Fergus Smith
@oldscotbooks.bsky.social
Legal history, historical data geekery, genealogy. Owner of oldscottish.com. Historical Records Specialist at FindMyPast.co.uk. All views my own, obviously. Lives in St Andrews, Fife
I think I can date that first photo to 5 June 1949. The headline in the newspaper is about the rail strikes, and if you look carefully you can see it's the same photo. The woman - your granny? - is reading a slightly different edition of this paper (www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer...)
July 13, 2025 at 8:03 AM
I think I can date that first photo to 5 June 1949. The headline in the newspaper is about the rail strikes, and if you look carefully you can see it's the same photo. The woman - your granny? - is reading a slightly different edition of this paper (www.findmypast.co.uk/image-viewer...)
It was hot in St Andrews today, so in response to popular demand, I got in the sea.
To much disappointment, I also got out ...
To much disappointment, I also got out ...
June 20, 2025 at 9:33 PM
It was hot in St Andrews today, so in response to popular demand, I got in the sea.
To much disappointment, I also got out ...
To much disappointment, I also got out ...
Nothing to see here, just a lawyer, "full of claret", arguing against his client then suddenly reverse ferreting in court after being told he was making the wrong argument ... #LegalHistory #Scotland
May 25, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Nothing to see here, just a lawyer, "full of claret", arguing against his client then suddenly reverse ferreting in court after being told he was making the wrong argument ... #LegalHistory #Scotland
Rare evidence of Gaelic-speaking dogs in 19th century Dunbartonshire ... #Gaelic @wilsonmcleod.bsky.social
May 12, 2025 at 7:34 AM
Rare evidence of Gaelic-speaking dogs in 19th century Dunbartonshire ... #Gaelic @wilsonmcleod.bsky.social
Aww yes, the St Andrews ducklings have arrived! Mum and dad are keeping a close eye on them though.
May 11, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Aww yes, the St Andrews ducklings have arrived! Mum and dad are keeping a close eye on them though.
"This prisoner's unsteady on his feet and is not fit to stand trial. What do we do?"
"Give him wine, that's bound to help."
Narrator voice: It did not help.
#Scotland #LegalHistory
"Give him wine, that's bound to help."
Narrator voice: It did not help.
#Scotland #LegalHistory
May 5, 2025 at 7:54 AM
"This prisoner's unsteady on his feet and is not fit to stand trial. What do we do?"
"Give him wine, that's bound to help."
Narrator voice: It did not help.
#Scotland #LegalHistory
"Give him wine, that's bound to help."
Narrator voice: It did not help.
#Scotland #LegalHistory
Bookroom upgrade unlocked: I now have a record cupboard. Working on filling it ...
May 4, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Bookroom upgrade unlocked: I now have a record cupboard. Working on filling it ...
This is also an odd assertion. Surely one of the consequences of the SC ruling is to overturn previous EHRC guidance which was found to be wrong in law?
May 2, 2025 at 8:01 AM
This is also an odd assertion. Surely one of the consequences of the SC ruling is to overturn previous EHRC guidance which was found to be wrong in law?
The Hampshire Telegraph among other papers reported the story of John Honey's heroic rescue.
April 30, 2025 at 9:08 PM
The Hampshire Telegraph among other papers reported the story of John Honey's heroic rescue.
The mediaeval pier reopened tonight in St Andrews after an 18-month closure to repair storm damage. It was also the night of the Gaudie, a torchlit procession by students commemorating John Honey, a student who in 1800 rescued 5 crew members of a ship off the East Sands.
April 30, 2025 at 9:08 PM
The mediaeval pier reopened tonight in St Andrews after an 18-month closure to repair storm damage. It was also the night of the Gaudie, a torchlit procession by students commemorating John Honey, a student who in 1800 rescued 5 crew members of a ship off the East Sands.
