Advent Calendar: 8 December – Curling
Photograph of the beginning of a curling match between the Silver Foxes Curling Club, East Lothian and the Dundee Curling Club dated between 1925-1935, possibly at the Law Mill curling pond, Dundee (GMC-EC-6-A). This photograph was taken by George Cowie, a local press photographer from 1930 to 1982. His work covers all aspects of life in and around St Andrews.
Curling is a winter sport that has a long history in Scotland, with evidence dating it back to the early 16th century. Playing outdoor curling on frozen rivers and ponds was popular in Scotland due to the climate. The current international governing body for the sport is based in Perth, Scotland.
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Postscript
Lady Henrietta Gilmour (ca.1850-1926) is thought to one of Scotland’s earliest women photographers. She took up photography as a hobby after the birth of her seventh and last child, pursuing the activity from around 1890 to 1912. Lady Gilmour was also one of the first women curlers to photographed on ice in 1895. She and her husband founded the Lundin and Montrave Curling Club in Central Fife in 1885, one of the first to allow both male and female members. More about her involvement in curling here: http://curlinghistory.blogspot.com/2014/12/henrietta-gilmour-pioneer-woman-curler.html.
Thanks for the post, I'm enjoying this St Andrews Advent Calendar! I love the rather formal dress of these gentlemen. I wonder if women participated in curling in those days?
We are glad to hear that you are enjoying the advent calendar. Women would have participated in the sport by the time this photograph was taken. Lady Henrietta Gilmour was one of the first women curlers to be photographed on ice in 1895. She and her husband founded the Lundin and Montrave Curling Club in Central Fife in 1885, one of the first to allow both male and female members. Lady Gilmour is also thought to one of Scotland's earliest women photographers. We have her photographic collection here in the University Library’s Special Collections which includes photographs of women participating in the sport - including the one we have added above.