David Forsyth: Hidden histories - the material culture of Jacobitism: Thursday 5th October 2017

The Society begins its 2017-18 programme with a talk by David Forsyth of National Museums Scotland based on "Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites" - an exhibition currently running at the National Museum of Scotland. This is the largest exhibition on the Jacobite Stuarts for over 70 years. It tells the story of the Stuarts’ attempts to regain their lost thrones from the exile of King James VII & II in 1688, until the death in 1807 of Prince Henry Benedict, Cardinal York, younger brother of Prince Charles Edward Stuart. 
 
A resident of Kirkintilloch, David Forsyth is Principal Curator of Renaissance to Early Modern Collections in the Department of Scottish History and Archaeology at National Museums Scotland. He has curated a number of major exhibitions over his nearly twenty-one years with National Museums and has written widely on the juxtaposition of history and material culture, including contributing to and editing the book to accompany the Bonnie Prince Charlie exhibition and articles in History Scotland, as well as contributing to a number of broadcasts on related topics.

Charles Edward Stuart: "Bonnie Prince Charlie"
 

Doors Open: Saturday 9th September 2017

The Society contributed to this year's Doors Open programme in East Dunbartonshire on Saturday 9th September by its presence in the Park Centre in the morning and by organising a guided historical walk around what was Kirkintilloch Basin, now the Marina, in the afternoon.
In the Park Centre, two PowerPoint presentations showing historic photographs of the town and canal, and the Society's activities and programme were continuously projected; in addition, committee members - Rita Bennie, Ros McMeekin, David Graham and Ivan Ruddock - were present to provide information and answer questions.


Committee members 'manning' the Society's stand.
The presentations showing Society activities and historic photos.
 

In the afternoon, Don Martin, the Society's secretary, led a well supported walk from the Park Centre to the Marina where he described Kirkintilloch's industrial heritage including shipbuilding, iron founding and the role it played in the early days of railways as one terminus of the pioneering Monkland and Kirkintilloch system. 

The Society's secretary explaining the significance of  the Basin
Foundry, formerly located in what is now Kirkintilloch Marina.