Heart of Scotland Ancestry

28/11/2025

Margaret Hall’s Cairn, Holyrood Park, Edinburgh

In 1720, 17‑year‑old Margaret Hall was murdered by her husband after enduring months of abuse. For centuries, the cairn marking the site located in Holyrood Park, Edinburgh, carried his name, overshadowing hers. Thanks to historians and campaigners, it has now been reclaimed as Margaret Hall’s Cairn — a memorial that honours her life and shines a light on the devastating reality of domestic abuse.

This powerful story reminds us that remembrance is not just about the past, but about using cases such as Margaret Hall's murder to stand up against violence today.

👉 Read the full story in Historic Environment Scotland’s blog:

Discover the historic case of domestic violence and remembrance behind the Margaret Hall Cairn in Holyrood Park:

13/10/2025

A few weeks ago, I met with a potential client from the USA at Stirling Castle on a clear, bright day. The light was perfect for capturing the scale and detail of a site that’s central to Scotland’s story—and to mine, having been born and grown up here in Stirling.

These photographs offer a glimpse of the Castle. It is not just a historic monument, but a place that continues to shape how we understand Scotland's long history. It’s a fitting backdrop for the kind of work I do—researching and preserving the lives and records of those who came before us and whose many descendants are now dotted all over the world.

06/10/2025

If you are ever in Old Aberdeen, take a minute to visit King’s College Chapel and check out Bishop Elphinstone’s tomb. He founded the University of Aberdeen back in 1495, but oddly enough, his memorial didn’t appear until 1915—and it’s a stunner. Bronze, stone, and packed with symbolism, it’s well worth a look.

This article by Nellie Merthe Erkenbach on The Graveyards of Scotland website gives a great overview of the man, the monument, and the long road to getting it built. Worth a read.

A Monument to Aberdeen University’s Visionary Founder If you ever find yourself wandering through the ancient heart of Old Aberdeen, make sure to step into the breathtaking King’s College Chapel. T…

03/09/2025

Today I attended the annual Scottish Police Memorial Service at The Scottish Police College, Tulliallan, with my daughter Emma. The Memorial, comprising three granite blocks engraved with the names of officers, is in the beautiful grounds of the College and was first unveiled in September 2004.

It includes the names of the 350 police officers from across Scotland who lost their lives in service. My dad, Sgt Harry Lawrie, is included on the memorial, so it is always poignant to visit Tulliallan and see Dad's name on the memorial. Today I was also able to view the Memorial Book, which has a page dedicated to each officer listed on the memorial . I took a photograph of Dad's page for my records.

The unique thing about Tulliallan is that all police officers serving in Scotland from the late 1950s attended Tulliallan for their basic training at the start of their service, as well as on various courses during their time in the job. That included Dad in 1960 and myself in 1986. I have a photograph of Dad standing in the grounds of Tulliallan from around 1960, when he joined Stirling & Clackmannan Police. Where he is standing is just across from where the memorial stands and where the service was held today. The trees have grown a bit since then!!!

For anyone researching the death on duty of a police officer in Scotland, the work of The Scottish Police Memorial Trust will be invaluable and includes a Roll of Honour which can be seen at its website at https://spmt.scot/

14/08/2025

13/08/2025

Looking forward to attending Stirling Highland Games this Saturday, where I will be giving a half-hour talk on Scottish Ancestry in the Discover Stirling marquee at 12.30pm.

Hoping to have the opportunity to chat afterwards with like-minded people and promote Scottish family history research for both visitors and locals.

Details in the link below.

Our Discover Stirling marquee is back at this year's Gathering on Saturday, 16th August, and can be found in the new food and drinks area on site.

We listened to suggestions from last year and have brought together 3 fantastic speakers as part of our Scotland Talks sessions for visitors. These talks are ticketed [£10 each] and can only be bought on the day inside the Discover Stirling marquee. Each talk is limited to 30 tickets.

You choose which Scotland Talks sessions you attend.😍

12:30 - Gary Lawrie

Your Scotland Story – Discovering Your Scottish Roots

Around the world today, more than 40 million people can claim Scottish ancestry (Devine, The Scottish Nation: A History, 1700–2000, 1999). Whether your forebears settled in Nova Scotia, North Carolina, Adelaide, or Otago, they carried with them a deep pride in their Scottish heritage — a pride still alive in their descendants.

13:00 - Dr Murray Cook [pictured]

Fortifying Stirling - Discovering more about Stirling

Come and hear Dr Murray Cook explore the topic of fortifying Stirling with its various castle and fort positions around Stirling. See a real piece of vitrified stone from Mote Hill and understand the extreme temperatures it took to create this.