Lord Hermand and the Lord Justice Clerk make clear they thought the jury got the verdict wrong, finding Helen Kennedy not guilty of murder. They also make clear Kennedy's reputation was in tatters as a result of the trial. #ScotsLaw #LegalHistory #NotProven
April 29, 2025 at 7:50 AM
Lord Hermand and the Lord Justice Clerk make clear they thought the jury got the verdict wrong, finding Helen Kennedy not guilty of murder. They also make clear Kennedy's reputation was in tatters as a result of the trial. #ScotsLaw #LegalHistory #NotProven
This portrait ca 1870 of my great-granny, Isabella Dickson Fleming - and the socks she's wearing ...
April 28, 2025 at 7:44 PM
This portrait ca 1870 of my great-granny, Isabella Dickson Fleming - and the socks she's wearing ...
I kinda want to hear this version ...
April 26, 2025 at 4:28 PM
I kinda want to hear this version ...
Just back home with a decent #RSD25 Record Store Day haul from Thirteen Records and Assai in Dundee. Currently listening to Top of the Pops by The Rezillos. @recordstoredayuk.bsky.social
April 12, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Just back home with a decent #RSD25 Record Store Day haul from Thirteen Records and Assai in Dundee. Currently listening to Top of the Pops by The Rezillos. @recordstoredayuk.bsky.social
Too soon, butcher's shop, far too soon. Photo taken on Saturday.
April 8, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Too soon, butcher's shop, far too soon. Photo taken on Saturday.
I mean if it was me, I'd be looking for a new estate agent.
April 5, 2025 at 1:04 PM
I mean if it was me, I'd be looking for a new estate agent.
Hey @chiddickstree.bsky.social I visited Durham Cathedral and something reminded me of you ...
April 2, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Hey @chiddickstree.bsky.social I visited Durham Cathedral and something reminded me of you ...
Found this a few months back while trawling through 19th-century newspapers. [Arbroath Guide, 12 Sep 1885]
March 31, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Found this a few months back while trawling through 19th-century newspapers. [Arbroath Guide, 12 Sep 1885]
♫♪♫
Burn baby burn
Ditch go inferno
♫♪♫
Burn baby burn
Ditch go inferno
♫♪♫
March 28, 2025 at 10:02 AM
♫♪♫
Burn baby burn
Ditch go inferno
♫♪♫
Burn baby burn
Ditch go inferno
♫♪♫
This evening's soundtrack comes courtesy of the legendary Roky Erickson, a bargain I picked up in Dundee yesterday.
March 22, 2025 at 7:15 PM
This evening's soundtrack comes courtesy of the legendary Roky Erickson, a bargain I picked up in Dundee yesterday.
Sorry, that's a terrible image - here's a better one.
March 21, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Sorry, that's a terrible image - here's a better one.
Spotted this the other day - estate agents were already anticipating the economic benefits of the Stockton-Darlington railway even before it opened - this is from Leeds Mercury, 24 September 1825 (see the note after the description of the lots).
March 21, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Spotted this the other day - estate agents were already anticipating the economic benefits of the Stockton-Darlington railway even before it opened - this is from Leeds Mercury, 24 September 1825 (see the note after the description of the lots).
In 1880s Perth, the Circuit Court was proclaimed at the mercat cross, and the announcement was, er, laid on the ground held in place by a rock ... #LegalHistory #Scotland
March 18, 2025 at 7:55 PM
In 1880s Perth, the Circuit Court was proclaimed at the mercat cross, and the announcement was, er, laid on the ground held in place by a rock ... #LegalHistory #Scotland
"we couldn't *quite* stretch it to 666"
March 17, 2025 at 6:24 PM
"we couldn't *quite* stretch it to 666"
Rediscovering my ms and ephemera collection: 17th century a ms book of sermons, I think written by Matthew Henry (certainly from his family) and extracts from the diary of his sister, Katherine Tylston, in the hand of her niece, Hannah Witton, daughter of diarist Sarah Savage. #RelicsOfABookdealer
March 9, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Rediscovering my ms and ephemera collection: 17th century a ms book of sermons, I think written by Matthew Henry (certainly from his family) and extracts from the diary of his sister, Katherine Tylston, in the hand of her niece, Hannah Witton, daughter of diarist Sarah Savage. #RelicsOfABookdealer