History Scotland

Explore centuries of Scottish history and archaeology with fascinating features on topics from all branches and periods of Scottish history and archaeology, written by leading historians, archaeologists and museum curators. With news on the latest research, opinion, expert reviews and spotlights on the country's most significant historical archives, this lavishly-illustrated magazine has everything you need to explore Scotland's rich past.

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New county flag for Aberdeenshire • The new Aberdeenshire county flag has been revealed at a special dedication ceremony held at Castle Fraser

Commonwealth War Graves Foundation launches in Scotland at Edinburgh Castle

Roman fortlet discovery • Historic Environment Scotland has discovered the buried remains of a Roman fortlet that once stood next to the Antonine Wall in West Dunbartonshire

New tartan created to mark Adam Smith 300th anniversary • To honour the 300th anniversary of the birth of economist and Scot Adam Smith, a new tartan has been designed by the University of Glasgow Adam Smith Business School

House of the Binns reopens for the first time since the pandemic • Major conservation work at the House of the Binns, near Linlithgow, is approaching completion, with the house reopening to the public for the first time since the Covid-19 lockdown

DEVELOPMENTS AT NO 60 BELFORD ROAD • Diana Sproat reports on a study of one of Scotland’s earliest car showrooms, built on the site of an earlier distillery at Water of Leith in Edinburgh

THE HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY of the Vulcan Foundr , Leith • Dave McNicol reports on the excavation of a Victorian iron foundry that operated for more than four decades, and whose existence mirrored the growth and decline of industrial activity in Leith

HERITAGE HERO AWARDS • Earlier this year the Heritage Hero Award celebrated its sixth anniversary. What started as a six-project pilot scheme has turned into a great success story for Archaeology Scotland, with over 19,000 people across Scotland now having received an award. Rebecca Barclay tells us more…

THE COURT AND HOUSEHOLD OF KING JAMES IV • Cultured, energetic and ambitious, James IV (r.1488-1513) is widely acknowledged as the most dazzling of Scotland’s Renaissance monarchs. Dr William Hepburn, author of a new book on the subject, explores two of central components of James’ vibrant regime: the court and the household

THE BATTLE OF LARGS • History Scotland’s consultant editor, Dr Allan Kennedy, reassesses the 1263 battle of Largs, a relatively small and scrappy engagement that is nonetheless often taken to mark the effective end of Norse influence over western Scotland

ANCIENT TRAVELLERS IN SCOTLAND • Professor David Breeze charts the discoveries of some of history’s earliest voyagers to Scotland, demonstrating how the misnaming of the Shetland Isles led to centuries of confusion

SINKING AND SALVAGE • The Clyde steamer Daphne sank catastrophically at its launch in July 1883, killing well over 100 souls. In the first instalment of a two-part series, William B. Black tells the tale of its loss, and of the torturous recovery effort that followed

HISTORY HIKING IN EDINBURGH • In the UK today we are privileged that very few of us live without access to clean, safe water at the turn of a tap. In search of the physical reminders of a time when such luxury was unknown, historian and writer D.A. Benstead-Cross goes on a history hike through Edinburgh’s past.

The Highland War PART 4 • The battle of Dunkled, fought in August 1689, checked any Jacobite momentum that might have followed their earlier victory at Killiecrankie. From the resulting respite, Williamite forces emerged determined to end the Highland War once and for all. In the concluding part of his series, Dr Graeme Millen explains...