In September 1666, the Great Fire of London began its devastating rampage throughout the city. By all accounts, it is the quintessential disaster story, and the plot of this tale wouldn’t seem out of place in a Hollywood blockbuster. From the 2nd of September through to the 5th, the fire decimated London, destroying more than … More On This Day, 1666: The Great Fire of London Erupts
The Battle of Falkirk, which took place on the 22nd July 1298, is one of the most famous battles of the Scottish Wars of Independence.
The euphoria of victory would be short-lived, however. And at the Battle of Falkirk, Wallace and the Scots would go toe-to-toe with a far different animal to the one they previously encountered on the banks of the River Forth.
… More The Battle of Falkirk : The End of the Beginning
In 2022, cholera outbreaks in Britain are an issue confined to the history books. Yet in towns and cities across the country during the 19th century, the deadly infection wrought havoc among the population. Fuelled by poor sanitation, overcrowding and a lack of clean water sources cholera spread like wildfire, causing violent cases of vomiting … More The Story of the Aberdeen ‘Cholera Riot’
From across the sea they came. The arrival of Norsemen on our shores heralded the beginning of a new, bloody era in British history. … More Land of Hope and Glory: Vikings and Saxon England
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
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 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 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
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
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