The oldest reference to the Walking of the Marches in a surviving Burgh record is in 1611 where this was first mentioned in print. We do know however from earlier Charters that the tradition of inspecting and protecting boundaries goes back as far as the 12th century and possibly earlier.
The Walking or Riding of Marches in Scotland is in simple terms an exercise, usually annually, when officials from the Council, The Incorporated Trades and the Guildry together go round their Boundaries or Marches to inspect them and see that they are intact and have not been encroached upon. The main inspectors of the Marches in Stirling are known as Birlawmen led by “The Captain of the Birlawmen” and used their picks and shovels to turn over a sod of grass to mark certain points in the boundary which were later replaced by march stones. These all disappeared in the 19th century.
From a period starting in the 1970’s the Marches in Stirling became dormant, probably brought on by the Regionalisation of Councils in the 70’s, and remained in this dormant state until 2014 when the Incorporation of Hammermen approached Provost Mike Robbins with the idea of resurrecting the Marches tradition. The Provost fully embraced this idea and the Marches duly took place. On Saturday 4th October 2014, the historic Walking of the Marches of the City and Royal Burgh of Stirling was officially revived after an absence of around 40 years.
The Marches have continued yearly from then, continuing to grow each year.
More about the history of Stirling
The City and Royal and Ancient Burgh of Stirling has a rich history which can be traced back through many centuries. This history is greatly valued by its citizens and is what makes Stirling so unique, both as a place to work and live in and as a destination to visit.
Stirling Castle is one of Scotland's most historically important sites and was once a favoured residence of the Stewart kings and queens who held grand celebrations at the castle, and each year draws over half a million visitors from all over the world.
The city is set in the heart of Scotland, combining superb architecture with a rural feel, being minutes in any direction from the country, with world class outdoor sports opportunities within easy striking distance.
Stirling’s cultural and historic heritage is vast - read any book about Scotland or Stirling and you understand this almost immediately. There can be no other city anywhere on the planet that has so many battlefields on its doorstep, which although being a bloody legacy, also shows its strategic importance over the centuries. On the cultural side, Stirling has always been a City renowned for its high standard of education, with our top-rated University being the modern embodiment of that aspect.