In February 2024, Historic Environment Scotland (HES) released a new report on connections between their Properties in Care (PiCs) and the British Empire.

The report, which was commissioned by HES and carried out by a team of researchers from the University of Glasgow, found that 37.5% of these properties have one or more identifiable “empire connections.” These connections range from PiCs which had a decisive role in the Empire to many examples of those which were simply owned by an individual/family with involvement in the British Empire at some point between c.1600 and 1997.

At this special Online Fellows’ Meeting, we’ll hear from Laura Harrison, Senior Heritage Engagement Officer at HES, Dr Stephen Mullen, Lecturer in History at the University of Glasgow, and Ranald MacInnes, Head of Outreach and Learning at HES. Together they will discuss how the report came about, some key research findings, and the report’s reception since publication.

Content Warning

This talk contains discussion of Empire and Atlantic slavery, which some listeners may find distressing.