People
Adam Low – Dunfermline’s Bonesetter
“Reminiscences of Dunfermline – Sixty Years Ago” by Alexander Stewart, published in 1886, includes a story concerning an unusual college and a Provost of the town who was also a fixer of dislocated bones. In “Pattiesmuir College and Adam Low, the Dunfermline Bonesetter“, George Robertson, who has recently been elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, continues his occasional series based on the “Reminiscences” and tells us more about this talented Provost.
Gude Ralph Erskine and his Fiddle
Jean Barclay starts a new series of short pieces based on a 19th Century compilation of writings about Dunfermline, the “Folio of Oddities”. In “The ‘Gude’ Mr Erskine and his Fiddle” she presents the story of a new father searching for the perfect minister to baptise a new born child.
Our Autumnal Remittent
As we continue to cope with the current pandemic, it is interesting to learn how epidemics were managed in the past. In “Our Autumnal Remittent: Dr. John Steadman and the Influenza Epidemic of 1758“, Dr Jean Barclay recounts the life of one of the doctors involved in treating those affected by an outbreak of influenza, in the time between the identification of that disease and any real understanding of it’s causes.
Stevensons – Auctioneers and Removals
William Stevenson & Sons, House Furnishers, Auctioneers and Removal Experts, is the next article in George Beattie’s series on Dunfermline’s Industrial and Commercial past. William Stevenson, worked at several trades before starting this successful firm, which was based for many years in Bruce Street. As always in George’s articles, this one contains some fascinating photographs of Dunfermline’s more recent past.
Provost Robert Robertson
We have recently revised the article on George Roberson FSA to include an imposing portrait by John Rattray of his father, Robert Robertson, who was provost of Dunfermline between 1854 and 1861.