Parish Life in Eighteenth-Century Scotland: A Review of the Old Statistical Account - Softcover

Steven, Maisie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1898218285 ISBN 13: 9781898218289

Publisher: Scottish Cultural Press, 1995

Synopsis

In 1790 Sir John Sinclair of Ulbster sent an exhaustive questionnaire to every parish minister in Scotland, covering such diverse subjects as lifestyle, customs, industry, agriculture, geology and wildlife. His aim was to use the answers for the positive benefit of Scotland, showing up strengths as well as weaknesses and, by demonstrating to the government areas in which specific action was required, 'to add to the quantum of happiness' in the country. The results were gathered together and published as the Old Statistical Account, a massive 20-volume work.
A selection from the wealth of sociological information contained in the OSA is presented here in a lively and accessible form, with extensive quotation from all parts of the country. It is a remarkable and unique insight into the lives of Scottish people from very diverse parishes - urban and rural, rich and poor, highland and lowland. The original questionnaire is included in facsimile as an appendix.
This book is an essential resource for those studying social history and will be of immense interest to all those wishing to learn more of Scotland in earlier times.

About this edition

• Publisher: Scottish Cultural Press
• Publication date: 1995
• ISBN 10: 1898218285
• ISBN 13: 9781898218289
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 208