Seven Incorporated Trades of Stirling

Last Sunday saw the Hammermen and Shoemakers visit Bannockburn House courtesy of Bannockburn House Trust. The house a 17^th Century A-listed house has remained relatively unchanged apart from a Victorian extension. On November 14th 2017, Bannockburn House became fully owned by the public.

The party were welcomed by Willie McEwan vice chairman of the Trust who gave them an insight into the history of the house and its purchase. They were then guided round the house by Stuart Campbell (the Deacon Convenor and part time Bannockburn House guide) who explained the use and history of the rooms. Stuart explain that the history is evolving almost on a daily basis as more and more information is discovered.

The tour ended with a cup of tea courtesy of the Trust in the dining room. Deacon of the Hammermen Andrew McEwan thanked Stuart and the Trust on behalf of those present for a fascinating visit and wished them well on their ambitious plans.

For more information on Bannockburn House visit http://www.bannockburnhouse.scot

New information on many of the Trades has been added to the following pages of the web site.

Hammermen

Skinners

Weavers

Tailors

Fleshers

Shoemakers

Some information on the Maltmen, Mechanics, Small Crafts and Omnium Gatherum is shown on the following page.

Trading in Stirling

On fathers day, a group of Hammermen visited the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway and its museum. As a bonus, on arrival at Bo’ness, they discovered there was a classic car show in progress. The group led by Bailie John Clarke who both organised the event and acted as an excellent tour guide started their visit with a journey on the steam train to Manuel and back.

After a lunch – a visit to the classic cars,

then the group were led around the museum by John who gave them interesting facts and figures about most of the exhibits. Many of the members had previously visited Bo’ness many years earlier and all were pleasantly surprised by how much it had changed with the larger museum and range of exhibits.

What was surprising was the amount of work carried out at the museum restoring rolling stock. It was hard to believe how some of them could be restored.

The group then returned to Stirling for a refreshement or two after thanking John for his well organised and researched visit.

The Annual dinner took place on Friday 24th November courtesy of the Allan Park Hotel.

A new member Howard Allen was inducted into the Hammermen by Deacon Andrew McEwan prior to the start of the dinner.

Howard is shown opposite, receiving his Burgess Ticket from  Deacon Andy.

The speakers for the dinner were Deacon Andy and Ken Dow.

Andy a Son of the Rock started off with an illustrated talk about trials and tribulations of the many Stirling Churches. He described their origins,who founded them, how the congregations split up and merged back again. A classic example being in the Holyrood Church where there was an East and a West church in the same building after a fall out within the congregation.

With the declining church attendance coupled with the movements of the population Andy explained how some fell into decline and were demolished while new ones were built (North Church in Braehead). It was a fascinating insight into their history and politics.

Ken another Son of the Rock, talked about Stirling as he knew it in his younger days before the re-development of the city centre. He talked about shops and characters much to the delight of the members present as to many it brought back fond memories or maybe memories through rose tinted spectacles!

What was clear that much had changed and not necessarily for the better. There was probably more of a community spirit present, which vanished as the out of town supermarkets and shopping centres appeared. Many of the places that Ken described had disappeared either through the redevelopment of the city centre, as technology changed (that killed off record shops) and multiple chain stores took over. Ken’s talk was delivered in his usual humorous style and a tremendous reminder of things past in Stirling even to the members who didn’t know Stirling well.

The evening finished with a vote of thanks to the two speakers and to the staff of the hotel for the excellent food.

Members of the Seven Trades attended the Remembrance Sunday Service at the Church of the Holy Rude, Stirling. Following the service, the members walked down to the War Memorial and took part in the service. Deacon of the Hammermen Andrew McEwan then laid a wreath on behalf of the Trade.

On Saturday 16^th September, Stirling Walking the Marches was held for the fourth year. This year was bigger and better with more participants and a slightly longer route.

The procession gathered at the Municipal Buildings where they set off after an address by Provost Christine Simpson and a report from the Captain of the Birlawmen Andrew McEwan that stated following a perambulation the previous week, the Marches were intact.

The Procession set off on the usual route to the Smith Museum with the Alloa Bowmar Pipe band following behind the Blue Blanket and the rest of the dignitaries in line behind (Lord Lieutenant Alan Simpson, Snawdoun Herald Elizabeth Roads, Provost, Convenor of the Seven Trades Stuart Campbell, Dean of Guildry of Stirling Alasdair Gammack). This year there was the addition of a new Seven Trades banner created by the Embroiderers Guild and carried by Shoe Maker Billy Scotland. To add spectacle there was the Tulliallan Pipe band following up the rear.

At the Smith Museum, there was the now customary toast courtesy of Deanston Distillery to the Marches and the City of Stirling which was delivered by Bailie Mike McCormick.

The Procession then proceeded up the Back Walk, past the Highland Hotel where there was a well-earned breather.

The March restarted, up to Mars Walk, down Broad Street and Baker Street.

Here the March took a deviation down Friar Street, Maxwell Place and  up to Broad Street. At this point the Tulliallan Pipe band and the Alloa Bowmar Pipe band joined forces at the front to March through the town.

The route was then along Murray Place, Port Street, dodging the roadworks in Dumbarton Road and back to the Municipal Buildings.

Here the Provost again addressed the gathering, thanking all for their participation.

After the March there was a meal at the Golden Lion Hotel.

There were two speakers’ Dr Elspeth King, Director of The Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum and Historian and Guildry member Craig Mair. Elspeth told the gathering about the History of the Marches in Stirling and various Processions that have taken place over the centuries. It was interesting that many of them finished in the Golden Lion hotel.

Craig Mair then proceeded to talk about the history of Walking and Riding of the Marches throughout Scotland, and how they came about to protect the land from land grabs from neighbours. They generally involved the whole community so that one generation could pass the knowledge onto the next. They also developed to become much more social events. Craig also described some very strange customs that had developed in other places and questioned whether in Stirling Archives there were any more local ones known about.

The meal was rounded off by a vote of thanks by Bailie Robin Mair who thanked the attendees, the Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling Gin and Deanston Distillery.

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