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
What is the Declaration?
On 6 April 2023, NRS is celebrating the 703rd anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath – one of Scotland’s most famous historic documents. The Declaration of Arbroath will be displayed at the National Museum of Scotland from 3 June this year but before you get a chance to see it for yourself, we asked NRS … Continue reading What is the Declaration?
700 Years of the Declaration of Arbroath, with Dr Alan Borthwick
The Declaration of Arbroath will be displayed at the National Museum of Scotland from 3 June this year, but you can find out more about it now. In this talk, recorded on the Declaration’s 700th anniversary in 2020, archivist Dr Alan Borthwick spoke about the document’s long and surprising history, and more about its significance… … Continue reading 700 Years of the Declaration of Arbroath, with Dr Alan Borthwick
A fascinating investigation
Handling records in poor condition causes further damage. In such cases extensive conservation treatment is necessary to make records suitable to be produced and therefore available to scholars and researchers. I recently worked on an interesting court book dating between 1686 and 1714, a limp vellum binding containing a whole block of papers in seriously … Continue reading A fascinating investigation
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
Open Book 