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My talks schedule for the rest of the year is officially locked in! If you have a taste for the macabre or want to explore the darker side of history, I’d love to see you there. All welcome Details on dates, venues, and booking can be found here: archivisthistoryblog.wordpress.com/history-talks/

Lorraine Murray history talks schedule Autumn 2026

Full details on dates, venues, and booking can be found here:
https://archivisthistoryblog.wordpress.com/history-talks/

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Sept weekend trip to St Andrews. Despite being off work, I accidentally came across the grave of Dr John Hunter Park Paton.. son of Rev. John Allan Hunter Paton who was the brother of Allan Park Paton, former Librarian of the Watt Library in #Greenock between 1868-94 @inverclydehistory.bsky.social

Grave of Dr. John Hunter Park Paton (19 Feb 1875 – 11 Jan 1949) in St Andrews Eastern Cemetery.
He died at sea at age 74.
Two of his sons were killed during WW2 and are commemorated here - William Neil Paton and John Greves Paton.

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

Last night's Harvest Moon in #Glasgow View from Bothwell Street

Hope St Glasgow, taken from Bothwell Street.
Harvest moon
photo credits E Scoular / L Murray

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

My first history talk of the season took place last night. It was a pleasure to speak about #Witchcraft in Dunbartonshire for the Lennox Heritage Society to a full house. It always surprises and amazes me when people come along to hear my chat!

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

My first talk of the season is Wed 9 Sept @7.30 for Lennox Heritage Society - "Witchcraft in the west of Scotland", £2 entry or £10 to join the Society. All welcome! Keep an eye on my events page for info on further talks as they are added archivisthistoryblog.wordpress.com/history-talks/

Post from Lennox Heritage
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1F2iDRWHPb/

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

The historic boundary which separates Grahamston on the left (west) and old #Glasgow on the right (east). Smug's mural might be suggesting the old St Enoch's Burn is hidden underneath, culverted over by what is now Mitchell Street. #History #HiddenHistory

Mitchell Street, Glasgow
Photo (c) Lorraine Murray
29 Aug 2026

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 22/08/2026

Glasgow's Bothwell St. et al. aka Gotham City earlier this week. Film crews setting up for filming The Batman II 🦇 Nice to see the old M&S food shop being used for something at last... #Glasgow #Batman

Batman II filming
Bothwell St Glasgow
20 Aug 2026
(C) S. Murray

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

Listening to @gregjenner.bsky.social's "You're dead to me" podcast with Dr Simon Yarrow & Rachel Parris about Medieval Saints, St Carlo Acutis was mentioned. There was a "relic tour" for his canonisation last Sept in the Glasgow/ Paisley Diocese & 👇 came to my kid's school. Relic's still a thing.. 🤔

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 16/08/2026

I had the most lovely visit to the first domestic villa designed by Charles Rennie #Mackintosh - Windyhill. Without this building designed for the Davidson's, we would have no Hill House.

Post at Windyhill in Kilmacolm
Photo by Lorraine Murray, August 2026

Windyhill in Kilmacolm
Photo by Lorraine Murray, August 2026

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Today's talk from Dr Alasdair Whyte about Glasgow's Gaelic place names for the Govan book festival was very interesting. Always glad to have the opportunity to go for a nosey in the bookshop @govanstones.bsky.social I don't think I've ever left empty handed 🫣

Today's talk by Dr Alasdair Whyte about Glasgow's Gaelic place names for the Govan book festival

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

#otd 10 June 1697, seven people were executed in Paisley as witches. Eight were found guilty, and one died in prison prior. Remembering John Lindsay (of Barloch) Agnes Naismith Margaret Fulton John Lindsay(Bishop) James Lindsay (Curate) Katherine Campbell Margaret Lang John Reid #earlymodern

Memorial stone by Fraser McKechnie to commemorate those executed at Paisley for the crime of witchcraft. 2023.

