Romantic History: Balmoral

Rosemary Hill and Colin Kidd

In the 1740s the Scots were invading England and the wearing of tartan was banned. By the 1850s, Queen Victoria had built her Gothic fantasy in Aberdeenshire and tartan was everywhere. What happened in between?

In the second episode of her series on Romantic history, Rosemary Hill talks to Colin Kidd about the myths and traditions of Scottish history created in the 19th century, and the central role of Walter Scott in forging his country’s identity.

Other episodes in the series:

Salisbury Cathedral

The Bayeux Tapestry

Waterloo to the British Museum

Buy Rosemary Hill's book, Time's Witness, directly from the London Review Bookshop here.

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Image: From Balmoral Castle by James Cassie (c.1850s)

Music by Kieran Brunt / Produced by Anthony Wilks

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