A History of the Native Woodlands of Scotland, 1500-1920

About this book

The first modern history of Scottish woodlands explores the changing relationship between trees and people from the time of Scotland's first settlement, focusing on the period 1500 to 1920. Drawing on work in natural science, geography and history, as well as on the authors' own research, it presents an accessible and readable account that balances social, economic and environmental factors. Two opening chapters describe the early history of the woodlands. A History of the Native Woodlands of Scotland, 1500-1920 is then divided into chapters that consider traditional uses and management, the impact of outsiders on the pine woods and the oakwoods in the first phase of exploitation, and the effect of industrialisation. Separate chapters are devoted to case studies of management at Strathcarron, Glenorchy, Rothiemurchus and on Skye.

Contents

- Acknowledgements vii
- List of Black and White Maps x
- List of Black and White Figures xi
- List of Colour Plates xiii
- List of Tables xiv
- 1 Introduction 1
- 2 The Extent and Character of the Woods Before 1500 27
- 3 The Extent and Character of the Woods, 1500-1920 62
- 4 Woodland Produce 97
- 5 Woodland as Pasture and Shelter 129
- 6 Trading and Taking Wood Before 1800 159
- 7 Managing the Woods Before 1770 203
- 8 Outsiders and the Woods I: The Pinewoods 247
- 9 Outsiders and the Woods II: Charcoal and Tanbark 290
- 10 Woodland Management in an Industrial Economy, 1830-1920
- and Beyond 333
- 11 Rothiemurchus, 1650-1900 377
- 12 The Navy, Holyrood and Strathcarron in the Seventeenth Century 420
- 13 The Irish and Glenorchy, 1721-1740 449
- 14 The MacDonald Woods on Skye, 1720-1920 481
- 15 Conclusion 514
- Bibliography 536
- Index

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Biography

T. C. Smout is Historiographer Royal in Scotland. Alan MacDonald is a senior lecturer in History at the University of Dundee, with a particular interest in the history of early modern Scotland, especially the history of the church and of parliament. Fiona Watson is Senior Lecturer in History, University of Stirling.