It reads" Renfrewshire Witch Hunts. Pain Inflicted. Suffering Endured. Innocent Always."
Photo: Lorraine Murray

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

#otd 1849, Catherine Cranston was born in #Glasgow. Known for her "art tearooms", she was an early patron of Charles Rennie #Mackintosh. Come along to my talk next Monday, 1st June at 6.30pm at Eastwood House to hear more about her life and legacy. www.facebook.com/share/19DirN...

Advert for heritage talk about Catherine Cranston by Lorraine at Eastwood House for Enjoy East Renfrewshire

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

A reminder about tomorrow's #Heritage Fair event in #Gourock. Come along from 10.30 to hear from a number of great #history groups and speakers. I'll be giving a short talk about Charles Rennie #Mackintosh and his connection to #Inverclyde at 2.30pm All welcome and free entry!

Inverclyde Heritage Network poster for 2026 Heritage Fair

Details about the Inverclyde Heritage Network 2026 Heritage Fair

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 10/05/2026

Come along to a *free* tour of the #Ramshorn graveyard Nestled in the Merchant City of #Glasgow on Ingram Street is this quiet haven with many interesting stories waiting to be discovered. Book via: tours@ramshorngraveyard.org or www.eventbrite.com/o/121214087409 It will be dead interesting..

Flyer advertising free summer 2026 tours of the Ramshorn Graveyard in Glasgow, from the Friends of Ramshorn Graveyard

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

Royal Crescent off Sauchiehall St, #Glasgow, set up for filming "The Buccaneers" over the weekend. Brilliantly disguised parking metre and bays! Dating from around 1840 by Alexander Taylor.

Photo of Royal Crescent in Glasgow showing a curved terrace townhouses from around 1840 by Alexander Taylor

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

Att Inverclyde folk! The Inverclyde Heritage Network is running a Heritage Fayre on Sat 23 May from 10am in Gourock. I'll be giving a short talk about Charles Rennie #Mackintosh in Inverclyde. Come along and hear from local history groups and other speakers, it's sure to be a great day!

Flyer for the Inverclyde Heritage network fayre in Gourock on Saturday 23 May 2026

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

The #Salem #witch trials took place 1692/3, but only *after* Cotton Mather published his text in 1689 where he describes the behaviour of a person in Boston supposedly afflicted by #witchcraft possession. This book had been much discussed in New England, including Salem Village.. #earlymodern

"Memorable providences, ... " by Cotton Mather, 1689
Available from the Internet Archive https://share.google/OppkVRBYdTSOfBhdt

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

Remembering the late Professor Christina Jessy Larner, Historian and Prof of Sociology from Glasgow University who died #otd 1983 at the age of only 49. Author of the seminal "Enemies of God: the witch-hunt in Scotland" & co-auth of the first Scottish #Witchcraft survey in 1977. #WitchBookClub

"The thinking peasant : popular and educated belief in pre-industrial culture"
Christina Jessy Larner, 1982

"Enemies of God : the witch-hunt in Scotland" Christina Larner, 1981

"A source-book of Scottish witchcraft" compiled by Christina Larner, Christopher Hyde Lee and Hugh V. McLachlan, 1977

"Witchcraft and religion : the politics of popular belief" Christina Larner

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

The Argyll Arcade in #Glasgow is one of the oldest covered shopping centres in Scotland, designed by John Baird for James Robertson Reid in 1827 who had the canny idea of knocking through from his Buchanan St home to his tenement in Argyll St. Cat A listing status and home to many jewellery shops.

The roof of the Argyll Arcade in Glasgow designed by Architect John Baird I in 1827.
Photo (c) Lorraine Murray, 18 April 2026

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 20/04/2026

I enjoyed watching Smug working on this newest mural on Saturday morning just off the High Street in #Glasgow

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 12/04/2026

Some #Mackintosh buildings depicted in these lovely glass panels in the old Harry Ramsden's restaurant building on Paisley Rd at Springfield Quay in Glasgow. House for an Art Lover, GSofA Mack building and Scotland St School.

