University of Aberdeen Scott 250 Celebrations

2021 marks the 250^th anniversary of Walter Scott’s birth. The Walter Scott Research Centre is delighted to be part of a national partnership led by Abbotsford, Scott’s home in the Scottish Borders, to celebrate his life, work and legacy.

The Walter Scott Research Centre undertakes research on many aspects of Scott’s work and will continue to do so throughout this celebratory period. In particular, we will continue to work on The Edinburgh Edition of Walter Scott’s Poetry.

Here are some of the other ways in which the Centre will explore and celebrate Scott’s legacy during the Scott 250 period of celebrations.

Please return to this web site to find out how to book and to check out new events as they are listed.

To find out more about Scott 250 and events happening elsewhere, please visit https://walterscott250.com/

You can also follow us on Twitter at @CentreWalter or contact the Centre’s director Alison Lumsden for more information.

'From the Baskets of Travelling Pedlars' to Abbotsford: Scott's Lifelong Love of Popular Print

1 March 2022

Walter Scott had a lifelong interest in collecting chapbooks, cheap, popular print items that were sold door to door and purchased from market stalls. A recent cataloguing project has revealed that his Library at Abbotsford contains thousands of these items. Their content ranges from political pamphlets to ghost stories and advice on how to find a good partner.

Find out more

Exhibition

13 August 2021 - 31 March 2022

Walter Scott and Song: Retuning the Harp of the North

Exploring ballads, opera, and theatrical and popular songs, this online exhibition showcases the University of Aberdeen’s Walter Scott collections alongside musical recordings. As a best-selling author, Walter Scott introduced Scottish traditions to audiences across the world. His writings and song collections inspired both his readers in the 1800s, and future generations of musicians.

Tune in to discover Aberdeen’s connection to the folklore of the Border Ballads, how Scottish legend was transformed into Italian opera, and the meanings contained in well-loved songs such as ‘Bonnie Dundee’.

View the exhibition here

Head for the Hills: What we can learn from walking with Walter Scott

August 2021 - Spring 2022

Scott was one of the first people to make connections between mental health issues and the restorative power of engaging with nature. The Centre is proud to partner with Scottish Mountaineering to explore the benefit of his approach today.

The Centre is proud to work with Scottish Mountaineer Magazine and the mental health charity Black Dog Outdoors to explore how his approaches can help us to be mindful when walking in the hills today. There will be an opportunity for the public to reflect on these ideas through a series of local hill walks led by guided walk provider, Hillgoers.

Find out more

Walter Scott and Song Launch

17 August 2021

With an introduction by Professor Ali Lumsden, Exhibition Curator and Director of the Walter Scott Research Centre, this online event will introduce you to a lesser-known Scott – one who was fascinated by folklore, traditional songs and ballads, and whose poetry inspired popular music, Italian opera and theatrical productions for generations to come. You can watch the recording of this event online!

Watch on YouTube