Latest news with #KilmadockDevelopmentTrust
Daily Record
09-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
'Outstanding' pistols go on public display in rural Stirling village where they were made in the 1700s
The American War of Independence was said to be started by a shot from a Doune-made pistol in 1775 and only a few hundred examples of genuine 'Doune Pistols' are known to remain around the world today. Ten 18th-century pistols have returned to their place of origin in an extraordinary homecoming for the historic village of Doune. Once part of a private collection, the pistols are now on permanent public display at the community's Information and Heritage Centre in the village. Forming the centrepiece of new heritage exhibitions, the collection has been gifted to Kilmadock Development Trust (KDT) by collector Andrew Yool in a remarkable act of generosity. Crafted by six different Doune hammermen in the 1700s, the pistols are said to be outstanding examples of the artistry that made the village a renowned centre of gunsmithing. Each piece features elaborate decoration, often Celtic-inspired, applied through fine engraving and silver wire inlay. 'The fact that a representative selection by the most well-known local hammermen has finally found a permanent home on display at Doune for all to see and admire is undoubtedly an occasion for celebration,' said collector Andrew Yool. 'These flintlock firearms are of unique design, construction and decoration, instantly recognised and appreciated worldwide as iconic examples of Scottish ingenuity, craftsmanship and enterprise, as a result of which they have earned international fame for the village of Doune where they were made 300 years ago.' The roots of Doune's pistolmaking tradition trace back to 1646, when Thomas Caddell brought the gunsmith trade to the village. With iron scarce, he made use of old horseshoe nails and, through dedication to his craft, developed a level of refinement that defined the Doune style much sought-after around Europe. His legacy passed down through generations of apprentices, establishing Doune as the heart of Scotland's pistolmaking industry. After the Jacobite's defeat at Culloden, Scottish mercenaries fled abroad, taking there arms with them. It is said that the American War of Independence was started by a shot from a Doune-made pistol at the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775; later described as being the 'shot heard round the world'. Only a few hundred examples of genuine 'Doune Pistols' are known to remain in museums and private collections around the world today. Karen Ross, Chair of KDT says: 'We are thrilled that such a unique part of Doune's history is now on display in the village where they were made, and are grateful to Mr Yool for his generosity. 'While having a practical function, the pistols really are fine works of art and would have taken countless hours of craftsmanship by candlelight to bring to fruition.' While relatively small places, Doune and Deanston have a wealth of history to delve into. These are featured in the new heritage exhibitions at the Information and Heritage Centre, which have been funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Run by local volunteers, and open throughout the week, visitors are invited to come spend some time and discover the stories of Scotland's historic crossroads.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Yahoo
300-year-old ‘Doune pistols' finally return to their hometown in Scotland
A set of historic 300-year-old guns have finally returned to their Scottish hometown after years spent in a private collection. According to a recent announcement, 10 Doune flintlock pistols are now on permanent public display at the tiny city in eastern Scotland's Information and Heritage Center. Crafted by six different hammermen (gunsmiths) during the 1700's, the weapons also showcase well-preserved examples of makers' intricate artistry techniques such as finely engraved Celtic patterns and silver wire inlays. Doune pistols are remarkable pieces of firearm history. The recognizable curvehandled flintlock weapons date back to 1646, when blacksmith Thomas Caddell began repurposing discarded horseshoe nails due to the scarcity of iron. Apart from their comparative reliability for the era, the pistols were soon also sought after for their decorative adornments. While expensive and often favored by wealthier English customers, Highland locals were often known to save their funds in order to also purchase the weapons. Doune pistol decorative designs evolved as their reputation grew in the ensuing decades, while their popularity extended across mainland England and even over the Atlantic to the British colonies. Although never confirmed, it has long been suggested that a Doune pistol fired the 'shot heard around the world' at the American Revolution's outset in 1775. Ironically, the British had already banned Highlanders from owning firearms for almost three decades by the time of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The 1746 Act of Proscription was part of a wider attempt to break apart the Scottish clan system following the prior year's failed Jacobite rising. Punishment for violators included fines, imprisonment for late payments, and even as long as seven years at 'any of his Majesty's plantations beyond the seas.' The Doune pistol's influence had already begun to wane by the time the Act of Proscription was repealed in 1782. By the end of the 18th century, customers began opting for cheaper imports as well as weaponry made in other regions across England. Today, only a few hundred examples of genuine Doune pistols are known to exist.'While having a practical function, the pistols really are fine works of art and would have taken countless hours of craftsmanship by candlelight to bring to fruition,' Kilmadock Development Trust chair Karen Ross said in a statement. 'We are thrilled that such a unique part of Doune's history is now on display in the village where they were made.'
The National
04-05-2025
- General
- The National
Historic 300-year-old pistols make 'extraordinary homecoming'
The eighteenth-century pistols were part of a private collection but are now on permanent public display at the community's Information and Heritage Centre in Doune. The collection has been gifted to the Kilmadock Development Trust (KDT) by collector Andrew Yool in an act which the trust has described as remarkably generous. Crafted by six different Doune hammermen in the 1700s, the pistols will form the centrepiece of the new heritage exhibition at the centre. READ MORE: Schools will be made to teach students to 'love Britain' if Nigel Farage becomes PM Each pistol features elaborate decoration, often Celtic-inspired, applied through fine engraving and silver wire inlay. Collector Yool (below) said the historic artefacts are outstanding examples of the artistry that made the village a renowned centre of gunsmithing. (Image: Kilmadock Development Trust) He said: 'The fact that a representative selection by the most well-known local hammermen has finally found a permanent home on display at the Doune for all to see and admire is undoubtedly an occasion for celebration. 'These flintlock firearms are of unique design, construction and decoration, instantly recognised and appreciated worldwide as iconic examples of Scottish ingenuity, craftsmanship and enterprise, as a result of which they have earned international fame for the village of Doune where they were made 300 years ago.' Doune's pistol-making roots can be traced back to 1646, when Thomas Caddell brought the gunsmith trade to the village. With iron scarce, Caddell made use of old horseshoe nails and, through dedication to his craft, developed a level of refinement that defined the Doune style, which was much sought-after around Europe. (Image: Kilmadock Development Trust) According to the trust, his legacy passed down through generations of apprentices, helping to establish Doune as the heart of Scotland's pistol-making industry. After the Jacobites' defeat at Culloden, Scottish mercenaries fled abroad, taking their arms with them, and it is said that the American War of Independence was started by a shot from a Doune-made pistol at the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775. It was later described as being the 'shot heard round the world'. Only a few hundred examples of genuine Doune Pistols are known to remain in museums and private collections around the world today, the trust has said. (Image: Kilmadock Development Trust) Karen Ross, chair of KDT, said: 'We are thrilled that such a unique part of Doune's history is now on display in the village where they were made, and are grateful to Mr Yool for his generosity. 'While having a practical function, the pistols really are fine works of art and would have taken countless hours of craftsmanship by candlelight to bring to fruition.'
