Guildry projects - seat and plaque

Seat and Plaque

Guildry projects - seat and plaqueGuildry Seat and Plaque at Stirling Old Harbour, Riverside

Handover Ceremony 1.45pm Tuesday 22 November 2005

The Merchant Guildry of Stirling was instituted 1119 and was a powerful organisation involved in running the town until the Burgh Reform Act 1833 and Burgh Trading Act 1845 provided for the election of Town Councils and abolished the privileges of Merchant Guilds.

The Guild contributed to the wealth of Stirling through weekly markets and trading with European ports from the early 1400s (Deans of Guild date from 1470 to the present day).

Over the centuries goods were brought into Stirling and exports taken to European trading places via ships at Old Stirling Harbour, of which today there is little evidence.

Harbour sketch

A James Proudfoot drawing in 1972 suggests how the harbour would look circa 1600 with two sailing ships docked against a background of the top of the town and Stirling Castle. During the 19th and 20th Century pleasure steamers and various vessels sailed up the River Forth to Stirling.

The current Dean of Guild, Alan Webb, felt it would be appropriate to highlight the site of the old harbour and the Guild have donated a seat on which is placed a plaque with an extract of the Proudfoot scene. Hopefully local people and visitors can sit, enjoy the views and contemplate the history of sailing and its contribution to the growth and importance of Stirling. 

Thanks

Thanks go to:

The Dean’s Council and Guildry for supporting the installation of the seat and plaque at the site of the old Stirling Harbour., which is funded by a Charitable Trust.

Colin O’Brien, attending in a dual capacity as Ex-Provost (2006) and Chairman of Cowane’s Trust on whose land the seat is installed. Gerry McDermott, the previous Master & Factor who provided advice & encouragement.

Ian Crawford, who provided the James Proudfoot print which inspired the image we used for the plaque. Alan Donald, who patiently provided the computer image and text, with several editions & linked with The Sign Factory.

A & L King of Auchterarder, who kindly donated the Granite blocks and plinth and installed the seat & plaque. An anonymous donor of the marble seat.

Stirling Council staff such as Jay Dawson regarding planning permission, Andrew Muirhead, Operations Librarian, who allowed us to use the Proudfoot print whose copyright is held by the Council, & Donald Balsillie who advised on a path to be installed on this site.

Riverside Community Council & Councillor McKean who have been very enthusiastic of this project.

I especially want to welcome Mrs Kay Strang, Depute Head Teacher, and the Pupil Council from Riverside Primary School. They are the future and I hope that they can learn from the past and utilise this seat and plaque to stimulate an interest in the City of Stirling.