14:30 - Michael Naismith

The History of Bagpipes

We welcome Michael Naismith, our Official Chieftains Piper, to talk about the amazing history of the bagpipes. A regular talk at the Argylls Museum, we are delighted to welcome him to speak with some of our visitors in the Discover Stirling marquee.

14/03/2025

At a time when the fundamental rights that we have taken for granted for years are under threat from various directions, it is worth reminding ourselves of the actions taken by many of our ancestors that helped to secure these rights. This article, produced by Historic Environment Scotland outlines the fight for Women's Suffrage and those women across Scotland who fought for that right.

Names like Emmeline Pankhurst are well known in history, but in Scotland, do we know the story of Louisa Stevenson, Sarah Siddons Mair or Ehtel Moorhead, who fought in Scotland for women's right to vote? The article is a good reminder of how direct action to seek and protect a basic human right, such as the right to vote or freedom of expression, has often been a necessary step.

Perhaps if those people who today seek or have attained positions of power and responsibility had taken some time away from accumulating their vast riches to read and take on board these lessons of history, any such action would be unnecessary.

Discover the roles of Scottish suffragettes Sarah Siddons Mair, Louisa Stevenson and Ethel Moorhead in the fight for women's voting rights.

02/11/2024

With Halloween just past The Historic Environment Scotland blog has an interesting article about Stirling Castle and the supernatural traditions of some of their most famous occupants including the Stewarts.

This Hallowe'en, find out about some of Stirling Castle's most famous residents - the Stewarts - and their beliefs and superstitions.

01/10/2024

Looking forward to giving a short presentation on the Birkenburn Estate, Keith this weekend at Banffshire Field Club Conference at Cullen. Taking advantage to visit the site of Birkenburn and perhaps a wee visit to a cemetery or two!! Hope to tap into some local knowledge to widen my knowledge of Birkenburn and identify more research options. Birkenburn is where a branch of my family tree lived for many centuries.

Might even get round to writing the second half of my blog (see attached) on my connection to Birkenburn which I wrote a few years back!!

https://heartofscotlandancestry.co.uk/finding-nobility-in-my-family-tree-the-stuarts-gordons-of-birkenburn-part-1/

With less than three weeks to go until our Banffshire Places conference, the programme is all ready to go to the printers 😍 There are a couple of spaces left and can be booked at www.banffshirefieldclub.com/conference

14/09/2024

A damp Saturday morning in Stirling and a chance to catch up on some family history research. Not too sure of this new assistant though!!!! Say hello to Alba.

21/05/2024

If you have watched the opening scenes of the 2018 film Outlaw King you will have seen the deployment of the War Wolf at Stirling Castle. This was an enormous trebuchet used to hurl large stones against the defences of Stirling Castle. It would be quite a sight even today when we are used to seeing large weapons of war. In the 1300s it must have been terrifying, especially if you were on the receiving end of it.

The blog below from Historic Environment Scotland is written by James McIvor who works at Stirling Castle and tells the story of the War Wolf and its deployment at Stirling by Edward I. The article also includes an incredible film created by artist Bob Marshall who was partly inspired by the opening credits of Outlaw King to produce a film about the War Wolf. The film is an excellent recreation of what Stirling Castle and the siege would have looked like at the time.

The War Wolf was of course employed by Edward I, the so-called Hammer of the Scots who tried to wipe the Scots from the map. Before he died he apparently asked that, on his death, his bones should be left unburied whilst Scotland was unconquered. He thankfully failed and now lies at rest in Westminster Abbey. It is said that any true Scot who happens to be visiting Westminster Abbey has to send a little reminder to Eddie when they pass his tomb by whispering "Still here Eddie"!! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

In 1304, Edward I besieged Stirling Castle. It was ‘game over’ for the Scots when a monstrous weapon called The War Wolf arrived on the scene.

15/05/2024

Being born in Stirling I know I will be accused of bias when I say that Stirling Castle is my favourite Scottish castle to visit.

However, in support of my opinion, the blog below comes from Mervern French, a member of the Interpretation Team at Historic Environment Scotland. Instead of the usual battles, fights and executions, this covers the role of the Castle as a family home. Okay it was Scotland's Royal family - but they used the castle as a family home over many centuries. If you visit ttoday,you can see many examples of how it was used as a family home and not just as a military site or seat of government.

Hope you enjoy Mervern's blog.

https://blog.historicenvironment.scot/2024/05/stirling-castle-a-family-home-through-the-ages/


Stirling: Alive with Scotland

Stirling Castle has seen sieges, battles and political drama, but it's also been at the heart of family life over the centuries.