Stepping in at extremely short notice Ed Archer gave the Society an interesting and varied account of the history of Biggar, the site of the evenings lecture. Ed explained that Biggar occupies a prime site between two of Scotland's major rivers, the Tweed and the Clyde. It has been populated since Mesolithic times and archaeological research on Biggar common has revealed the largest collection of Neolithic pottery ever found in Scotland.
In Roman times the area was populated during the reign of Verspacian, a gold coin of that emperor was discovered in the town. The Roman road through the area was unique being built upon a raft of logs to allow it to cross the boggy ground in the area.
After the fall of the Roman empire the area came under the influence of Catholic Christianity, but the major impetus to the development of the area occurred with the influx of Normans from England. A mote and bailey castle was built in the town at that time.
The town came under the influence of the Fleming family during the fourteenth century when that family was rewarded by Robert the Bruce for their loyalty to him. Many of the towns in the area have place names which have Flemish origins. The town grew in prosperity and became a Burgh in 1451. The remains of the original Mercat Cross can still be seen incorporated in the Tolbooth. The Flemings developed Boghall castle which was to serve as their strong hold until the family lost influence after siding with Mary Queen of Scots in the seventeenth century.
The Elphinstone family replaced the Flemings as the dominant family in the area and replaced Boghall castle with a house in 1670. The hotel which bears the family's name, and was our venue for the evening, was built in the 1780's as a coaching inn.
Scott Main proposed a vote of thanks to Ed, commenting both of his mastery of the subject and the fact that he was able to captivate the audience without notes and the aid of visual aids.