Contents Page No Editorial 1 CFSS Winter Programme 2008 / 9 3 Dates for your Diary Dollar History Society 4 The Clackmannan History Society 5 Stirling Field and Archaeology Society 6 Kincardine Local History Group 7 Tullibody History Group 8 Reports from Summer Outings & Field Trip Spring Field Trip – 16th to 19th Mar – Ardrishaig 9 28th April Industrial Visit – Graham‟s Dairy Sadie Archibald 20 Wednesday Walks 7th May King‟s Park Circular Jack Archibald 21 11th June Forest Mill Circular Jack Archibald 22 25th June Jupiter Wildlife Centre Isobel Wood 24 9th July Dollar via Harviestoun Marilyn Scott 26 6th August Glendevon Kirkyard Isobel Wood 32 20th August Dollarbeg to Arndean – cancelled inclement weather Saturday Outings + one excursion 31st May Ceres, Hill of Tarvit & Scots Tarvit Tower Jack Archibald 36 28th June Weymss Caves Aberdour Isobel Wood 38 24th July (Thursday) The Royal Scottish Academy Isobel Wood 42 30th August Inchcolm & House of the Binns Jack & Sadie Archibald 45 EDITORIAL Betty Roy The summer, such as it was, has now passed and the ever optimistic Scot is hoping for an Indian Summer before winter sets in!!! However one outing had to be cancelled owing to extremely bad weather and another one was conducted from the car, but never mind; more fortunate next year!! All was not “Gloom and Doom” however and the majority of the outings were not rained off – Dollarbeg to Arndean was the only one completely cancelled and is rescheduled for the end of September. The Saturday outings proved to be popular, as well as that to The National Galleries of Scotland - all of the outings and walks have been written up in this newsletter. Those members who turn up for these events realise the amount of research and effort that goes into organising the outings. I must thank those who give of their time willingly to organise and lead these worthwhile experiences. Special thanks to the “Computer Buffs” who produce such excellent information and illustrations to the benefit of our understanding of the area we are visiting. Once again, a big thank you to Jack & Sadie Archibald for their efforts in promoting our publications, the money accrued helps to keep our finance healthy. The Coffee Morning, held on the 6th September was most enjoyable and a big „thank you‟ to all members who have contributed to make this a success. On the day there was no shortage of helpers who undertook various tasks such as washing up, selling produce and manning the other stalls. A princely sum of just under £400 was raised on the day – once again many thanks. 1 The Society is once again represented on the Steering Group of the Biodiversity Project and also represented on Clackmannanshire`s Tourist Board. It is important that this society, established in 1970, is recognised as a group that throughout nigh on 40 years has instigated and promoted Clackmannanshire`s history and environment. The emphasis now-a-days is based on finance (lottery) while a purely independent Society such as ours does not get the recognition it deserves. Thank you to members of the Committee for their efforts in all the work that goes on behind the scene to ensure that membership of Clackmannanshire Field Study Society is interesting and enjoyable. We, the committee, look forward to seeing you at the winter talks. 2 Clackmannanshire Field Studies Society Winter programme 2008/9 Meetings are held in Alloa Town Hall (Tommy Downs Room), unless otherwise stated, on Monday evenings -2nd and 4th of the month- 7:30 to 9:30 pm. Members of linked societies and other non-members are welcome, for a small donation. 2008 SEPTEMBER Sat 6th COFFEE MORNING – Spiers Centre, Primrose St., Alloa 10am – 12 noon OCTOBER Mon 13th SCOTTISH TRADITIONAL WEAPONS Dr. David Caldwell, NMS Mon 27th COMMODORE GORDON – THE OLD SCOTS NAVY Eric J. Graham, Maritime Researcher, Edinburgh NOVEMBER Mon 10th OLD STIRLING Craig Mair, Historian and Writer Sat 15th 34th Man and the Landscape Symposium at Stirling University. Conservation in a Changing Climate Programmes widely available in schools, libraries, halls … information at http://www.fnh.stir.ac.uk Mon 24th JOHN REID, A 17TH CENTURY GARDENER Cairns Mason, Bridge of Allan DECEMBER Mon 8th Member’s Night 2009 JANUARY Mon 12th CLACKMANNANSHIRE PONDS, HIDDEN TREASURES Craig McAdam, Buglife Mon 26th “NOT GONE WITH THE WIND” (ASPECTS OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR) Roy Wood, Researcher FEBRUARY Mon 9th TULLIALLAN AND KINCARDINE CHURCHES Andrew Lumsden Mon 23rd STRONTIAN – A HISTORY OF ITS MINES AND MINERALS Dr. Brian Jackson – Mineralogist, NMS MARCH Mon 9th “HOW BATTY IS CLACKMANNANSHIRE” John Haddow, Auritus Wildlife Consultancy Mon 23rd DUNFERMLINE PRISONS & VALENTINE’S DAY MURDER George Robertson, Dunfermline APRIL Mon 13th AGM Cheese & wine 3 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Dollar History Society