Last of the Westland Whigs

In the late 17th century, the 'Westland Whigs' were the radical descendants of earlier Covenanters who had defied the absolutist rule of Stuart kings in south west Scotland.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

Hegel and James Steuart.

Scottish literacy 1600- 1800

Friday, February 25, 2011

Distribution mottes Galloway

Thursday, February 24, 2011

The Expansion and Contraction of Gaelic in Galloway

Here are 8400 words on the Expansion and Contraction of Gaelic in Galloway.

This is a first draft for publication in the 2011 Transactions of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Dumfries Campus of Glasgow University under threat- again.

From STV today 15 February 2011.


Playwright Sir Tom Stoppard has put his name to an open letter along with more than 150 academics against cuts to courses at Glasgow University.

Baroness Onora O'Neill, former president of the British Academy, and author Professor Marina Warner have also signed the letter which was sent to Education Secretary Michael Russell on Tuesday.

Earlier this month details emerged of a cost-cutting proposal to scrap some courses and merge others to help save Glasgow University £20m. History, archaeology and classics could be merged and anthropology with social work courses also axed.

The proposals, by the university's senior management group, will be put forward at a meeting of the institution's court group on Wednesday but no decision would be made until a further meeting scheduled for later this year.

The letter states: "Universities are independent institutions, but they are publicly-funded and are a vital part of the economic, cultural and social fabric of this country. The future of university funding in Scotland is unclear.

"Pending decisions on future funding mechanisms and levels, which will be taken following the Scottish elections in May, every effort must be made to avoid damaging and irreversible cuts to subject areas.

"The management of any one institution must not be allowed to pre-empt political decisions and unilaterally decide the shape of future educational provision in key disciplines in Scotland's largest city."

The letter also said teaching and research in modern languages and cultures had "suffered severe attrition" in Scotland in recent years.

It continued: "We call on you as the minister responsible for higher education to do everything in your power to influence the management of the University of Glasgow and to ensure that the university continues to fulfil its historic role as an outward-looking institution rooted in the community that it serves rather than working primarily to maximise income in the international marketplace."

The university is also seeking a review of its Centre for Drugs Misuse Research and considering cutting back evening and weekend classes, which cater for up to 5000 adults a year. The university's Dumfries campus could also be affected with the cut of courses in the liberal arts in favour of an expansion in environmental management.

The proposals would make combined savings of around £3m as part of a wider strategy to find £20m in savings by 2012-13. A consultation on proposals to save money will get under way after tomorrow's meeting of the university court if they are approved.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Aerial photo of English rig and furrow

Survival of rig and furrow.

This is a rather neat map/ photo cross-reference.

Problems dating rig and furrow

The problem with dating rig and furrow is that what survives dates from the last time the rigs were formed - the last time they were ploughed/ dug.

Saturday, February 05, 2011

Galloway Douglas Regality

Edward Balliol support limited to Galloway

Edward Balliol, Edward 111 lands

Edward Balliol -special lord of Galloway