide to the perfect Burns Supper
Burns Night celebrations are held every year on 25 January to mark the Scottish poet Robert Burns’ birthday. The evening usually includes music, food and performances of our national poet’s work. Delving into our archives, we have put together our own step-by-step guide to the perfect Burns Night Supper. The first Burns Night The first … Continue reading The NRS guide to the perfect Burns Supper
Preserving Scotland’s National Treasures: The Declaration of Arbroath, 1320
Some of the most treasured records in National Records of Scotland collections are centuries old. They require meticulous care to ensure they’re preserved for future generations, and never more so than when they are publicly displayed. The Declaration of Arbroath is over seven centuries old. Conservator Hazel de Vere tells us about the challenges of … Continue reading Preserving Scotland’s National Treasures: The Declaration of Arbroath, 1320
Doors Open Days 2024
This year, National Records of Scotland (NRS) marks the 250th anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of General Register House (GRH); the first purpose-built public records repository in the British Isles. It’s fitting that in this celebratory year, we will take part in our first in-person Edinburgh and East Lothian Doors Open Days … Continue reading Doors Open Days 2024
Remembering the D-Day Landings: Group Captain James Stagg (1900-1975)
To mark 80 years since the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, we explore the pivotal role that Group Captain J M Stagg played in the success on the Allied troops landing on the coast of Normandy, France, in the start of the campaign to liberate Europe and defeat Germany. Photograph of British soldiers landing … Continue reading Remembering the D-Day Landings: Group Captain James Stagg (1900-1975)
West Register House – Two centuries in the heart of Edinburgh
Doors Open Days 2022 has returned to Edinburgh and East Lothian and the theme of this year’s festival is “Standing Strong”, highlighting the value of regular building maintenance and community approaches to looking after buildings and places. As archivists, conservators, and collectors of data, National Records of Scotland (NRS) we cast our eyes down to … Continue reading West Register House – Two centuries in the heart of Edinburgh
Open Book 