House for an Art Lover, GSofA Mack building and Scotland St School glass panels from restaurant on Paisley Rd, Glasgow.
Photo (c) Lorraine Murray 2026

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

Today is the anniversary of Alexander "Greek" Thomson who was born #otd 9th April 1817 in Balfron. Read more about him in my blog post here - archivisthistoryblog.wordpress.com/2024/04/09/r...

Screenshot of blog post about Alexander Thomson, Glasgow Architect

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Alexander "Greek" Thomson, the wonderful #Glaswegian Architect, died #otd (22 March 1875) He influenced much of the built environment in the West of Scotland. Read more about him and his masterpiece "Holmwood" in Cathcart here: archivisthistoryblog.wordpress.com/2024/04/09/r...

"Remembering Thomson" by Lorraine Murray

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

Artist Peter Brown chatting to bystanders at the corner of Drury St and Renfield St with the partial remains of the Gordon St façade of Union Corner as his subject matter. Almost a week on from the devastating Union Street #fire adjacent to Central Station, demolition has now begun in #Glasgow.

Photo of Artist Peter Brown at the corner of Drury Street and Renfield Street Glasgow.
(c) Lorraine Murray, 12 March 2026

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 14/03/2026

🚨 Attn #Glasgow folks ⚠️ I have developed a new #history #talk for the Alexander Thomson Society. "All that Remains: Tales from the Ramshorn Kirkyard" on Sat 25 Apr, 1pm, Mitchell Library, free entry. Booking 👇 www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/all-that-r... #Taphophile #Graveyard #MementoMori #DeathHistory

Details on talk from Lorraine Murray's talk "All that remains: Tales from the Ramshorn Kirkyard"
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/all-that-remains-tales-from-the-ramshorn-kirkyard-tickets-1984707738272

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

I have developed a new #history talk for the Thomson Society about the Ramshorn Kirk in #Glasgow Come along to "All that Remains: Tales from the Ramshorn Kirkyard" on Sat 25 Apr, 1pm, Mitchell Library, free entry. #MementoMori #Graveyards #Taphophile #Empire www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/all-that-r...

Eventbrite info about Lorraine Murray's talk
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/all-that-remains-tales-from-the-ramshorn-kirkyard-tickets-1984707738272

Further info from Eventbrite on Lorraine Murray's talk.
Follow the blog to stay up to date when a new talk is added
https://archivisthistoryblog.wordpress.com/history-talks/

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

⚠️ Attn #Glasgow folks! 🚨 Come along to my new talk focusing on the Patrons of Charles Rennie #Mackintosh - Catherine Cranston, Walter Blackie and William Davidson. Next Sunday #IWD 8 March 2026 @1pm at Mackintosh Tearooms on Sauchiehall Street, £8 booking info: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-talk-on-...

Promo for talk
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-talk-on-the-patrons-of-mackintosh-with-lorraine-murray-tickets-1970289804845

Description of Patrons of Mackintosh talk by Lorraine Murray

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 16/01/2026

For anyone in and around #Glasgow here are the next four Saturday afternoon talks at 1pm in the Mitchell Library Moir Dyer room for #Glasgow850 by The Alexander Thomson Society. All events are free, just sign up at Eventbrite below. www.eventbrite.com/o/10377821774

Poster for the Alexander Thomson Society Glasgow 850 lectures starting January 24th, 2026

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 07/01/2026

Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh, wife of Charles Rennie #Mackintosh died #otd 1933. She was an artist, illustrator, and created beautiful works of embroidery, gesso panels, leaded glass and repoussé metalwork #GlasgowGirls #GlasgowStyle

Portrait of Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh by James Craig Annan c.1901

The three perfumes by Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh c.1912

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

Happy #Hogmanay from #Scotland. Have a read of my article about some of our New Year traditions with a pinch of #folklore and #superstition See you on the other side of the 🔔🔔🔔 and have a lovely Ne'erday tomorrow! #skystorians #history archivisthistoryblog.wordpress.com/2020/12/31/l...

