By Dawn Hollis, published in The Conversation, 21st August 2020. Dawn Hollis is a Research Fellow, School of Classics, University of St Andrews. Featured image: Engraving from John Chardin’s Travels into Persia and the East Indies, 1686, showing Mount Ararat, Turkey As a historian of mountains in Europe, I have been struck by the environmental …
The 11th (Scottish) Commando Black Hackle A history by Jim Henderson In this new 6 part series, Arran local Jim Henderson, gives an account of the period during the 2nd World War when the 11th Commando were posted to Arran where they lived and trained, forging many relationships and connections with Arran that continue to …
A report on the findings of a roundhouse in the Arran hills, and the subsequent development of the replica built in the Brodick Castle country park, from local MSP, Kenneth Gibson. It is believed that Arran has been inhabited almost since the end of the last ice age and the retreat of glaciers that once …
By Jim Henderson In the fourth episode of the Viking story (see Voice for Arran, issue 111) reference was made to ‘Innis Shroin’ (Holy Isle.) In fact, over the years, there have been many inaccurate references to Lamlash and Moliase. What follows is the background to the village and island name, which has developed and …
THE BATTLE OF LARGS OCTOBER 1263 In the concluding part of Jim Henderson’s history of the Vikings, we hear how both the Scots and Norwegian fleets congregated, with a huge group of Viking longships gathering in Loch an Eilean (Lamlash Bay) before the fated battle which began on 2nd October 1263, just slightly further north …
A member of The Orders and Medals Research Society (UK), Simon Muggleton, is currently researching the life and career of Allan Nicol, of Whiting Bay. Simon contacted the Voice to see if readers might have any information relating to Allan and which could assist Simon with his research. Simon bought Allan’s medals in auction recently …
The Vikings in the Western Isles – part three By Jim Henderson In part three of Jim Henderson’s history, we learn more about the use of the Birlin ships that was based on the Viking longship design, and also about the continuing battles for dominance in the western Isles between the Scots and the Norse …
In part two of Jim Henderson’s history of the Vikings, we learn about the period they spent in western Scotland, beginning at the time when they landed on Iona in the late 8th century for the first time. The Viking Period in Western Scotland By Jim Henderson It is considered by historians that the first …
Coronavirus: advice from the Middle Ages for how to cope with self-isolation By Godelinde Gertrude Perk, Postdoctoral researcher in Medieval Literature, University of Oxford, originally published in The Conversation, March 27th 2020 The pandemic of COVID-19 is often called “unprecedented” – and for many people cooped up in their homes in different countries, the experience …
A history of the Vikings By Jim Henderson In the first part of a four part series, Jim Henderson considers the reasons for the Vikings’ roving way of life, and introduces some of the Longships that they developed to assist with their excursions and conquests. Over the series we will learn about their journeys from …