Contact: Brigitte Sweeney
The Scottish History Group meets on the first Monday in the month in KUSI at 2pm. The group does not meet in July and August
The intention is to look more closely at themes that have had a bearing on the history of Scotland. This could be based on individuals and events or topics such as Burghs, Pilgrimage, Healing, Religion or Legal systems.
Anybody with an interest in British and Scottish History is very welcome to come to our meetings.
| Status: | Active, open to new members |
| Leader: | |
| When: | On Monday afternoons 1st Monday of the month |
| Venue: | K.U.S.I., Kirkcaldy |
Forthcoming events
Topics from past meetings
JUNE 2026
George Heriot (1563-1624)
Reivers Curse
picture - George Heriot Jeweller to James VI and I
MAY 2026
Macbeth history v literature
Edgar
Sawney Beane and Family
Medieval Goldsmiths
picture- A Goldsmith in his shop by Petrus Christus (1449). Flemish goldsmith Willem van Vleuten with Mary of Guelders prior to her marriage to James II of Scotland.
April 2026
The Ballad of Johnny Armstrong
The Border Reivers and Religion
The Galloway Rebellion
Lady Macbeth
The Plague
picture - oak tree and cross Borders landscape
March 2026
Festivals
Brieves
Border Reivers as a military force
Robert II's wives
Michael Scot philosopher and theologian
picture - The seal of Robert II
February 2026
Food for the rich and for the poor in Medieval Scotland
Famine 13th to 18th century
Marjorie of Carrick Mother of Robert the Bruce
The Guardians of the Realm (1286 - 1292)
The family of Edgar (1074 - 1107) complexities of succession
Picture - The Guardians of the Realm Seal 1292
January 2026
Languages of Medieval Scotland
Border Reivers impact on 1st War of Independence
The Auld Alliance
Serfs and Peasants
pictures - map of linguistic divisions, the borders, French and Scottish coats of arms, serfs gathering wheat watched by overseer
December
St Andrews Cathedral
Pilgrimages to St Andrews
Researching Bruce women - the complexities
Guilds - weavers, cordwainers and hammermen
picture - A map of St Andrews c1580 by John Geddy.
November
Poetry of William Dunbar, the Makar at the time of James 4
Border castle farmhouses and tower houses
War in medieval times
Scots Law.. brieves .. legal writs
The Synod of Whitby
From 'Lament for Makaris' by William Dunbar (1460 - 1520).
That strang unmercifull tyrand
Takis on the moderis breist sowkand
The bab full of benignite.
Timor mortis conturbat me.
He takis the campion in the stour, [battle]
The capitaine closit in the tour,
The lady in bour full of bewte,
Timor mortis conturbat me.
October
Women in Robert the Bruce's circle
Pilgrimages to Whithorn
Merchant Guilds
picture - a medieval market in Northern Europe. Members of the Merchant Guild. dressed in blue and grey, buying and selling their wares.
September
Isabella McDuff
Knights Hospitallers
Intro to Guilds in Scottish Burghs
Notable Bruce Women
picture - In 1302, Robert the Bruce (1274 - 1329) married his second wife Elizabeth de Burgh (1289 - 1327), daughter of the Lord of Ulster,
Groups listed alphabetically
-
A Walk in the park
Status: Active
On Thursday mornings 11:00 -
AI Explorers
Status: Active
Monthly on Fridays 14:15
Second Friday of month -
Art Appreciation
Status: Active
On Thursday mornings
3rd Thursday of each month -
Backgammon and Cribbage
Status: Active
Monthly mornings 10:00-12:00
1st Friday and 3rd Monday of the month -
Craft 'n' a Cuppa
Status: Active
Monthly on Tuesday mornings 10:30-12:00
1st Tuesday of each month -
Creative Writing Workshop
Status: Waiting list
On Wednesday mornings 10:00-13:00
normally 1st 2nd and 3rd Wednesdays of each month. May change in July and August. -
Current Affairs
Status: Active
On Wednesday mornings 10:30
3rd Wednesday of each month -
Film, Theatre and Concert
Status: Active
Mainly daytime events -
French Conversation
Status: Waiting list
On Tuesday afternoons 14:00
2nd and 4th Tues of the month -
Games
Status: Active
On Friday afternoons 14:00-16:00
3rd Friday of the month -
Garden Visits
Status: Active
As arranged -
Introduction to Creative Writing
Status: Full
On Tuesdays 10:30
Second & last Tuesday of the month. -
Local History
Status: Active
On Monday afternoons 14:00-15:45
2nd Mon of the month -
Lunch Club
Status: Active
On Thursday afternoons
1st Thursday of the month -
Meditation and Mindfulness
Status: Active
On Monday mornings 10:30-12:00
Normally first and third Monday of month but check dates -
Out and About
Status: Active
As arranged -
Park Golf
Status: Active
Monthly on Friday mornings 10:30
4th Friday of the Month -
Qi Gong
Status: Active
On Monday mornings 10:30-12:00
Second and fourth Monday of the month unless advised otherwise. -
Quiz Group
Status: Active
On Friday mornings 11:00
1st Friday of the month -
Reading
Status: Waiting list
On Monday afternoons 14:00
3rd Mon of the month -
Scottish Heritage
Status: Waiting list
On Wednesday afternoons
3rd Wednesday -
Scottish Heritage 2
Status: Waiting list
On Tuesdays
Third Tuesday of the month -
Scottish History
Status: Active
On Monday afternoons
1st Monday of the month -
Short Walks
Status: Active
Weekly on Thursday mornings 10:30 -
Tenpin Bowling
Status: Active
On Wednesday afternoons 13:30
First Wednesday of the month -
Travel Group
Status: Active
On Thursdays
2nd Thurs of the month as arranged -
Walking
Status: Active
On Wednesdays
2nd Wednesday of the month -
What the Papers Say
Status: Active
On Wednesday mornings 10:30-12:30
Last Wed of each month -
Writing for Fun
Status: Active
Monthly on Wednesday mornings 10:30-12:30
Fourth Wednesday in the month.