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The
Drove Roads of Scotland, A. R.B. Haldane, David and
Charles, 1973
This
is a now classic study of drove roads and the droving
trade. The author looks first at the origins of droving
from the earliest times to its expansion after the Union
of the Crowns in 1603 and of the Parliaments in 1707.
He details the working life of a drover and how the
trade was financed, then examines the roads in various
parts of Scotland, including the south of Scotland.
An account is given of cattle fairs, particularly the
great Trysts at Crieff and Falkirk and some others like
Dumfries which was an important centre for cattle from
south-west Scotland and Ireland. He then looks at the
movement of the cattle through England and the arrangements
made for their fattening before finally reaching London
and other cities. The growing trade in sheep is also
examined. He traces the gradual decline of droving from
the growing use of sea transport and later of rail transport,
although droving itself remained in places as late as
the early 1900's.
The
Shielings and Drove Ways of Loch Lomondside, John Mitchell,
Jamieson & Munro in assoc. with Stirling Council
Library, 2000
The
author gives the background to the movement of cattle
up to the summer pastures on high ground where the women
and children would live in shielings for several weeks.
This practice, intended to fatten cattle and keep them
away from growing crops lasted up to the late 1700's.
He locates the remains of the shielings through placenames
and fieldwork.
He
then examines the droving routes in the area and gives
the background to the trade from the 1500's to its decline
in the early 1900's. The routes to Glasgow and across
to Crieff and Falkirk are described in detail.
Drove
Roads, John Reid, Calatria, No 22, Autumn 2005, Journal
of the Falkirk Local History Society
This
paper looks at the growth of drove roads in the Falkirk
area from the early practice of summer grazing on high
ground to the establishment of the major Trysts in Falkirk
when these moved down from Crieff. Details are given
of the four venues that were used at one time or another.
The
various routes converging on Falkirk are described as
are those leading southward, using evidence from maps,
sasines, placenames and the location of common lands
that were used both for summer pasture and rest points
when droving.
The
Drove Road into Annandale. Prevost, W.A.J., DGNHAS,
III 31 121
The
author gives the history of the cross-border trade in
cattle which was documented from the early 1600's. The
traffic from the south-west of Scotland and from Ireland
passed through Dumfries-shire on its way to Carlisle,
with additionally, some Highland droves coming from
the north.
Although
many of the northern droves took more easterly routes
there was still a substantial number of cattle entering
Dumfries-shire. He identifies and describes the complex
network of the routes taken through the area and provides
much interesting local detail.
MacDonald, Mairi A, 'Drovering' TGSI 49 (1974-76)
189-197
The
paper details the difficulties faced by drovers and
the qualities and skills needed to carry out droving
successfully. Apart from physical stamina, the drover
had to be a person of probity, had to have considerable
veterinary knowledge and have good business acumen.
There were definite dangers to be faced on the journey,
from robbers to getting animals safely over water. A
description is given of the main droving routes leading
to Falkirk.
MacDonald Murdo, 'The Droving Trade in the Records
of the Commissioners of Supply of Argyllshire' TGSI
58 (1992-94) 1-7
The
Commissioners of Supply, along with JP's were responsible
for roads, ferries and bridges from 1686 up to 1775
when the first local act for Argyleshire was passed.
The paper examines a number of issues relating to droving
that were dealt with by the Commissioners. These included
rates on ferries, the condition of quays, damage to
roads and crops and what support should be given when
outside interests threatened to affect the trade.
Interesting details are given of the main Argyll market
at Kilmichael-Glassary and of some of the routes that
were followed.
Eric
Cregeen, Recollections of an Argyllshire Drover, Scottish
Studies, Univ. of Edinburgh, Vol.3, Pt.2, 1959
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