The Signet Library
@signetlibrary.bsky.social
The Signet Library in Edinburgh, the home of the WS Society, is a world class centre of knowledge and learning in law and the history and culture of Scotland.
Signet Library followers will be familiar with the work of our conservator, @johockey.bsky.social , who has created a new website bringing together both her Signet Library research and conservation work - it's at johockey.substack.com
Up to 11 | Substack
(Keeping a record of research and conservation
work at the Signet Library since 2019 - an online CV). Click to read Up to 11, a Substack publication. Launched 4 days ago.
johockey.substack.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:22 PM
Signet Library followers will be familiar with the work of our conservator, @johockey.bsky.social , who has created a new website bringing together both her Signet Library research and conservation work - it's at johockey.substack.com
An hour away from Jen and Ben's Mixed Doubles Curling Bronze Medal match - we've a new online exhibition on the literature of Scotland's Ain Game - see our new blogpost about it at www.wssociety-heritage.co.uk/2026/02/10/s...
February 10, 2026 at 12:20 PM
An hour away from Jen and Ben's Mixed Doubles Curling Bronze Medal match - we've a new online exhibition on the literature of Scotland's Ain Game - see our new blogpost about it at www.wssociety-heritage.co.uk/2026/02/10/s...
Reposted by The Signet Library
Still many more stories to be told, and thankyou to @lixmount.bsky.social for putting this all together and presenting it so beautifully!
We recently finished the research phase of our project on the archive of John Watson's Institution funded by the @oldedinburghclub.bsky.social Jean Guild awards. Dive in here: www.wssociety-heritage.co.uk/2026/02/02/t... Research by @kgbaston.bsky.social and @johockey.bsky.social
February 2, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Still many more stories to be told, and thankyou to @lixmount.bsky.social for putting this all together and presenting it so beautifully!
Reposted by The Signet Library
New on the blog: 'The Curious Case of the Missing Curling Stone' - a Tale from the Session Papers of @signetlibrary.bsky.social: www.kgbaston.co.uk/2026/02/05/t... #TalesFromTheSessionPapers A curling stone has been missing for three years, but now it's been found. Or has it?
February 5, 2026 at 2:28 PM
New on the blog: 'The Curious Case of the Missing Curling Stone' - a Tale from the Session Papers of @signetlibrary.bsky.social: www.kgbaston.co.uk/2026/02/05/t... #TalesFromTheSessionPapers A curling stone has been missing for three years, but now it's been found. Or has it?
We recently finished the research phase of our project on the archive of John Watson's Institution funded by the @oldedinburghclub.bsky.social Jean Guild awards. Dive in here: www.wssociety-heritage.co.uk/2026/02/02/t... Research by @kgbaston.bsky.social and @johockey.bsky.social
February 2, 2026 at 11:35 AM
We recently finished the research phase of our project on the archive of John Watson's Institution funded by the @oldedinburghclub.bsky.social Jean Guild awards. Dive in here: www.wssociety-heritage.co.uk/2026/02/02/t... Research by @kgbaston.bsky.social and @johockey.bsky.social
Dr. Baston's paper on the Bibliotheca Polonica was one of the highlights of 2025 at the Signet Library as part of our early-year lecture series.
New on my blog, 'The Bibliotheca Polonica at the Signet Library, 1821-1962': www.kgbaston.co.uk/2026/01/3 part of
@signetlibrary.bsky.social's annual online exhibition:
www.wssociety-heritage.co.uk/1890-2/
@signetlibrary.bsky.social's annual online exhibition:
www.wssociety-heritage.co.uk/1890-2/
February 2, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Dr. Baston's paper on the Bibliotheca Polonica was one of the highlights of 2025 at the Signet Library as part of our early-year lecture series.
The BBC's "Who Do You Think You Are" Magazine new November 2025 issue's "Gem from the Archive" features the Signet Library's @oldedinburghclub.bsky.social funded project on the records of John Watson's Institution, research undertaken by @kgbaston.bsky.social @johockey.bsky.social
October 16, 2025 at 9:18 AM
The BBC's "Who Do You Think You Are" Magazine new November 2025 issue's "Gem from the Archive" features the Signet Library's @oldedinburghclub.bsky.social funded project on the records of John Watson's Institution, research undertaken by @kgbaston.bsky.social @johockey.bsky.social
Reposted by The Signet Library
Before and after of this cracker from the Trials Collection at the @signetlibrary.bsky.social
October 1, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Before and after of this cracker from the Trials Collection at the @signetlibrary.bsky.social
Reposted by The Signet Library
And yesterday, this account of the trial of those involved in the Battle of Bonnymuir, during the Radical War of 1820. Part of the spine was detached, so a very satisfying fix!
