Historical geographers in Dornoch

We had a busy week of visitors in mid-May, as our Dr Iain Robertson, Associate Professor in Historical Geography, welcomed colleagues from Denmark, England and Australia to the Centre for History to continue work on existing research and publication collaborations, and to make plans for the future. Dr Robertson has worked with Roy Jones (Emeritus Professor of Geography, Curtin University, Western Australia), David C. Harvey (Associate Professor in Critical Heritage Studies at Aarhus University, Denmark) and Carl Griffin (Professor of Historical Geography at the University of Sussex and a Visiting Professor with the UHI Centre for History) on various projects over the past years, with current projects including research into ‘border-straddling heritage’ and the ‘afterlives of protest’.  

The week culminated with a day of historical geography at the Centre for History on 18 May. To start things off, Prof Griffin delivered a lunchtime workshop focusing on the use of archival resources in writing meaningful and useful histories of resistance. Titled ‘Reading resistances in the archive: agency, intention, interpretation,’ we were thrilled to welcome colleagues from UHI and universities elsewhere in the UK. The workshop also provided an excellent opportunity to meet some of our PhD students in person, as both Pilar Girvan and Peter Sandford (who are researching protest and resistance in the Highlands and North Wales, respectively) joined us in Dornoch. The discussions during the day explored the ways in which history of social protest is done, but also considered the concept of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ protest.   

In the late afternoon David C Harvey delivered his talk, ‘Myth, reality and romantic revelations: tracing a biography of heritage on Dartmoor (1638-2020)’ as the closing event of the 2022-23 season of History Talks Live. Dr Harvey explored how the popular and collective memory of a storm in 1638 and its consequences has evolved over the intervening years until it has become, in the way of much of the heritage we cherish, almost romanticised and nostalgic, and certainly part of the tourist industry. The talk concluded with a lively discussion, and questions from the floor were wide-ranging, taking in St Cuthbert’s tendency to pin to the door sinners attempting to enter his church, flood marking, the Reverend James Fraser and folk memory. If you were unable to join us on the day, you can watch the recording on our website. 

The day was topped off with the excellent news that Joanna Rodgers, a Centre for History PhD student had successfully defended her thesis, “One Island’s Harvest”; Heritage, Diaspora & Ancestral Tourism to Tiree’ with Dr Harvey as the external examiner. 

The week was a great success, and we hope to bring the historical geographers together again sometime soon.