National Records of Scotland

Preserving the past, Recording the present, Informing the future

Food and Drink

Food and Drink

Our collections of government, private and court records contain many references to the preparation and consumption of food and drink in Scotland.

Photograph of staff in munitions works canteen, HM Factory Gretna, 1918 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland,GD1/1011/8)

Staff in munitions works canteen, HM Factory Gretna, 1918 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, GD1/1011/8)

Image Gallery Reference: AAA00021

Photograph of a picnic party at Elleric in Glen Creran, 1866 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland,GD1/1208/1/13)

Picnic party at Elleric in Glen Creran, 1866 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, GD1/1208/1/13)

Image Gallery Reference: AAA00145

Photograph of parties from Invercreran House and Barcaldine House picnicking in Argyll countryside, 1866 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland,GD1/1208/1/80)

Parties from Invercreran House and Barcaldine House picnicking in Argyll countryside, 1866 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, GD1/1208/1/80) 

Image Gallery Reference: AAA00175

Image of the cover of 'The Herring Book' of recipes published as part of the Herring Industry's 'Eat More Herrings' campaign, 1935 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, AF56/1045)

Cover of 'The Herring Book' of recipes published as part of the Herring Industry's 'Eat More Herrings' campaign, 1935(Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, AF56/1045)

Image Gallery Reference: AAA00358

Image of a bottling label for Helm Blend fine old highland whisky produced by W Helm & Co, Leith. Label is illustrated with countryside scene of a castle set above a river bend, c. nineteenth century (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, CE57/4/50)

Bottling label for Helm Blend fine old highland whisky produced by W Helm & Co, Leith. Label is illustrated with countryside scene of a castle set above a river bend, nineteenth century (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, CE57/4/50)

Image Gallery Reference: AAA00387

Photograph of fish market at Newhaven harbour, Edinburgh, late nineteenth century (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland,GD265/16/16/1)

Fish market at Newhaven harbour, Edinburgh, late nineteenth century (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, GD265/16/16/1)

Image Gallery Reference: AAA00480

Image of a vignette of distilling and farming. Detail from plan of lands of Craigend in Parish of St Ninians, Stirlingshire, by William Drummond, surveyor, April 1798 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, RHP80866)

Vignette of distilling and farming. Detail from plan of  lands of Craigend in Parish of St Ninians, Stirlingshire, by William Drummond, surveyor, April 1798 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, RHP80866)

Image Gallery Reference: AAA00738

Image of the first recorded reference to whisky, an excerpt from the Exchequer Roll which notes that John Corr, a monk at Lindores Abbey, was allowed 8 bolls of grain to make aqua vitae for the King, 1494 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, E38/306)

The first recorded reference to whisky, an excerpt from the Exchequer Roll which notes that John Corr, a monk at Lindores Abbey, was allowed 8 bolls of grain to make aqua vitae for the King, 1494 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, E38/306)

Image Gallery Reference: AAA00937

Image of a poster produced by UK government as part of the "Eat More Herrings Campaign" to increase consumption of UK herring catch, 1930s (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, AF56/1045/3)

Poster produced by UK government as part of the "Eat More Herrings Campaign" to increase consumption of UK herring catch, 1930s (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, AF56/1045/3)

Image Gallery Reference: AAA00939

Image of a page from an Edinburgh Whisky Mercahnts ledger book detailing payments for whisky, 1766-1774 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland,GD1/8)

Page from an Edinburgh whisky merchant's ledger book detailing payments for whisky, 1766-1774 (Crown Copyright, National Records of Scotland, GD1/8)

Image Gallery Reference: AAA01015

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