Over the past few months I have been following a trail of Scottish history and along with my partner Susan and good friend Sid, have visited many of the historic sites such as:
To name but a few – it is not desperate pursuit of history but a leisurely paced stroll through the events of our ancestors, discovering the way they lived, their politics and how they and events have shaped my country. Many people immediately think of Sir William Wallace, Robert the Bruce, James IV and Mary of Guise, Mary – Queen of Scots, James VI/1, Charles I and II, James the Elder (Old Pretender), The Bonnie Prince (Charles the Young Pretender), William and Mary of Orange and Cromwell – yes he did have a large impact on Scotland. Most of these have been Kings and Queens and one Lord Protector. You may have noticed there are no modern notables here or indeed what could be termed the laymen, poets etc. This is due to the fact I am following old history at present – but I acknowledge that the Scottish Bard – Robert (Rabbie) Burns has a large impact on the artistic elements of Scottish culture and also one other person who could be termed a super patriot, it is this person whose house the Intrepids plus guest Intrepid Rebecca visited on Thursday 23rd June 2011.
Abbotsford House -
was built to the designs of Sir Walter Scott to meet his needs and house not only himself, family but his vast collection of books, armour, guns and swords as well as Napoleonic memorabilia.
![View from Drawing Room to Gun Collection]()
![View down the Amour]()
![Napolionic Collection]()
To many he was a novelist, playwright and poet with world fame for his novels Waverley, Ivanhoe and The Bride of Lammermoor. However, it is not his literary prowess that attracted me it was impact on Scottish history and the Restoration/finding of “
The Honours of Scotland“. The Honours of Scotland are the oldest regalia in the British Isles. Comprising of a crown, sword and sceptre which date from the 15th and 16th centuries – the Sceptre and Sword of State were both gifts given to James IV by the Papacy. First used at the Coronation of Mary Queen of Scots and last used at the coronation of Charles II. In 1707 the Act of Union came into force and the Honours of Scotland were deemed redundant and locked away in a chest and stored in Edinburgh Castle. During the wars with Cromwell they were removed and hidden at Kinneff parish church for nine years, thus they avoided the fate of the English Crown Jewels under the Lord Protector. In 1818 Sir Walter Scott was given permission by the Prince Regent (Later George IV) to search for the Honours in Edinburgh Castle as by then they had been believed to have been removed to England. On 4th February 1818 Sir Walter Scott and officers of state found the chest and on opening the Honours were as set away.
Sir David Wilkie recorded the event in a drawing which can be seen at the
National Galleries of Scotland. Sir Walter could be said to have started the Scottish Tourist Industry, indeed he was instrumental in assigning a tartan to a clan – up until the visit of George IV the wearing of tartan or plaid was forbidden by law as was speaking Gaelic by the Dress Act of 1746. This act was rescinded in 1782, however no lowlander Scot would ever wear the highlander dress. In 1821 George IV was visiting Scotland and he put Sir Walter in charge of the organisation. Sir Walter was given 14 days notice to organise the visit, which included a Gathering of the Clans. He produced a booklet (cost 1 shilling) entitled HINTS addressed to the INHABITANTS OF EDINBURGH AND OTHERS in prospect of HIS MAJESTY’S VISIT by an old citizen – thus was born the modern highland outfit used by Scots throughout the world at weddings and games (includes such pastimes a football, rugby as well as Highland) and became
de facto the National Dress for Scotland.
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