In 1787 or 1788, Louis XVI banned the import of Burntisland “mould” into France. Dug from the hills above the town, the “mould” was apparently used in making ceramics and was treated as a credible threat to the French ceramics industry.
On 21st May 1909, the Swedish barque “Topic” was being tugged up the Forth to Grangemouth when it collided with the span of the Rail Bridge. It was the first accident of its kind since the bridge was completed. The ship lost its royal sail masts (in red).
In January 1837, a workman at Myres Castle raised the alarm when a massive serpent crossed his path. After several musket shots didn’t kill it, a pitchfork was thrown and it was cast into the Barroway burn and washed into the River Eden.
It was a feather boa.
Turra folk on body parts (1890s):
“a muckle tae” (second toe) = domestic abuser
“grey een greedy, blue een needy” (of babies)
A “close-broot man” (monobrow) = immoral man
Nail flecks can forecast the future depending on the finger.
GOOL-RIDERS. n. mounted police that checked fields for corn marigolds and collected fines from farmers. A Mediterranean plant, it caused problems in the reign of Alexander II (1214-49)–his statute was still followed in Cargill as late as 1808.
Bef. 19th C, Newhaven was a gyneocracy run by its fishwives. Men needed their wife’s permission to join a war. Women set fish prices and controlled the local economy. Nicknamed “Maggie Mucklebackit”, the typical Newhaven fishwife could carry 50-100kg of fish.
In 1927, as 3 boys played on a lock gate at the Grangemouth Saw Mill they found 2 caches of “hidden treasure”. One bag filled with jewelry, another full of expensive furs. Jewelry stolen from G’mouth, furs stolen from Edinburgh, years apart. Two crimes solved!
We open on Dumbarton’s streets, the year is 1632.
ISOBELL: “Ye CLATTIE BADROUNS, ye!”
MARTHA: “Awa wi ye, ye WITCHES GET!” (both lunge and fall to ground, Martha atop)
BURGHERS: “Here! Yous! Gie’s a pound each!”
*end scene*
In January 1631, two men were stealing the beams from underneath the Tweed Bridge in Peebles. John Wilesone saw them while he was “fisching in the nicht” and cast his line at them and “tuik aff ane o thair bonnettis” and it was used as evidence in their trial.
Am Fear Liath Mòr (“The Big Grey Man”) has been seen and heard on Ben MacDhui since 1891. First written about by scientist and mountaineer J. Norman Collie in 1925, the tall ghostly spectre has caused many rational folk to sprint downhill in fear of their lives