Programme 2008-2009 2008 09 September Stirling and The Crown 1603 Mr. John Harrison, Local Historian 14 October The Stirlings of Keir Dr. Bill Inglis, formerly of Stirling University 11 November Darien Scotland‟s greatest financial disaster Dr. Douglas Watt, Economic Historian 09 December Thomas Muir and the Scottish Radical Martyrs of the 1790s Professor Harry Dickinson, Emeritus Professor of History, Edinburgh University 2009 13 January The man who ate his boots. Franklin and the North West Passage. Alistair Cruickshank Former Director, Royal Scottish Geographical Society 10 February Amendment: Q Ships in WW1 and the Grangemouth Connection Geoff Bailey, Keeper of Archaeology and Local History in Falkirk 10 March The Moat Pit, Sir George Bruce‟s 16th century coal mine at Culross. Mr. Stephen Liscoe ,Fife Council Archaeology Unit 14 April My father Moultrie R. Kelsall conservationist and other things Mr. Robin Kelsall of Blairlogie. 12 May Annual General Meeting followed by The Antonine Wall Historic Scotland A World Heritage Site (2) Dr. David Breeze, Historic Scotland 4 5 6 Kincardine Local History Group 2008 Oct 8th Dunfermline Prison & the Valentines Day Murder George Robertson Oct 22nd The Antonine Wall, Recent Investigations Geoff Bailey Nov 5th The Forth Embankments and its Riparian Owners Reclamation for Agricultural Use Eddie Stewart Nov 19th Dunfermline Opera House Gerry McMullan Dec 3rd The Workings of Falkirk District Court Sandy Simpson Dec 17th Kincardine Memoirs Rayna Lumsden 2009 Jan 14th Some more Fife Villages Peter Baillie Jan 28th Clanranald, the Jacobean Rebellion Scot McMaster Feb 11th William Wallace & the Battle of Falkirk Ian Scott Feb 25th Kincardine – Imports & Exports in the 1700‟s Willie Anderson March 11th Tulliallan & Kincardine Church 1974 – 2009 Andrew Lumsden March 25th Member‟s Night & A.G.M. 7 Tullibody History Group 25th September The Coming of the Railway David Bytheway 30th October Excavation at Marshill, Alloa Susan Mills 27th November Reminiscences of Tullibody Members of THG 11/18th December Christmas Party To be confirmed 29th January Gartmorn Dam Betty Roy 26th February The Bronze Age Sword - from the Forth at Cambus Mark Hall (Perth Museum) 26th March Scenes from Dollar History Janet Carolan 30th April To be confirmed Alistair Durie 28th May A.G.M. Followed by "My World Tour" Chris Calder 25th June Summer Function To be confirmed 8 ANNUAL SPRING WEEKEND – 16th/19th May 2008 – accommodation at The Grey Gull Hotel, Ardrishaig. Numbers for this year were slightly down owing to illness and other commitments. However the trip was voted a resounding success and there were no complaints regarding weather, hotel/food, and interest. The sites visited ranged from the Prehistoric, to Medieval and on to 19th century feats of engineering. It must be said that the company made the most of the Coffee Stops at every opportunity, enjoying the purvey as well as a well-earned rest. FRIDAY, 16th May. After a misunderstanding as to which Woollen Mill one should meet up at Kilmahog, we eventually got on our way, and, after a brief stop at Tyndrum, as time was on our side, it was decided to visit Kilchurn Castle on Loch Awe (run by Historic Scotland). Kilchurn is situated two miles west of Dalmally off the A85. There is easy, but unsigned, access to a small carpark, and it does require careful map reading. The castle is situated on the western side of Loch Awe, and, after first crossing a railway line there is a pleasant walk through the salt marsh to the castle. Its situation, on a rocky outcrop at the head of Loch Awe, made possible its purpose to guard the entrance of Glen Orchy and Glen Strae. A stronghold of the Breadalbyne Campbells, the keep dates from the 15th century and strategically placed information boards illustrate its story. Its claim to fame is the site and also that it houses the largest number of barrack rooms within a castle in the country. These were installed during the troubles of the 17th and 18th centuries. The Campbells, who were anti- Jacobite offered the castle as a garrison for the Hanovarian 9 troops in 1746. Kilchurn is a fine example of baronial ruins and worth a visit. After lunch, a visit to Inverary Castle was scheduled. Here is the seat of the Campbell, Dukes of Argyll. When the castle was re-built in the18th century, the town was moved from its position near the castle to where the town of Inverary now stands. This was common practice at the time for the lairds to remove the village and its people to an area some distance from the baronial home, Logie and Alloa are examples. Famous architects of the time were involved in re-building the town and castle – Roger Morris, William Adam whose son John was responsible for much of the interior design of the castle and Robert Mylne. The original home of the Campbells was on the island of Inchischonnell on Loch Awe.