Double, double, toil and trouble… the Scottish play… out, damned spot! William Shakespeare’s take on Macbeth has well and truly embedded itself in our culture. The play, written in the early 17th century, charts how an ambitious Macbeth turns to violence in order to realise a prophetic vision of becoming King of Scotland.
But what of the real Macbeth, who really did sit upon the Scottish throne? What is known of this 11th century monarch? And how much of his life can be compared to the fictitious monarch of Shakespeare’s play?
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For more information on Iona, click here.
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34:22
Life on the Home Front
In the second of our Second World War-themed episodes, Jackie heads to Tenement House in Glasgow to hear about the experiences of an ordinary woman who lived during this extraordinary chapter of history.
Agnes Toward, who lived at Tenement House from 1911 until 1965, preserved her furniture and belongings as a way of creating a frozen time capsule. Nowadays, visitors can experience how things would have been for Toward during both world wars and their aftermaths.
How did life change for Glaswegians during the war? What does Toward’s writing tell us about how society reacted to the outbreak of the conflict? And what were the lasting changes post-war?
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For more information on Tenement House, click here.
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31:27
Whatever happened to the Haddo babies?
With the 80th anniversary of VE Day less than a week away, Jackie heads to Aberdeenshire to find out more about the Haddo babies: the more than 1,250 children born at Haddo House when it became an emergency maternity unit during the Second World War.
Discover how the stately home was transformed into a makeshift hospital, and what happened to those babies after the war.
Jackie sits down with visitor services supervisor Claire Russell and Haddo baby Jean Glately to discuss the history of the house, the realities of converting it into a maternity ward, and the story of Jean and her mother.
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For more information on Haddo House, click here
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26:01
Partner episode: General Wolfe | The Battle of Culloden
This episode is the second part of a partnership between the National Trust for Scotland and the National Trust. Scroll back for Love Scotland's episode about Lord George Murray.
General James Wolfe, the 'boy solider' who joined the military at 14 and fought in one of Britain's bloodiest battles while he was still a teenager.
National Trust historian James Grasby visits Wolfe’s childhood home to find out what would shape him into becoming a soldier at such a young age and delves into his involvement in The Battle of Culloden in Scotland in 1746.
Presenter: Jame Grasby
Producer: Claire Hickinbotham
Sound Designer: Jesus Gomez
Contributors
Ghazala Jabeen – National Trust, Quebec House
Freddie Matthews – Historian and Cultural Heritage Curator
Stephen Brumwell – History writer - brumwellhistory.com
Discover more
You can visit General Wolfe’s childhood home, Quebec House │ Kent | National Trust, which was renamed in his honour after his victory at The Battle of Quebec and see where he grew up, as well as Henrietta’s cookbook, and the robe his body is thought to have been brought back to Britain with.
You can also visit the battlefield at Culloden | National Trust for Scotland
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25:16
Lord George Murray with Murray Pittock
In the first of a two-episode partnership between the National Trust for Scotland and the National Trust, join host Jackie Bird as she uncovers the life of a leading general in the Battle of Culloden.
Historian and National Trust for Scotland Trustee Professor Murray Pittock reveals the story of Lieutenant General George Murray, a nobleman and soldier who was involved in each of the 18th century Jacobite Uprisings. His relationship with Charles Edward Stuart and the Jacobite soldiers, not to mention his shifting allegiance, make him a compelling figure from the period.
Later in April 2025, we’ll also release an episode produced by the National Trust detailing the life of Jams Wolfe, a British Army general who fought for the government at Culloden.
To enjoy more episodes of Love Scotland, please follow or subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
For more information on Culloden, click here.
If you’d like to support our work protecting Scotland’s wild places, please join the Wild Scotland campaign.
You may also like some of our previous episodes on Culloden. Scroll through our podcast feed to find instalments on Flora MacDonald, Scotland’s most consequential battles, and how the events of Culloden influenced the world.
If you’d like to help the Trust protect the battlefield and the views that surround it from the increasing threats of development, you can donate to the Culloden Fighting Fund. Find all the details you need here.
About Love Scotland: Stories of Scotland's History and Nature
Love Scotland is a fortnightly podcast series from the National Trust for Scotland.
Hosted by TV star, expert broadcaster and National Trust for Scotland president Jackie Bird, Love Scotland features big names, experts and enthusiasts from all walks of life. Each episode delves deep into the detail of Scotland’s history, its wildlife and its landscapes.
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