National Records of Scotland, Papers of James Basley. Courtesy of Lindsays, GD1/1195/10 Archives hold evidence of many things. Organisations, people, events, transactions and, of course, relationships. While many records can illuminate the actions of people or a chain of events, some give tantalising glimpses that ask more questions than they answer. This poem, written inside … Continue reading A lover’s knot: Valentine’s Day in the archives
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
The illusive life of plasterer Thomas Clayton Junior
As General Register House celebrates its 250th anniversary, now seems an opportune moment to shed light on those who helped to create the building and its interiors. Thomas Clayton Junior (1743-1793) was the plasterer responsible for decorating the famous central dome as well as numerous other walls within the building. Frequently confused with his father, … Continue reading The illusive life of plasterer Thomas Clayton Junior
The deadly warning shot
Did Thamboo know that the revolver was loaded? That was the question which centred around the prisoner’s case when it came to The High Court of Justiciary, Edinburgh, in April 1902. Thamboo (also known as Thumby or Thumby Joseph) was a 24 year old messroom steward on board the Steamship Ava when it arrived on … Continue reading The deadly warning shot
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
Dr Jainti Dass Saggar
Jainti Dass Saggar (1898-1954) was a medical practitioner and Labour politician. Born 6 September 1898 in Deharru, Punjab, India, he was one of six children to parents Ram Saran Dass Saggar (1870-1943) and Sardhi Devi Uppal (1873-1960). Studying medicine at Lahore Medical College, he made the lengthy, 26-day journey to Scotland in 1919 to continue … Continue reading Dr Jainti Dass Saggar
Scotland’s pioneering Olympic stars
The Games of the XXXIII Olympiad in Paris is within touching distance and as Olympic fever mounts, we look back at Scottish athletes who have broken records in previous Games. In Paris 1924, it was Scottish sprinter Eric Liddell (16 January 1902 – 21 February 1945) who stole the headlines, breaking the Olympic and world … Continue reading Scotland’s pioneering Olympic stars
Part 3 – Tytler’s rise and fall
Following our post 'Part 2 - Tytler and the Grand Edinburgh Fire Balloon' from last week, we continue the story of James Tytler. Aerostation plate from the third edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica.Image credit: http://www.archive.org. Public domain The success Tytler found in launching and piloting his fire balloon in August 1784, was sadly not to … Continue reading Part 3 – Tytler’s rise and fall
Part 2 – Tytler and the Grand Edinburgh Fire Balloon
This is part two of our profile of James Tytler, the first person in Britain to fly by hot air balloon. Part one is available here on Open Book. Tytler was not alone in his enthusiasm for the possibilities offered by air balloons as a means of human conveyance and by the early 1780s fully-fledged … Continue reading Part 2 – Tytler and the Grand Edinburgh Fire Balloon
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