Recreation in a Byegone Era

Curling, also referred to as the 'roaring game' depicting the noise of the stone hurtling down the ice, is a game I have only played once. Despite being awful and sliding all over the ice, I enjoyed the experience! My interest in the sport is matched with my interest in the history of the sport. As you may know, it is often seen as a national sport of Scotland given that our climate supported it well (more so in the past). Evidence suggests that it has been played since the 16th century, however the concept of hurtling objects towards a target on ice is a simple concept it likely pre-dates this! Curling was such a widely-played sport that games took place everywhere. Curling ponds were likely a core feature in any village, however these are often now overgrown or dug out.

However, last Wednesday along with a group of Environmental History undergraduate students we went on a trip up the Forth Valley, ending up near Blair Drummond where we found these:First up was a shed which likely provided a shelter and housed curling equipment.

Here you see the embankments, bottomed with clay (or 'puddled') so water could accumulate. The ponds, of which there were two at Blair Drummond, were 30-40 metres in length (estimate!).

The curling ponds were filled up with water, managed by this sluice gate, and allowed to freeze over. They took advantage of a previously man-made channel dug many years previous which directed water to Flanders Moss when peat clearance and land reclamation was being conducted by the famous agricultural improver Lord Kames.

A fascinating trip which gave a first hand account of where the game of curling used to be played!