The Journal of The Scots Heritage Society 

Published May 2005.

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REGULARS

4     Editorial

6     Letters

8     SCOTS Q & A - find the answers to those elusive questions.

86  SCOTS Gardens – Little Sparta, the garden of poet and artist Ian Hamilton Finlay.

96   SCOTS Genealogy - Ancestsral Scotland Images.

106  SCOTS Fare – Jamie Thewes

108 SCOTS Music – Pete Clark - The National Youth Pipe Band of Scotland.

110 SCOTS Music Reviews -Pete Clark  

110 SCOTS Book Reviews - Seumas MacLeod  

DIRECTORY

112 Caledonian Calendar

113 Clans and Societies

120 SCOTS Business Directory

FEATURES

10  EXPLORING THE SCOTTISH ISLANDS

Hamish Haswell Smith has pulled off a rare double in writing and illustrating the first thoroughly comprehensive guide to the Scottish Islands. Bruce MacWilliam spoke with the author in Edinburgh.

16   KINKELL CASTLE

When the artist Gerald Ogilvie Laing first saw Kinkell Castle, the 16^th century tower house was on the brink of complete ruin. After a magnificent restoration Kinkell ranks as one of Scotland’s finest medieval castles. Angus Urquhart reports from the Black Isle. Photography by Eric Ellington.

26   SIR WILLIAM WALLACE

This year marks the 700^th anniversary of the brutal execution of Scotland ’s great patriot, Sir William Wallace. Iain Gunn marks the occasion with a tribute to the founder of Scottish nationalism.

28   SAGE’S COTTAGE

Thomas Carlyle, the great 19^th century essayist, historian and philosopher, rose to colossal literary and moral eminence from very humble beginnings in Ecclefechan, the tiny Dumfriesshire village where he was born in 1795. Carlyle’s childhood home, known as Sage’s Cottage, is now in the care of the National Trust for Scotland . Isla Macdonald reports on her stay.

32   BROWN HARE

Nial Benvie continues his series on Scotland ’s wildlife with a close-up look at the brown hare.

36   HIGHLAND WILDERNESS

Panoramic photographer Colin Prior and writer Magnus Linklater continue their exploration of Scotland ’s Highland Wilderness with a journey through the Central Highlands.

44   THE SCOTS COLLEGE

The Scots College was founded in 1893 to educate the sons of Scottish settlers. The College is today one of Australia’s finest independent schools. Bruce Stannard spoke with the Principal, Dr Robert Iles.

48   A TALE OF TWO SHIPS

Twenty five years ago the scuttled hulk of the barque James Craig lay abandoned in Rescherche Bay in south eastern Tasmania. Today, after a $20 million refit the former Scottish-owned clipper is once again under sail. By contrast, the magnificent mid-19^th century clipper City of Adelaide has for 12 years lain on a slipway at the Scottish Maritime Museum south of Glasgow and almost certainly will be broken up unless a last minute rescue saves her. Bruce Stannard reports.

56   SCOTLAND’S HERITAGE JACKPOT

Over the past 10 years the Heritage Lottery Fund has distributed over £370 million to community based organisations throughout Scotland. The grants have had a profoundly positive impact right across the country as Angus Urquhart discovered when he spoke with Colin McLean, the Heritage Lottery Fund’s Manager for Scotland.

62   TIME MACHINE  - The Photography of George Washington Wilson

The Queen Mother’s Library at the University of Aberdeen houses the archives of one of Scotland’s most famous 19^th century photographers, George Washington Wilson. Wilson’s priceless legacy, 45,000 plate glass negatives, provide a unique window on Victorian Scotland. Donald Cameron spoke with the archive’s curator, Michael Craig.     

70   PAINTED ROOMS

When the Reformation brought the decoration of churches to an abrupt halt in 1660 it left craftsmen free to continue their art in the homes of the Scottish nobility where they painted the ceilings boards and beams with a host of ancient heroes, musicians, heraldic devices and accompanying texts. Some of the best examples are to be found at Crathes Castle in Aberdeenshire. Fiona MacLeod reports.

76   SPEAKING IN TONGUES

While English is the lingua franca of modern Scotland its ancient heritage languages, Gaelic and Scots, are both struggling for their very existence. In Edinburgh Catriona Stuart  spoke with Iseabail Macleod about the fight to keep them alive.

80   EAGLE ODYSSEY

The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds plays a significant role in safeguarding Scotland’s avian wildlife. To commemorate its first century of conservation work in Scotland the RSPB’s film unit has produced a multi-award-winning documentary on the magnificent white-tailed sea eagle and the struggle to re-establish Britain’s biggest predator in the Highlands of Scotland. Text by Heather Ross.   Photography by Miguel Lasa.