Scottish History Archives - Edinburgh University Press Blog

Black-and-white photograph of an elderly man with white hair and a beard sitting at a desk, looking toward the camera while holding open a large illustrated book in an art-filled studio or office.

Richard Demarco: Overwhelmed by Memories

Richard Demarco has finally found a secure home for his vast archive, in Poland rather than Scotland, and is reckoning with a lifetime of not quite belonging.

Edinburgh University Press
September 25, 2026

A large historic stone mansion with symmetrical architecture, tall sash windows, and a central staircase leading to the main entrance. The building has a gray weathered facade, multiple chimneys, and ornate detailing above the center section. A wide green lawn stretches across the foreground under an overcast sky.

What does the history of Hopetoun House tell modern readers?

by Charlotte Bassett Built by landowners who worked to maximise the profitability of their many landholdings, Hopetoun House embodied the massive socio-economic paradigm shifts that took place during the 1700s in Scotland. It was built approximately thirteen miles northwest of…

Edinburgh University Press
September 22, 2026

Low-angle view of a dark bronze memorial sculpture featuring three offshore oil workers standing back-to-back against a cloudy sky, silhouetted by sunlight breaking through the clouds.

5 things the Piper Alpha disaster tells us about how the media covers anniversaries

Richard Jones on how journalism can reinterpret the meaning of historic events, helping them to retain a place in society’s shared consciousness.

Edinburgh University Press
June 9, 2026

How did the revenue men once invest in slavery?

John Parnell introduces his new research article.

Edinburgh University Press
June 4, 2026

A black-and-white photo of a large neoclassical stone building with tall fluted columns, a triangular pediment, and ornate detailing along the roofline. The structure has a monumental, temple-like appearance, with dark shadows emphasizing the architectural features. Bushes and smaller adjoining sections of the building are visible in the foreground and left side.

Lessons from Scottish Schools

Lindsay Paterson discusses Scotland’s educational decline and the social inequality of attainment.

Edinburgh University Press
May 14, 2026

A sepia-toned 18th-century printed broadside titled “TRANSPORTED FOR SEDITION.” The design features ornate borders and three oval engravings of men in period clothing holding papers. Text around the portraits names individuals convicted of sedition and sentenced to transportation (penal exile), including references to courts and dates in the early 1800s. The overall style is decorative and historical, resembling a political or legal proclamation from Britain.

The Scottish Martyrs and the antagonisms between Scots Law and British penal practice

Editors introduce their article on the Scottish Martyrs, which was the runner up in the SHR’s inaugural Early Career Researcher prize (Published in the journal’s December 2025 issue)