With the announcement of the Siller Gun shoot to mark the Platinum anniversary of the Accession of the Queen, you might like to find out the history of the gun.
The year 1846 saw the end of all powers and privileges bestowed on the Incorporated Trades in Scotland. Deacon Convener David Ewart inscribed the words ‘open sesame’ in the minute book. The function of the Incorporated Trades changed to that of a more ceremonial role, however, many influential individuals were members of both the Town Council and Incorporated Trades.
The ‘Siller Gun’, the oldest sporting trophy still competed for in the country, possibly the world, was presented to the Royal Burgh of Kirkcudbright in 1587 by King James VI of Scotland. This was in order to ‘Instruct the lieges in the use of firearms’ at a time where guns were replacing archery as a form of defence. The gun bears the initials of Thomas McLellan of Bombie, Provost of Kirkcudbright. Records of the gun being competed for by the Trades exist from 1781, to celebrate the Earl of Selkirk’s coming of age. The gun has been shot for on approximately fifty occasions since, mainly to celebrate hatches and matches of the Royal family. Significant events such as the opening of the first bridge in the town and the end of the wars in the 20th Century were celebrated by a shoot. Robert Burns birth centenary was shot in 1859, the only time it has been competed for to celebrate a ‘commoner’.
The Silver Arrow, a model of an arrow, which was presented by William Johnston in June 1838, is used as a prize for the apprentices at the same time as the gun competition. Nowadays it is more often used as the runner’s up prize. It was made from 3 half crowns by William Law a local clockmaker.
For more information about the The Haill Six Incorporated Trades of Kirkcudbright