Diary

March 2025 Meeting, Disaster at Darien

Published 7 March 2025

Thursday 20th March, Abbey Church Halls

Dunfermline Historical Society

Bruce Jamieson will present ‘Disaster at Darien –the Failure of the 17th Century Scottish attempt to set up a Colony in Central America’

Bruce taught history for 35 years after graduating from Edinburgh University. He regularly lectures on Scottish History, is the author of several books, including “Linlithgow Through Time” and “Old North Berwick”, and works as a walking tour guide.

His talk will start at 7:30 pm and, as always, visitors will be made welcome.

Carnegie Lectures 2024-2025

Published 6 February 2025

Wednesday 19/3/25

Serious Minds

This Lecture is now sold out

Lord Bruce

The selection of trustees to oversee the Trust for the Universities of Scotland in 1901 revealed the handiwork of Andrew Carnegie. He assembled a board which was formed principally of the leading Scots-born politicians of their generation. All had served – or would serve – as cabinet ministers. One had already served as prime minister, while a further three would serve their country in this office. Two served as chancellor of the exchequer. All would be appointed as privy councillors. Serious Minds tells the story of a single act of philanthropy which changed the face of higher education in Scotland, forever, extending access and opportunity on an unimaginable scale.

This is the fourth of the Carnegie Lectures to be presented, in the Canmore Room, at the Dunfermline Carnegie Library and Galleries over the winter season.

Doors open at 6pm and the lecture starts at 6:30.

Tickets (£5),are available at the venue or via https://www.onfife.com/events/?types=&venues=dunfermline-carnegie-library-galleries&dates=

Future lectures.

24th April 2025, Carnegie and Scotland, Prof Ewen Cameron.

February 2025 Meeting

Published 3 February 2025

Thursday 20th Feb, 7:30pm, Abbey Church Halls.

Annual General Meeting followed by :

“Henry Duncan”, by Prof. Charles Munn

Henry Duncan created a world-wide movement which has helped millions of people throughout the world, and continues to do so. Yet his name is almost completely absent from the pages of our history books. He is best remembered as the father of the Savings Bank Movement, but he was a man of many parts – social reformer, anti-slavery campaigner, geologist and newspaper founder. His pen was never still. He wrote poetry, novels, pamphlets and religious books. He was a Freemason, a friendly society president, an artist, a landscape gardener and a military volunteer. He managed all of this in addition to his role as a parish minister in a small rural parish in southwest Scotland.

This talk will look at many aspects of his life, including his attempt to move the University of St Andrew’s to Dumfries and his prominent role in the Disruption of 1843.

Markinch Heritage Group February 2025 Talk

Published 3 February 2025

Witches! Near Markinch!

by

Elizabeth McMann & Sheila Gaul

Remembering the Accused Witches of Scotland (RAWS)

Scotland had approximately 4,000 accused witches

Thursday 6th February 2025 at 7pm

252 Memorial Hall, Betson Street, Markinch

(£2 entrance fee for non-members)

January 2025 Meeting

Published 7 January 2025

16th January 2025, 7:30pm Abbey Church Halls.

The Early Years of Mary, Queen of Scots: War, Destruction, Reconstruction and Reformation

Dr Amy Blakeway

Dr Blakeway is a Senior Lecturer in the School of History at St. Andrews University. She has previously held posts at the University of Kent, the University of Cambridge and visiting positions in California, Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

She is the author of two books on 16th century Scotland and is in the process of writing a book on the research for the talk she is presenting to us.

2024 - 2025

Programme