Winter Talks – Edinburgh and the 1707 Act of Union, Thursday 22 January 2026

Parliament Hall, Edinburgh by James Skene c 1807. The copyright is held by City of Edinburgh Libraries

Edinburgh and the 1707 Act of Union, an illustrated talk by Eric Melvin

We continue our popular series of Winter Talks on Thursday 22 January with Edinburgh and the 1707 Act of Union, an illustrated talk by historian Eric Melvin.

On 16 January 1707, the Treaty of Union was passed by the Scottish Parliament by 110 votes to 67. The Three Estates met for the final time in Edinburgh on 25 March 1707, when proceedings were brought to a close with the Lord Chancellor, the Earl of Seafield, famously remarking, “Now there’s ane end of ane auld sang.” Outside, the bells of St Giles’ Kirk tolled the poignant tune, “Why should I feel so sad on my wedding day?”

The conventional view is that by 1706 Scotland was economically desperate and forced into union with England. But does the evidence support this interpretation, or was there in fact significant pressure on England to secure a union with Scotland? What is beyond doubt is that the Union was deeply unpopular with the majority of Scots at the time.

Drawing on contemporary sources, this illustrated talk will explore the events leading up to the Union, the public reaction to it, and its implications for Edinburgh.

Eric’s talk begins at 7.30pm in the Abbey Church, Church Road/High Street, North Berwick, and is open to all. Admission is free for members and patrons of the Coastal Communities Museum, with a £5 donation requested from non-members. Light refreshments will be served after the talk.