Minutes of an Ordinary Meeting
of The Old Glasgow Club
Renfield Centre, 260 Bath Street
on Thursday, 14th September 2024
Attendance: 82 attended, this number included visitors.
Welcome: President McNae welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the 2024/25
session, which was held in the Garnethill Suite.
He reminded us of the safety exits and procedures in the unlikely event of an emergency,
and to double check that mobile phones were switched off or on silent mode.
Weather Check - in the event of inclement weather please check the website for possible
cancellation of meetings.
Apologies: There were apologies for absence from Anna Forrest, Brian Cooper, Margaret
Cooper, Shona Crozer, E and J Clark.
Minutes: President McNae asked if everyone had seen a copy of the Minutes from the
April 2024 meeting, either by email or printed copy, and asked if there were any
amendments.
There being no amendments or matters arising, the minutes were then passed on a
proposal by Cilla Fisher and seconded by Irene Louden.
President’s Report: President McNae mentioned the “spaces” that the Club was
involved in, i.e. Garnethill and Church Sanctuary. A high number of people preferred the
Garnethill Suite, where the September meeting took place, but the Church Sanctuary was
the most preferred venue.
The Tappit Hen bowling night, the relaxed annual club tournament for members and
friends, was enjoyed by all who participated this year, and was won for a second year by
Graham Pascall.
The Summer outing within Glasgow City by vintage bus had been postponed from July
until Saturday 16th September.
Brian D. Henderson discussed the Blue Plaque, which is planned to be placed in
St Enoch Square on the ex GCT Underground Station building to commemorate the site
of the old St Enoch Church, and the last service which took place there on 1st February
1925.
The cost of the plaque will be £1300, Brian invited anyone who wished to make a
donation towards this project to do so. Any amount would be most welcome.
Brian also paid tribute to our past Vice President, Crawford Cassidy, who passed away on
4th August. Crawford was a long time friend of the club who worked closely with Brian,
who is a past club President. His passing is a great loss, and he will be sorely missed by
all. The club’s condolences were passed on to his wife, Elizabeth, and their family.
Tonight’s Speaker - Lorraine Murray : The Glasgow Witch Trials
Mr McNae introduced our speaker for tonight, Lorraine Murray, an archivist, who has a
fascinating tale of the Glasgow Witch Trials.
Lorraine defined what was understood to be a “witch”. Certainly not the traditional green
face, pointy nose, or a boiling cauldron that most of us would have envisaged! Her
interest in this subject may have been triggered by her dressing up a witch for Halloween
when living in Glasgow’s East End.
All of the forthcoming characters would have been considered to have looked “normal”.
A survey on Scottish Witchcraft found that from 1563 until1736, some 3800+ persons had
been accused of witchcraft. Over 320 were named, 84% were female and 605 were
executed (by hanging). The crime was considered to be a Capital offence and almost
certainly meant a death penalty.
The geographical spread of these “crimes” was spread around Scotland, with 14% in the
West of Scotland and 32% in the Lothian area.
Trials were performed by local Crown Courts, Courts of Justiciary, and Circuit Courts.
Our story tonight concerned the “Glasgow Witches” 1621-1700. Six took place in Pollok
(Eastwood Parish) in 1677, and sixteen took place at Craigton (Govan Parish).
King James VI of Scotland wrote a book about witches in Scotland and endorsed the
practice of witch hunting.
Lorraine showed maps explaining the extent of Glasgow City at the time. The Bishop’s
Palace, situated on the site of the present day Glasgow Royal Infirmary, was used as a jail
and also the Tollbooth at Glasgow Cross.
Out-with the city, Renfrewshire held trials at Bargarran (Paisley) 1697-8, and Kilmacolm.
The accused “witches” were normal people in 16th and 17th century patriarchal society,
who had probably done no more than being outspoken, having financial problems,
blasphemy, holding grudges, stolen cattle, or having annoyed their neighbours. Anything
which brought them to the attention of the authorities could be enough to be accused as
a “witch”.
The “prosecution” considered the accusation even if the actual person was not physically
present at the scene of a perceived crime. Their spirit was, and that was enough to
consider them “witches”.
Some famous persons were involved in the persecution of these poor people, Sir George
Maxwell (Pollok), was an avid witch-hunter, who travelled across Scotland to act as
witness in a number of trials.
Victims of such accusations often displayed signs of convulsions, bruises, and what
would now be considered as abuse, both mental and physical. This would also be
enough to consider them “witches”.
Today, in other parts of the world, people are still being accused of Witchcraft!
A lively session of Questions and Answers concluded Lorraine’s talk, during which it
emerged that at the time of the second world war, an individual in the U.K. was accused
of Witchcraft.
The Witchcraft Act of 1735 was not repealed until 22nd June 1951.
Further information can be obtained at
www.archivvisthistoryblog.wordpress.com
Vote of Thanks: was given by Robin Muir, who thanked Lorraine on behalf of the club, for
a most interesting and thoughtful talk, setting a very high bar for our future meetings in
session 2024/2025.
Quiz: Tonight’s quiz was compiled by Ken Benjamin.
Q - Ken showed statues in Elder Park and asked what their connection was.
A - The answer was Govan Shipbuilders.
AOCB: None
Close: There being no further club business, President McNae closed the meeting and
wished all a safe home.
With a reminder that the next meeting was on Thursday 10th October when Stephen
Mullen would present “The Sugar Aristocracy”.
Stuart Little
for Recording Secretary
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