Dunfermline Historical Society

19th February 2026, 7:30 pm, Abbey Church Halls, Abbey Park Place, Dunfermline

Murray Cook: New Light on the Battle of Stirling Bridge

The Battle of Stirling Bridge was one of the most important battles in Scottish history. Dr Murray Cook explores what actually happened and summarises the result of new excavations that locate the Scots camp ahead of the battle. Dr Cook is Stirling Council’s archaeologist and an Honorary Research Fellow at Stirling University.

This month’s talk will be preceded by our, short, Annual General Meeting. As always visitors will be made very welcome.

Thursday 15th January 2026, 7:30pm

The Abbey Church Halls, Dunfermline

Dunfermline Historical Society

Our Storied Firth: One Thousand Years of Literature and Storytelling in the Forth Estuary. Following the success of his book “Our Storied Town” for Edinburgh’s 900th anniversary, Donald Smith widens his focus north and south of what was once called the Scottish Sea. The dramas of nature and history combine in a way that resounds today. He will highlight Dunfermline’s part in the literature as well as the history of Scotland.

Donald is a founder member of the Scottish Storytelling Centre and has visited us before. In 2019 he spoke on “Ye Jacobites by Name”.

As always visitors will be made very welcome.

Thursday 20th November, 7:30 pm

The Abbey Church Halls, Dunfermline

The talk will give an overview of the Commission and show examples of cemeteries and memorials all over the world, and from both world wars. It will also discuss how they are maintained and conserved today.
“It’s an amazing project, the Imperial War Graves Commission, it faced an impossible job to try and give some dignity and some sense of order to the meaningless and vast killing of the First World War”, Dan Cruikshank, Iconic War Memorials

Dave is a volunteer and researcher with the commission and has won a Spotlight Award for his work with them.

Thursday 16th October 2025,  Abbey Church Halls

Dunfermline Historical Society

Bruce Jamieson will present ‘The Resurrectionists’

Bruce is a graduate of The University of Edinburgh who taught history for 35 years. He is the author of “Old North Berwick” and “Linlithgow Through Time” amongst other books. He now gives talks on Scottish History and leads walking tours. Bruce previously visited us in March last season when he talked on the Disaster at Darien.

We are delighted to have him return, his talk will start at 7:30 pm and, as always, visitors will be made very welcome.