Part of the Trials Collection at the @signetlibrary.bsky.social
www.maggiecraig.co.uk/2020/04/05/t...
Part of the Trials Collection at the @signetlibrary.bsky.social
www.maggiecraig.co.uk/2020/04/05/t...
October 3, 2025 at 8:48 AM
And yesterday, this account of the trial of those involved in the Battle of Bonnymuir, during the Radical War of 1820. Part of the spine was detached, so a very satisfying fix!
Part of the Trials Collection at the @signetlibrary.bsky.social
www.maggiecraig.co.uk/2020/04/05/t...
Part of the Trials Collection at the @signetlibrary.bsky.social
www.maggiecraig.co.uk/2020/04/05/t...
A small display of decorative books, maps, manuscripts and photographs for an academic society visiting the Signet Library this afternoon.
September 23, 2025 at 11:49 AM
A small display of decorative books, maps, manuscripts and photographs for an academic society visiting the Signet Library this afternoon.
Signet Library graffiti left by craftspeople from the 1850s into the Great War period behind the cases in the Upper Hall. The names and signatures of painters, glaziers and related trades in paint and pencil on the unpainted timber surface.
September 4, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Signet Library graffiti left by craftspeople from the 1850s into the Great War period behind the cases in the Upper Hall. The names and signatures of painters, glaziers and related trades in paint and pencil on the unpainted timber surface.
Today's bookpost: the final three volumes of Sir John Baker's magisterial Seldon Society edition of the notebooks of the great English lawyer Sir Edward Coke (1552-1634), shown beside a selection of Coke's works from Signet Library collections.
August 28, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Today's bookpost: the final three volumes of Sir John Baker's magisterial Seldon Society edition of the notebooks of the great English lawyer Sir Edward Coke (1552-1634), shown beside a selection of Coke's works from Signet Library collections.
Reposted by The Signet Library
A spotlight on this book on ‘Auld Ayr and some of its Characters’ by the prolific artist Robert Bryden in 1897. Bryden was granted the title of Royal Engraver in 1899. The engravings are such expressive portraits. From the Burghs and Shires Collection at the @signetlibrary.bsky.social
August 1, 2025 at 10:48 AM
A spotlight on this book on ‘Auld Ayr and some of its Characters’ by the prolific artist Robert Bryden in 1897. Bryden was granted the title of Royal Engraver in 1899. The engravings are such expressive portraits. From the Burghs and Shires Collection at the @signetlibrary.bsky.social
A progress report on our John Watson's Institution archive project, funded by the fantastic Old Edinburgh Club Jean Guild grants scheme. We are on the hunt for a portrait - can you help?
Update on the @signetlibrary.bsky.social Project on the John Watsons archives, funded by an OEC Jean Guild Grant, is on our website. We are also trying to find this painting of Vans Hathorn which used to hang in the school. Anyone know? #johnwatsons #watsons
oldedinburghclub.org.uk/john-watson-...
oldedinburghclub.org.uk/john-watson-...
July 25, 2025 at 10:43 AM
A progress report on our John Watson's Institution archive project, funded by the fantastic Old Edinburgh Club Jean Guild grants scheme. We are on the hunt for a portrait - can you help?
Alexander Mill, "Prince of Indexers", assistant librarian at the Signet Library for over sixty years (1873-1935), with his grandson c. 1930. The last here to remember David Laing, Mill's index to Scottish Court of Session Papers is still in constant use, the only one of its kind.
July 18, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Alexander Mill, "Prince of Indexers", assistant librarian at the Signet Library for over sixty years (1873-1935), with his grandson c. 1930. The last here to remember David Laing, Mill's index to Scottish Court of Session Papers is still in constant use, the only one of its kind.
The Society of Procurators in Perth are celebrating their bicentenary. Writer to the Signet Robert Macduff Duncan tells the story today for Scottish Legal News: www.scottishlegal.com/articles/our...
