Video

A Winter Talk: “Abbeys and Castles in Dumfries and Galloway”

ianbhs

Stefan Sagrott, HES Senior Cultural Resources Advisor is responsible for all the Historic Environment Scotland properties in Dumfries and Galloway, and presented an illustrated talk on the abbeys and castles, amongst other properties, predominantly in the Galloway area. 

Stefan has worked with Historic Environment Scotland  for over 8 years and, since September 2021, he is the Senior Cultural Resources Advisors (South).  His work contributes towards developing greater understanding of, and the management and conservation of, the HES estate and its cultural significance.  

He is a member of the HES Cultural Resources Team , and of the Cultural Assets Directorate. His job necessitates him having a broad range of research interests across many periods and he provides specialist heritage advice relating to the Properties in Care (PIC).

Watch here: ‘Abbeys and Castles in Dumfries and Galloway’

Kilmartin and Glenlyon Winter talks

ianbhs

The February talk by Dr. Sharon Webb on ‘Kilmartin Glen’s Prehistoric Archaeology’ and the April talk by Donald Riddell on ‘Glenlyon: Myths, Legends, Amazing People and Places’ were recorded and can now be viewed below.

Kilmartin Glen is one of Scotland’s most important Prehistoric landscapes with many important burial and ritual sites.  Many artefacts of international significance have been found here, and this talk will give an outline of the archaeology and some insights into its meaning and importance. Dr. Sharon Webb came to Kilmartin Museum as Curator in 2003 and has served as Director from 2004. She instigated plans for redeveloping the Museum in 2012 and led the team that raised over £7 million to bring those plans to fruition, with the museum reopening in September 2023.n Watch here:  ‘Kilmartin Glen’s Prehistoric Archaeology’

Having lived and worked in and around Glenlyon for over 50 years, Donald has a deep passion for its nature and history.  Around every turn is a story, myth or legend in this the longest Glen in Scotland.  Sit down and join Donald on a virtual safari to explore its secrets. Watch here:  ‘Glenlyon: Myths, Legends, Amazing People and Places’

You will also be able to find the recordings of these two talks along with all previous recorded talks on the ‘Recorded Winter Talks’ page in this website: https://breadalbane-heritage.org.uk/recorded-winter-talks/

BBC Scotland Out of Doors

ianbhs

Recently, there have been two short items on BBC Scotland’s early Saturday morning radio programme ‘Out of Doors’ which relate to the activities of the Breadalbane Heritage Society.

First, following Colin Liddell’s excellent and informative talk ‘Deciphering the Language of our Local Landscape’ to the Society in November last year, he was interviewed by Rachel Stewart on how, with his own project during Covid lockdown, he went about translating and interpreting the Gaelic names to be found on Ordnance Survey maps covering an area of 175 square miles around Pitlochry, which was broadcast on Saturday, 23rd March. You can listen to this episode here:

If you wish to view the recording of his November talk when he explained why and how he did this, and illustrated a number of fascinating features of the life carried on in the foothills of Highland Perthshire and beyond which he revealed through his translations, you can watch it here:  ‘Gaelic Map Names’

Soon after that, Rachel interviewed Ian Stewart about the history of, and the involvement of the Breadalbane Heritage Society at, the small, private Killiechassie Burial Ground located beside the minor road between Weem and Strathtay.

This was broadcast on Saturday, 6th April and you can listen to the episode here:

If you wish to learn more about the burial ground, there is extensive information in this website which you can find here: https://breadalbane-heritage.org.uk/killiechassie-burial-ground/

‘Deciphering the Language of our Local Landscape’ – now available to view the recording.

ianbhs

An illustrated talk presented by Colin Liddell to the Breadalbane Heritage Society on Friday, 17th November, 2023. 

During the Covid lockdown, Colin, a long-standing supporter of, and a speaker to, the Breadalbane Heritage Society, researched and endeavoured to translate all of the Gaelic place names noted on maps within 175 square miles surrounding Pitlochry.  He explained why and how he did this, and illustrated a number of fascinating features of the life carried on in the foothills of Highland Perthshire and beyond, which have been revealed through his translations. 

You can view the video recording of his talk here:  ‘Gaelic Map Names’, or by playing the video below. To view the video at the full size of your screen, click the ‘full screen’ button found at the bottom right hand side of the screen:

2022-23 Winter season talk recordings

ianbhs

The following talks from our 2022-23 winter season were recorded and can be viewed following the links below:

Friday, 16th September, 2022: ‘The Wolf of Badenoch’, presented by Professor Steve Boardman.

