Scotland's History

This is the history of the Burns Supper in Scotland, and beyond, and the traditions that go with it.

The body of a young boy washed up on the shore at Tayport in Fife in 1971. He has never been identified. This is his sto... Read more

Maggie Dickson went to the gallows in Edinburgh. This is the story of how she survived.

At Cowden in Clackmannanshire, Ella Christie established a Japanese Garden in the early 20th century which can still be ... Read more

An arm was found on the foreshore at Torry, Aberdeen in December 1945. Identified as Betty Hadden, no-one had been charg... Read more

Major Thomas Weir and his sister were accused of sorcery in 17th century Edinburgh. Both were arrested and tried in 1670... Read more

This is the story of Dr Edward William Pritchard who poisoned his mother-in-law and his wife in Victorian Glasgow.

In this second podcast in the Highland Folk Tales series, I re-tell the stories of Heather Ale, The Ardgay Ghost, The Go... Read more

In this first podcast of Scottish folk tales from the Highlands, I re-tell the stories of the Wick Fairies, the Duncansb... Read more

Robert Burns was born in a small cottage in Alloway in Ayrshire on 25th January 1759, becoming a prolific poet and songw... Read more