Our Legal Heritage: Perth lawyers celebrate 200 years of Society of Procurators
Robert Macduff-Duncan WS recalls the two-century-long history of the Society of Procurators and Solicitors in the City and County of Perth. On 8th July 1825, the Society of Procurators in Perth was fo...
www.scottishlegal.com
July 11, 2025 at 11:08 AM
The Society of Procurators in Perth are celebrating their bicentenary. Writer to the Signet Robert Macduff Duncan tells the story today for Scottish Legal News: www.scottishlegal.com/articles/our...
Reposted by The Signet Library
This copy of the Scottish Licensing Act of 1903 at the @signetlibrary.bsky.social today, with some very on topic advertising.
July 10, 2025 at 2:04 PM
This copy of the Scottish Licensing Act of 1903 at the @signetlibrary.bsky.social today, with some very on topic advertising.
Our upgrade is complete (and we have also resolved issues accessing our catalogue via the new Firefox v.140 and this is now back to normal).
A quick heads-up that our online catalogue will be offline for an upgrade on Wednesday morning (9th July) - all being well, we'll be back by lunchtime.
July 9, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Our upgrade is complete (and we have also resolved issues accessing our catalogue via the new Firefox v.140 and this is now back to normal).
Reposted by The Signet Library
A quick heads-up that our online catalogue will be offline for an upgrade on Wednesday morning (9th July) - all being well, we'll be back by lunchtime.
July 7, 2025 at 10:25 AM
A quick heads-up that our online catalogue will be offline for an upgrade on Wednesday morning (9th July) - all being well, we'll be back by lunchtime.
A quick heads-up that our online catalogue will be offline for an upgrade on Wednesday morning (9th July) - all being well, we'll be back by lunchtime.
July 7, 2025 at 10:25 AM
A quick heads-up that our online catalogue will be offline for an upgrade on Wednesday morning (9th July) - all being well, we'll be back by lunchtime.
To commemorate the 297th birthday of the great Scottish architect Robert Adam, his drawings - amongst his last - for a new Signet Library in Royal Mile premises for the College of Justice in Edinburgh.
July 3, 2025 at 12:31 PM
To commemorate the 297th birthday of the great Scottish architect Robert Adam, his drawings - amongst his last - for a new Signet Library in Royal Mile premises for the College of Justice in Edinburgh.
Reposted by The Signet Library
This book of instruction for newly qualified legal clerks in 1727, discovered yesterday by @lixmount.bsky.social at the @signetlibrary.bsky.social has several detailed pages on how to ‘write well’. Anyone who has toiled over a page of Secretary Hand might find it of interest..
June 27, 2025 at 7:00 AM
This book of instruction for newly qualified legal clerks in 1727, discovered yesterday by @lixmount.bsky.social at the @signetlibrary.bsky.social has several detailed pages on how to ‘write well’. Anyone who has toiled over a page of Secretary Hand might find it of interest..
Congratulations to all involved in the superb new Aberdeen Student Law Review, especially to our former WS Summer Scholars Christiana Cameron, Valentina Menendez Ron and Matthew Paton. Lady Dorrian writes that it “demonstrates the strength of legal scholarship and analysis at the University”
June 24, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Congratulations to all involved in the superb new Aberdeen Student Law Review, especially to our former WS Summer Scholars Christiana Cameron, Valentina Menendez Ron and Matthew Paton. Lady Dorrian writes that it “demonstrates the strength of legal scholarship and analysis at the University”
This may be the only surviving copy of this 1770s proposal for woollen manufacture in Dundee: we can't trace more, and given that this predates jute in Dundee, we wonder if a digital facsimile might be of interest to e.g. the Verdant Works, the universities and city library, the McManus Gallery etc?
May 30, 2025 at 10:52 AM
This may be the only surviving copy of this 1770s proposal for woollen manufacture in Dundee: we can't trace more, and given that this predates jute in Dundee, we wonder if a digital facsimile might be of interest to e.g. the Verdant Works, the universities and city library, the McManus Gallery etc?
Reposted by The Signet Library
Examining application forms of 1836 for entry to the John Watson Institution as part of @kgbaston.bsky.social’s project to document and research the archive of the School held by the @signetlibrary.bsky.social
This form has a letter still attached by a sealing wafer.
This form has a letter still attached by a sealing wafer.
May 29, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Examining application forms of 1836 for entry to the John Watson Institution as part of @kgbaston.bsky.social’s project to document and research the archive of the School held by the @signetlibrary.bsky.social
This form has a letter still attached by a sealing wafer.
This form has a letter still attached by a sealing wafer.