Click on this video link:

‘A Species of Celtic Attila?’

Professor Steve Boardman is the Professor of Medieval Scottish History at The University of Edinburgh with research interests in Late Medieval Scottish Kingship. His talk was based on his current research activities on the life and post-medieval mythologizing of the Wolf of Badenoch.

Friday, 21st October, 2022: ‘The Hillforts of the Tay’, presented by David Strachan

Click on this video link:

‘Hillforts of the Tay’

David Strachan is a Director of the Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust and his areas of interest include Iron Age forts and settlements c.700 BC to AD 700, and community archaeology. In this talk, he concentrated on the hill forts of Castle Law, Abernethy; Moncreiffe Hill, Bridge of Earn; and Kings Seat, Dunkeld.

Friday, 20th January, 2023: ‘Culloden’, Presented by Caitklin Greig

Click on this video link:

‘Culloden’

Caitlin is the Visitor Services Supervisor (Engagement) for the National Trust for Scotland at their Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre. Her talk covered how the battle came about with the Jacobite supporters seeking to restore the Stuart monarchy to the British thrones, and how the current survey work carried out by the National Trust for Scotland on the site of the battle is changing the understanding of how the battle progressed.

Friday, 17th February, 2023: ‘Mar Lodge Estate Regeneration’, presented by Andrew Painting

Click on this video link:

‘Mar Lodge Estate Regeneration’

Andrew is the Conservation Officer for the National Trust for Scotland at their Mar Lodge Estate to the west of Braemar. He is an upland ecologist with specialisms in native woodland restoration, bird monitoring and botany. His talk covered the work of NTS during the last 25 years and, in particular, to the advances made in regeneration in the last 10.

Friday, 21st April, 2023: ‘Discovering Froglife’s Scottish Projects’ presented by James Stead

Click on this video link:

‘Discovering Froglife’s Scottish Projects’

James Stead is Froglife’s ‘Come Forth for Wildlife Project Manager’ and, in this talk, James aims to raise awareness of native reptiles and amphibians and will guide you to learn more about amphibians and reptiles in the area as well as the exciting work underway on the ‘Come Forth for Wildlife’ and ‘Fife Living Water’ projects.

‘2022 BHS Annual Members Meeting’ video

ianbhs

On Friday, 18th March 2022, and prior to the monthly meeting and talk commencing, the ‘Annual Members’ Meeting’ was held. As the Breadalbane Heritage Society is a registered Trust, this replaces the previous Annual General Meetings. If you were unable to attend the meeting, you can view the video recording here.

‘James MacLaren and the Arts and Crafts Movement’ talk video

ianbhs
Fortingall

On Friday, 18th March 2022, Annette Carruthers, an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the School of Art History at the University of St. Andrews, presented her talk to the Breadalbane Heritage Society and described how, despite the tragic shortness of his life, James Marjoribanks MacLaren (1853-1890) achieved much in his architectural career and is recognised as a pioneer of the Arts & Crafts Movement. Annette discussed how his work as an architect and designer impacted on his contemporaries in the context of this movement in Scotland and in Britain more widely.

‘Ancient Magnificence: Arbroath Abbey and Beyond’ talk video

ianbhs
Restenneth Priory

On Friday, 18th February 2022, Dr. Nicki Scott, Senior Cultural Resources Advisor with Historic Environment Scotland, presented her talk and described how although the survival of so many Pictish carvings highlights the long tradition of Christian worship across Angus, the tradition of monumental display continued in the medieval period, most famously at Arbroath Abbey. But while this royal foundation rightly draws much attention, sites such as Restenneth Priory and Maison Dieu show that it wasn’t just the elites whose lives were connected to the Church. Nicki provided some insight into the lives of these foundations and the people associated with them.

‘The Early Medieval Sculpture of Highland Perthshire’ talk video

ianbhs

On Friday, 21st January 2022, John Borland presented his talk which provided an overview of the early medieval sculpture of Highland Perthshire, following its distribution from west to east along the glens and straths, highlighting what is rare and unusual.  He examined the distribution of the sculpture to see what that tells us about its cultural origins and thus assess just how “Pictish” this part of Perthshire was.

John worked as an archaeological surveyor for the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland and Historic Scotland (RCAHMS) and then Historic Environment Scotland (HES) for 36 years, latterly recording Scotland’s Pictish and other Early Medieval sculpture.