History Archives - Page 2 of 6 -

The Story of Jessie Jordan, a Dundee Hairdresser Exposed as a German Spy

01/03/2022

On 2nd March 1938, Scottish woman Jessie Jordan was arrested on charges of espionage. An inconspicuous hairdresser living in Dundee, it would transpire that Jordan was in fact a spy for German military intelligence service, the Abwehr. Jordan’s arrest had wide-reaching implications, not least for British intelligence services, and led to the exposure of a … More The Story of Jessie Jordan, a Dundee Hairdresser Exposed as a German Spy

A Deadly Encounter in Dumfries

10/02/2022

On 10th February 1306, John III Comyn of Badenoch was murdered in Dumfries by Robert the Bruce. … More A Deadly Encounter in Dumfries

The Story of the English ‘Pirates’ Wrongfully Hanged in Leith

27/01/2022

On 11th April 1705, three sailors were hanged at Leith Sands before an animated crowd of locals. There is much evidence to suggest the trio were wrongfully executed. … More The Story of the English ‘Pirates’ Wrongfully Hanged in Leith

The Battle of Falkirk Muir: A ‘Hollow Victory’ for the Jacobite Cause

14/01/2022

Fought on the 17th January 1746, the Battle of Falkirk Muir marked an impressive victory for the Jacobite cause, but one that would have little impact on the eventual outcome of the conflict. … More The Battle of Falkirk Muir: A ‘Hollow Victory’ for the Jacobite Cause

The Massacre of Tranent: When Defiant Miners Faced British Dragoons

04/01/2022

The Massacre of Tranent started as a protest against the conscription of working-class Scottish men but quickly boiled over into violence. … More The Massacre of Tranent: When Defiant Miners Faced British Dragoons

The Bizarre Inchkeith Language Experiment Commissioned by King James IV

22/12/2021

The island of Inchkeith boasts a peculiar and chequered history. During both world wars, this craggy outcrop in the Firth of Forth formed part of a defensive network which protected shipping and kept watch for elusive German U-boats. Featuring bunkers, artillery positions and anti-aircraft guns, the island was a fortress and would likely have been … More The Bizarre Inchkeith Language Experiment Commissioned by King James IV

Tragedy at Sea: The ‘Battle’ of May Island, 1918

21/12/2021

On 31st January 1918, Royal Navy vessels sailing from Rosyth meandered their way through thick fog toward the North Sea.
While the battlegroup passed the Isle of May, five disastrous collisions occurred which sank two British submarines and caused damage to three more. … More Tragedy at Sea: The ‘Battle’ of May Island, 1918

5 of Scotland’s Longest Reigning Kings

14/12/2021

Scotland boasts a long, distinguished line of monarchs stretching from the modern day back to the early middle ages. From the Kenneth MacAlpin in the ninth century to the Union of the Crowns in 1603, many have ruled Scotland in its early and frequently fragmented forms. Notably, from the Acts of Union in 1707 to … More 5 of Scotland’s Longest Reigning Kings

The Story of the Infamous North Berwick Witch Trials

10/12/2021

Lying just outside of Edinburgh, the now picturesque town of North Berwick was the site of one of Scotland’s most infamous witch trials. One that saw dozens executed and high society implicated in a tale of dark deeds and demonic pacts. … More The Story of the Infamous North Berwick Witch Trials

Fire in the Skies Above: The Battle of the River Forth, 1939

30/11/2021

Earlier this month I spent a weekend much like any other during this past year and half, meandering around Edinburgh and exploring its many nooks and crannies. On this occasion, I found myself in Portobello, located in the north east of Edinburgh on the coast. While walking along the beach I recalled seeing peculiar photographs … More Fire in the Skies Above: The Battle of the River Forth, 1939