Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland's History and Nature

Host Jackie Bird is joined by curator Antonia Laurence-Allan and historian Sally Tuckett to discuss all things 18th-century fashion. Recorded inside the Georgian House, just days before the exhibition Ramsay & Edinburgh Fashion opened its doors, the trio talk about the artist Allan Ramsay and the women behind the paintings. What was life like for someone at the centre of the Scottish Enlightenment? Who were his patrons? And what do his paintings tell us about the role of fashion among the Georgian movers and shakers? To enjoy more episodes of Love Scotland, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  For more information on the Georgian House, click here. Or click here for more on the 2024 exhibition.  We would like to thank those who have supported the Ramsay and Edinburgh Fashion exhibition, including The American Friends of British Art, NTS Foundation USA, The Real Mary King’s Close, Edinburgh NTS Members’ Centre, and donors in memory of the Duchess of Buccleuch.

Joining Jackie this week is Tom Conti, the Paisley-born actor best known for his roles on stage and screen, including 1978’s Whose Life Is It Anyway and 2023’s Oppenheimer. The recipient of Tony and Olivier award, Tom was also named the 2024 Great Scot by the National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA earlier this year. In his conversation with Jackie, Tom reflects on his hugely successful career and his love of Scotland. Whether in smaller appearances in cult classics, such as Friends and Miranda, or leading roles in Broadway smashes, Tom reveals what it’s really like to lead a life in the arts. Plus, he discusses his performance of Charles Rennie Mackintosh in the late 1980s, where he filmed in the National Trust for Scotland’s Hill House and Mackintosh at the Willow. For more on Hill House, click here. For more on Mackintosh at the Willow, click here. Love Scotland will return later this year with a brand new series of episode. Subscribe or follow now to make sure you don’t miss any new releases. 

Earlier this year, the National Trust for Scotland revealed that a Second World War plane propeller had been found on Arran. Mysteriously, the propeller was wrapped in an old potato sack and had been discovered deep in a peat bog. How did it get there? The Trust’s Head of Archaeology, Derek Alexander, led an investigation to find out. He joins Jackie in the studio to discuss the surprisingly high number of wartime plane crashes and tragedies in Scotland, and the particular circumstances of 1944 which ultimately led to this propeller being hidden inside a sack. To see an image of the propeller, click here. For more information on the Trust’s places in Arran, click here.

Earlier this year, Mackintosh at the Willow – a tea room on Glasgow’s Sauchiehall Street that dates back to 1903 – joined the National Trust for Scotland’s portfolio of special places. To better understand the venue and the role it played in Edwardian Glasgow, Jackie sits down for a cup of tea with two expert guests. Celia Sinclair Thornqvist MBE, who purchased, saved and restored Mackintosh at the Willow in 2014, is joined by cultural historian Robyne Calvert to reveal the hidden stories of the last remaining original tea room designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife Margaret Macdonald. They also detail the life of Glasgow entrepreneur Miss Catherine Cranston, who once ran the tea room. Who would have once frequented the tea room? What makes Mackintosh at the Willow such a shining example of its designers’ talents? And what has it taken to restore the magnificent tea room into the stunning location it is today? For more on Mackintosh at the Willow, visit the website You may also enjoy our previous episode on the life of Margaret Macdonald, available here.

This week, Jackie and her guest discuss six objects in the Trust’s collections that help to tell the stories of some of the most fascinating women connected to Trust places. Regional curators Emma Inglis and Antonia Laurence-Allen help to paint a picture of these six women, whose lives and jobs range from being an ale-brewer in 1600s Edinburgh to the daughter of an earl in Clackmannanshire. What does a job application from 1910 tell us about the changing world of work at the turn of the century? Why was ale-making seen as a predominantly female profession? And who was the historical figure behind Alloa’s successful glasswork? For more information about the places mentioned in this episode, please follow the links below: Gladstone’s Land Weaver’s Cottage Alloa Tower Hill House Broughton House Tenement House Remember to follow Love Scotland so you don’t miss any future episodes.

Professor Richard Oram from Stirling University joins to discuss Scotland's early monarchs, including Macbeth and Duncan. They explore the origins of kingship, the role of women in monarchy, and the reigns of Malcolm III to David I. From military victories to marriage alliances, learn about the transformative rulers who shaped Scotland's history.

Arguably the most famous monarch in Scottish history, Mary, Queen of Scots remains a figure of global intrigue more than 400 years after her death. One question, then: why? In a previous episode of Love Scotland, Jackie explored the life and times of Mary. Today, she’s on a mission to find out why Mary’s story and legacy have been pored over in such detail for centuries. Joining Jackie in the studio is Professor Steven Reid of the University of Glasgow, who is also the author of The Afterlife of Mary, Queen of Scots. Together, they unpick the posthumous interest in Mary, the many different perceptions of her legacy, and how Mary’s death has been used throughout history to further different groups’ objectives. For more information on Falkland Palace, click here.

Professor Dauvit Broun discusses Robert the Bruce's struggles for power in 1306 Scotland, including battling the most powerful family. The podcast delves into Bruce's hardships, resilience, and strategic military tactics at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. It contrasts the English monarchs Edward I and Edward II, highlighting Bruce's calculated maneuvers towards becoming King of Scots.

Professor Dauvit Broun from the University of Glasgow chats about Robert the Bruce's life, covering his alliances, power shifts, and military triumphs. They discuss the myths vs. reality surrounding the Scottish ruler and his lasting impact on history.

Jackie gives a brief introduction to brand-new season of the Love Scotland podcast. We're going across the centuries to delve into the stories of Mary Queen of Scots and Robert the Bruce, then skipping ahead to the tales of the Georgian Tea Room. Jackie also hears from the Trust's archaeology team about wartime relics beind unearthed across the country.