A Little Bit of Research …
Finding The Facts
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Finding The Facts 〰️
A little bit of research takes a big bit of time; and time that I am hard pressed to find over an above running a Gallery and being an artist. My research into Cumberland Close and the alleged connection it has to Prince William, Duke of Cumberland has eaten into business time, family time, creative time as well as money and effort. It is certainly keeping me busy and I am discovering facts I would normally have taken at face value to be a little less than accurate. For me the truth of any matter is rather black or white and should always be backed up with evidential facts, preferably from more than one source.
Why am I doing this research you might ask. As a local business person whose business is operating from Cumberland Close and who objects to a name change on a practical and financial basis, I feel compelled to put together a solid argument for opposition to the petition. To do this I need to be able to correlate the facts as presented and conduct my own research. Firstly, I need to establish whether or not there is any credence in the current petition to change the name of Cumberland Close. Secondly, I need to understand why Cumberland Close has changed its name several times. Thirdly, I need to know more about the actions of two prominent men associated with Cumberland Close, namely the Duke of Cumberland and Mr John Gordon. The former being one who has been historically associated with the dreadful slaughter and aftermath crimes post the Battle of Culloden (1746). The latter being a gentleman who supposedly changed the names of many streets in Kirriemuir (1909), including Cumberland Close.
Undertaking any research carries a burden. The burden is one of proof without bias. One must approach the research with a clear mind and a clear conscience; and be prepared for the unexpected. Historical research in many ways is perhaps the most difficult to undertake as we rely heavily on the written word from those who have laid out their facts, their truth, as they see it. When all people who have been a part of the period long since expired, and have lain dead for centuries, then what we hear is the researcher’s voice above the lives of those we speak of. We must be mindful of this and verify by cross-referencing from other perspectives. Somewhere between these accounts will lie the truth as it was.
A report of my research, my response to the Angus Council Reports and other Public Domain documents and the completed Survey Forms that have been returned to me will be presented to Angus Council and made available to the Public at a later date on our website and in the Gallery.
To have your say, please complete the Angus Council Consultation either online or the paper format at the Library. Angus Council Consultation ends Sunday 21st April 2024. Your views on our own Survey are also very welcome.
