Amang aw the kintras o thir islands, Scotland wis the first tae hae a state register-hoose, biggit for the ettle o haudin the publict registers an papers o the nation. A place whaur ceetizens cuid come ben, tak the swatch o the registers, an speir oot thair history. This wis the General Register House on Princes Street, in Embra, designed wi the airchitect Robert Adam, an biggit atween the years 1774 an 1788. It haes been the national register-hoose for Scotland sensyne. We micht compare this wi the state register-hoose in Ingland that dates fae 1977 jist. Lang afore the national register-hoose wis opent, the Lord Lyon haed the keepin an owersicht o papers sib tae faimly history. The first Lyon herald we ken o wis Hendrie Grieve, recordit in 1399, an he an his efter follaers haed the richt tae judge aw maiters o airms, tae sattle disputes, cognize claims, an haud papers reddin oot the lines o descent o weel-daein or noble faimlies, an in 1672 a formal buik o grants o airms, recordin faimly lines, wis stertit aff. Ower time the General Register-Hoose haes received mony gifts o auld faimly papers, while commissar an shirra coort buiks, sasines, an kirk session meenits haes maistly fund a hame here forby.

For tae veesit the national register-hoose an raik its registers, ye maun hae a reader’s ticket. Bring alang wi ye some pruif o yer name an whaur ye bide, alang wi passport size photies, an whan ye gae ben the staff will mak ye a ticket that will run for twa-three year. Aince ye hae this, ye’ll can order oot an see ony auld papers that’s open tae the publict while sut at ane o the readers’ dasks, an, in mony cases, ye can tak photies o documents. The register-hoose is open for ordnar atween 9am an 4.30pm Monanday tae Friday.