The South East of Scotland was the scene of a number of major national celebrations. Historical records provide insights into great occasions such as royal entries. Many aspects of these festivities, such as dancing and musical performances, are likely to have left little trace in the archaeological record. However, it is possible that some elements, like built structures associated with pageants or large-scale preparations for feasting, have left physical remains. Greater interdisciplinary study of locations associated with royal entries and other national festivities could be beneficial.
A large proportion of Scottish tournaments took place in the South East. Indeed, one of the earliest recorded tournaments in Scotland was held at Haddington in 1242. During the later medieval period tournaments were increasingly held in Edinburgh. Both Holyrood Palace and Edinburgh Castle are known to have had specific spaces set aside for jousting. Indeed, historical records indicate that there was a substantial barras (jousting enclosure) and associated chapel just to the south of Edinburgh Castle on what is now King’s Stables Road.
| Date | Location | Source |
| 1242 | Haddington | Edington, ‘Tournament in Medieval Scotland’, p. 48. |
| †1305 (October) | Roxburgh | Edington, ‘Tournament in Medieval Scotland’, p. 49. |
| c.1329 | Edinburgh (exact location unknown) | ER, vol. 1, p. 238. |
| †1341 | Melrose | Edington, ‘Tournament in Medieval Scotland’, p. 49. |
| 1364 | Edinburgh (exact location unknown) | Edington, ‘Tournament in Medieval Scotland’, p. 53. |
| 1365 | Edinburgh (exact location unknown) | Edington, ‘Tournament in Medieval Scotland’, p. 53. |
| 1398 | Edinburgh (on the site of the Nor Loch) | Edington, ‘Tournament in Medieval Scotland’, p. 54. Bower, Scotichronicon, vol. 8, pp. 10-11. |
| 1449 (Summer) | Probably Edinburgh (exact location unknown) | Stevenson, Chivalry and Knighthood, p. 78. ER, vol. 5, pp. 312, 315, 339, 345–6, 383, 385. |
| 1496 (January) | Edinburgh (exact location unknown) | Stevenson, Chivalry and Knighthood, p. 84. Macdougall, James IV, pp. 122–3. |
| 1503 (Shrove Tuesday) | Probably Edinburgh (exact location unknown)iii | Stevenson, Chivalry and Knighthood, p. 90. |
| 1503 (August) | Edinburgh (Holyrood Palace) | Stevenson, Chivalry and Knighthood, p. 92. |
| 1505 (Shrove Tuesday) | Probably Edinburgh (exact location unknown)iii | Stevenson, Chivalry and Knighthood, p. 90. |
| *1505 (May) | Leith (docks) | Stevenson, Chivalry and Knighthood, p. 94. |
| 1506 (Shrove Tuesday) | Probably Edinburgh (exact location unknown)3 | Stevenson, Chivalry and Knighthood, pp. 90–1. |
| 1507 (Summer) | Edinburgh (probably by the Castle) | Stevenson, Chivalry and Knighthood, pp. 94–6. Report by Arkady Hodge. |
| 1508 (May) | Edinburgh (either by the Castle or at Holyrood Palace) | Stevenson, Chivalry and Knighthood, pp. 96–7. Report by Arkady Hodge. |
| 1527 (April) | Edinburgh (Holyrood Palace) | Stevenson, Chivalry and Knighthood, p. 99. |
| 1530 (May) | Edinburgh (Holyrood Palace) | Stevenson, Chivalry and Knighthood, p. 99. Thomas, Princelie Majestie, p. 200. |
| 1540 (February) | Edinburgh | Stevenson, Chivalry and Knighthood, p. 102. Thomas, Princelie Majestie, pp. 197–200. |
| *1581 (January) | Leith | Lynch, ‘The Reassertion of Princely Power’, p. 232. |
* These were both nautical tournaments and should probably be regarded just as court entertainments rather than as serious martial competitions.
Hunting was another popular elite recreation. Parks and forests were maintained to support the keeping and pursuit of deer. Previously, much of the archaeological research on Scottish hunting focused on sites north of the Forth. However, recent investigation at Dormount Hope has identified a medieval deer trap (Dixon and Gilbert, 2021). There is also potential for greater study of hunting lodges and halls in the region. Further research into medieval hunting and its impact on the landscape of South East Scotland would be desirable.
More study of the recreational activities of people who were not members of the nobility and gentry should be a priority. Careful attention should be paid to the scattered clues about the pastimes of lower ranks in medieval societies. There is a need for more studies linking together the evidence gleaned from different sites and from museum collections regarding medieval leisure. For example, work could be undertaken regarding the evidence from South East Scotland for medieval table top games, for ball games, or for musical instruments.
Leisure and Entertainment Research Questions
- What can we learn about recreational activities in and around burghs?
- What can we discover about royal entries and other forms of major national celebrations?
- What can we learn about tournaments in the region?
- What can we learn about musical instruments?
- What can we learn about inns and taverns?
- What can we find out about archery, caiche, football and other sports played in South East Scotland during the medieval period?
- How did the treatment of pets change during the medieval period? What types of animals were kept as pets and in what conditions?
- What can we learn about cockfighting and bear baiting?
- What can we discover about hunting practices in the region?
- What do we know about hunting lodges and halls?
- What do we know about medieval deer parks and traps and how were they located in relation to elite residences?
- How did men’s and women’s recreational activities compare? To what extent was recreation segregated by gender?
- What can we find out about tabletop games?
- What can we discover about children’s play?