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New exhibition exploring how folklore has shaped Scotland

A person in Historic Environment Scotland uniform stands in front of three large, backlit exhibition panels which display text and imagery about Scottish folklore. The panels are in a room with old stone walls, a timber beam ceiling and wooden floor.

A new exhibition looking at how folklore is an intrinsic part of life in Scotland opens tomorrow (Friday 1 November 2024) at Blackness Castle. Drawing on images from the Historic Environment Scotland (HES) archives, ‘In the Land, of the People’ explores how folklore is woven throughout Scotland, through its landscape, its history and its people.

Visitors will be taken through the landscape, the monuments, and the communities of Scotland, exploring how folklore is an ever-evolving force that has shaped and continues to shape the world we live in.

Note that due to the construction of the building the exhibition is only accessible via a staircase.

Our heritage doesn’t just include the built environment we see around us, but is also made up of songs, recipes, stories and memories shared down through the ages.

Claire Whitbread, Exhibitions Manager at Historic Environment Scotland, said:

"Our heritage doesn’t just include the built environment we see around us, but is also made up of songs, recipes, stories and memories shared down through the ages.

This exhibition shines a light on folklore, a vital strand of this intangible cultural heritage, showcasing the many ways history plays a part in our lives.”

‘In the Land, of the People’ will be open at Blackness Castle on selected dates from Friday 1 November 2024 to Sunday 2 March 2025.

Entry to the exhibition is included with admission to the castle. Tickets can be booked in advance. Entry is free for Historic Scotland members.

About Historic Environment Scotland (HES) 

We're the lead body for Scotland’s historic environment, a charity dedicated to the advancement of heritage, culture, education and environmental protection. We are at the forefront of researching and understanding the historic environment and addressing the impacts of climate change on its future. Across Scotland, we investigate and record architectural and archaeological sites and landscapes and care for more than 300 properties of national importance. HES is also working with sector partners to deliver Scotland's strategy for the historic environment, Our Past, Our Future.

Historic Scotland, trove.scot, The National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle, Edinburgh Castle and Stòr are sub-brands of HES.

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