In 1695, 172 prominent citizens invested their wealth in the fledging Bank of Scotland. Known as the Adventurers, some of the investors stories are adventures in themselves, involving murders and scandals, and even imprisonment in the Tower of London.
If you see banking as boring, think again! Join us for an exploration of the names on the list that changed the finances of a nation.
Gillian Paterson is Engagement Officer at Museum on the Mound. Situated within the Bank of Scotland’s historic head office, Museum on the Mound explores the history of money, and many of the banks and brands which are part of Lloyds Banking Group. As well as having a fascination with history, Gillian is also a member of the Directory of Scottish Storytellers and loves to bring the lesser known tales from our past to life.
This event is now fully booked. To be added to the waiting list, please email bookings.museumsandgalleries@edinburgh.gov.uk, or call the Ciy Art Centre reception desk at 0131 529 3993.
Edinburgh is 900 Years Old!
In 1124 King David I introduced a new system of local government into Scotland by creating royal burghs as part of his efforts to reform the nation’s economic and political structures.
Edinburgh was one of his first royal burghs, along with Berwick, Dunfermline, Roxburgh and Stirling.
While there is no surviving founding Edinburgh charter, an 1127 Dunfermline Abbey royal charter refers to ‘my burgh of Edinburgh’. In 1128, Canongate Burgh was created for Holyrood Abbey.
After the Reformation, Edinburgh spent considerable effort acquiring the former abbey’s lands over the following 200 years. It acquired Canongate then created a new burgh for South Leith in 1636. The burghs of Broughton, Calton and Portsburgh were also acquired and run by Edinburgh. This complex system of governance was abolished in 1856 when all burghs under the management of Edinburgh were merged into a single burgh.
In 1833, Portobello and Leith were made independent parliamentary burghs under the Burgh Reform Act. They ran their own affairs until amalgamated into an expanded Edinburgh in 1896 and 1920, respectively. 1975 saw the last expansion of the city’s boundaries, including Queensferry, which had been made a royal burgh in 1636.
Edinburgh has selected 2024 to mark the start of the 900th anniversary of our city, and to tell the story of Edinburgh’s journey through the centuries from the 12th century City of David right up to the 21st century, the City of Diversity. Our talks at the City Art Centre will celebrate the 10 themes and will span a period of summer 2024 until August 2025.
Adventures in Banking: The Scandals and Stories behind the Bank of Scotland’s First Investors.