Tag: Walter Scott

Categories
Crime and Punishment

BARRING-OUT

  • Post author By
  • Post date

BARRING-OUT. n. Tradition where schoolboys staged sit-ins to extend Autumn break. In 1595 the principal of the Royal High School Edinburgh, Hercules Rollock let boys go too far and had to get in the police. A battering ram was used and a student shot a baillie through the forehead.

And we can all agree that Hercules Rollock is an excellent name.

Walter Scott was apparently an expert on this page of the school’s history.

Categories
Animals Uncategorized

When Elk roamed Scotland

  • Post author By
  • Post date

In 1819 the River Cree dried up exposing a single ancient elk antler in the clay at Machermore measuring 34inches long and 12inches around at the base. It was sent to Sir Walter Scott and was one of the first solid proofs that elk previously roamed in Scotland.