Screenshot of blog post about Hogmanay in Scotland from "The Archivist History blog" https://archivisthistoryblog.wordpress.com/2020/12/31/lang-may-yer-lum-reek/

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 29/12/2025

Today is an important anniversary for women's rights in the UK. #otd 50 years ago #women eventually won the fight for workplace #equality On 29th Dec 1975, the Equal Pay Act (1970)and the Sex Discrimination Act came into force and the Equal Opportunities Commission was set up (now, EHRC)

Women protesting equal rights and equal pay during the Dagenham Ford Strike in 1968. This led to the equal pay act of 1970

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Day 12 of #12DaysOfChristmas #ArchiveChristmasCard with a #GothicYuletide spin. Hope everyone had a #MerryChristmas and are now safely travelling home, although maybe not flying on a broomstick or a bat! #CreepyChristmas #DarkChristmas

Victorian Christmas card with subject possibly taken from Italian folklore story of La Befana, who is a friendly witch who delivers gifts to children on 5th January. Or maybe its just two stereotypical witches depictions of women on pointy hats riding broomsticks in the air

Bats and their winged cherub type jockeys to wish a bright new year.

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

Day 11 of #12DaysOfChristmas #ArchiveChristmasCard with a #GothicYuletide spin. Today is #ChristmasPudding so enjoy these warnings about overeating. Victorians knew how to spoil all the fun with some well chosen criticism & body shaming.. #CreepyChristmas #DarkChristmas #Christmas2025 #ChristmasEve

A terrifying Christmas pudding upsetting your sleep. This image was not actually a postcard at first, but from a magazine illustration.

Victorian card warning fair girls not to eat unhealthy foods or to excess over the festive season

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

I wanted to post this too, although it is an image circulating that pretends to be an original Victorian #ArchiveChristmasCard but is edited. The original shows the children carrying a treat, but in this version, it has been replaced with a decapitated #snowman #12DaysOfChristmas #GothicYuletide

An unhappy looking decapitated snowman head on a platter complete with the method of his destruction

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 22/12/2025

Day 9 of #12DaysOfChristmas posts with a #GothicYuletide twist. Today's theme is #clown although not a usual seasonal symbol here, they are in Spain, to bring joy to the darkness of winter. Which might take a bit of getting used to for me! #CreepyChristmas #DarkChristmas #ArchiveChristmasCard

Clowning around on the ice isn't safe..
Warning of danger at Christmas showing a clown ice skating while another has fallen through the ice

Christmas postacrd showing a clown eating a seasonal dish which looks very much like an advertisement for a drink reused as a greetings card

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 21/12/2025

Day 7 and 8 of my #12DaysOfChristmas posts with a #GothicYuletide twist since I started a day late and can't count! Did you know #Santa / St Nicholas wasn't always a benevolent friend to children? Read more in 'alt'.. #CreepyChristmas #DarkChristmas #ArchiveChristmasCard #ArchiveAdventCalendar

St Nicholas would send the Devil and his demons to watch children to see if they were naughty or nice... could today's elf on the shelf be the present-day incarnation of a 19th c demon? Remember that when they are up to mischief in your house at night!

If a child was naughty, he would be kidnapped and punished by St Nicholas and his minions: the devil and demons. What was really in those sacks on the back of his sleigh?..

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 20/12/2025

Since its the last #Caturday before Christmas, here are some terrifying examples of bizarre Victorian feline themed Christmas cards for day 6 of #12DaysOfChristmas with a #GothicYuletide twist. More info via 'alt'. Enjoy! #CreepyChristmas #DarkChristmas #ArchiveChristmasCard #ArchiveAdventCalendar

Louis Wain series of Christmas postcards showing nursery rhyme little Jack Horner as a fully dressed cat with a plum pie

Louis Wain designed Christmas card depicting a feline giant and Jack mouse from the Jack and the beanstalk story

Revenge is sweet and cat flavoured. A Christmas feast for a group of dapper mice

There was a tradition of surveillance and threat of violence in Christmas cards to warn children of the consequences of being naughty.
Design by Louis Wain.

