Online history resource ‘exciting’ for Carrick
THOUSANDS of the oldest documents in Scottish history, including those on Carrick and its characters, have been made available to the public on a new interactive online database.
The People of Medieval Scotland project, launched at the University of Glasgow on Wednesday, has catalogued over 21,000 individuals mentioned in nearly 9000 documents.
For more than five years the documents were researched and indexed by staff at the Scottish history department of the University of Glasgow.
And now online and fully accessible to the public, experts and enthusiastic amateurs are being given the chance to brush up on their historical knowledge.
The database includes documents written between 1093 and 1314, which tell the story of Scotland’s transformation into the modern systems of government. It also includes free software which has been specially designed for use in schools.
A number of the records are based on areas in Carrick, for example Turnberry - where Scotland’s ‘hero king’ Robert the Bruce is thought to have been born. Information can be found about The Bruce himself, his ancestors and immediate family, as well as the Scottish royal family tree from 1093 to 1286.
Girvan history enthusiast Denis Reid called the new resource “an exciting project”, and he would strongly encourage Carrick residents to take an interest.
He noted that Carrick has born a number of historically significant figures, including Kirkoswald’s Agnes Brown - better known as the mother of Scots poet Robert Burns - a viscount who authorised the Glencoe massacre, and a comrade-in-arms of Joan of Arc.
He said: “Carrick is a kingdom in its own right and, despite playing a major role in national and world affairs, has never been given the recognition she is due.
“I would encourage anyone at all interested in our unique part of Scotland to make use of the People of Medieval Scotland project. It may just surprise many what they and their children find of interest.”
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning, Michael Russell, who launched the project, added: “Learning about our history, languages, literature and culture as well as connecting with Scotland as a place is a vital part of developing a confident, balanced and informed sense of citizenship with perspective on Scotland and our place in the world.”
The database and more information are available for viewing on www.poms.ac.uk.
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Saturday 18 May 2013
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