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

Some rather surreal and disturbing looking anthropomorphic vegetable Victorian Christmas cards for day 5 of #12DaysOfChristmas with a #GothicYuletide twist. Peckish anyone..? #CreepyChristmas #DarkChristmas #ArchiveChristmasCard #ArchiveAdventCalendar

Four anthropomorphic vegetable Christmas or trade cards, some created by London publisher Herman Rothe in the 1870s - 90s with seasonal good wishes

Anthropomorphic vegetable Christmas or trade card likely created by London publisher Herman Rothe in the 1870s - 90s

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

Day 4 of #12DaysOfChristmas with a #GothicYuletide twist. Another strange #Victorian Christmas card, or should it be Easter? Headless egg with arms and legs, but missing a sock.. so many questions. #CreepyChristmas #DarkChristmas #ArchiveChristmasCard #ArchiveAdventCalendar

The "headless humpty" vintage Victorian Christmas postcard featuring limbs hatching from an egg, and holding an envelope.
The message reads "With many merry Christmas Greetings".

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

Day 3 of my #12DaysOfChristmas posts with a #GothicYuletide twist. This bonkers #Archive #Victorian Christmas card shows a stag beetle dancing with a frog, because surely nothing says Christmas more than that! #CreepyChristmas #DarkChristmas #ArchiveChristmasCard #ArchiveAdventCalendar

Victorian Christmas card featuring a stag beetle dancing with a frog, with a fly holding a tambourine and dragonflies in the background with the message "may Christmas be merry"
Because why not..

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

Day 2 of my #12DaysOfChristmas posts with a #GothicYuletide twist. This Victorian Christmas card shows a bird 'robin' the mail. See what they did there..? 😆 #CreepyChristmas #DarkChristmas #ArchiveChristmasCard #ArchiveAdventCalendar

Bizarre Victorian Christmas card showing a highwayman bird 'robin' the mail on his trusty steed...
Badum tish

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 15/12/2025

Starting the first of my #12DaysOfChristmas posts today with a slight twist. A lot of Victorian Christmas cards were just amazingly bizarre and quirky, so every day until the 25th, I'll post one for you to enjoy! #CreepyChristmas #DarkChristmas #ArchiveChristmasCard

A Victorian design Christmas Card featuring a smiling, anthropomorphised plum pudding wearing a 'hat' made of a plate and glass, and standing on two wine bottles for legs, with cutlery for arms.
With slightly eerie lettering saying "A Merry" which looks like branches and a more cheerful type of "Christmas" with branches of holly.

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

I enjoyed doing my last #history talk for the year, for the Tourist Guide Association in #Glasgow. The topic was rather timely - Catherine Cranston - with liberal mention of Charles Rennie #Mackintosh on the anniversary of his passing in 1928. #Skystorians #Tearooms #GlasgowStyle

Photo by Lorraine Murray, Dec 2025 of the Quaker Meeting House sign near Charing Cross in Glasgow

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

My new talk developed for the "Mackintosh Illuminated" project from NTS focusing on #Mackintosh and his circle and shining a light on their work & legacy. I will be talking about the Scottish Patrons of #Mackintosh Catherine Cranston, Walter Blackie and William Davidson on #IWD 8 March 26. .. 3/3

"The Patrons of Mackintosh" by Lorraine Murray
Date: 8 march 2026
Time: 13:00
Venue: Mackintosh at the Willow
Cost: £8
To book:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-talk-on-the-patrons-of-mackintosh-with-lorraine-murray-tickets-1970289804845

Image of William Davidson. Photo Credit: The Hunterian, Glasgow (Mackintosh Architecture)

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Lorraine @wolfq4.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

This tribute to Charles Rennie #Mackintosh is by Mr. J. Jeffrey Waddell, taken from The Glasgow Herald of 15th December 1928. Mackintosh died on 10 Dec 1928 in London at age 60. 2/3 ..

Glasgow Herald article on Charles Rennie Mackintosh 1928

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