Lesbian Words Presents: Scotch Verdict Walking Tour by Indigo Dunphy-Smith

Step back in time with queer history researcher and writer Indigo for this walking tour of Edinburgh. Together, we will explore the infamous sapphic scandal that inspired The Children’s Hour, starring Audrey Hepburn, and Scotch Verdict by historian Lillian Faderman. As we weave our way from the New Town to the Old Town, we’ll explore the people, places and prejudices connected to this 1810 legal case. We’ll unpack how colonial thought and queer desire influenced the uniquely Scottish court ruling - not proven.

Indigo Dunphy-Smith (she/her) is a researcher and writer based in Edinburgh. She specialises in research and public programmes that create space for marginalised stories in traditional spaces. She is the author of How to: Queer Your Historic House, a practical toolkit for uncovering queer stories in museum collections, and co-chairs the National Trust for Scotland’s LGBTQ network and supports organisations to queer their heritage spaces.

An informal walking tour in a small-group setting. Please dress warmly for the Scottish weather and wear your sensible footwear. 

The walk lasts for 2 hours and participants will be walking or standing for this time unless they use or bring a chair. The route goes through the New Town, up the Mound, and onto the Royal Mile and involves some light uphill walking (the Mound) and uneven paving.

If the tour needs to be step-free for you to attend (or if you have any access requests), please email us to let us know so we can amend the route: [email protected]

Tickets are pay-what-you-can. Booking in advance is essential as places are limited so, if you are unable to attend, please let us know as soon as possible so we can offer your place to someone else.

Meet at 2pm outside Cairngorn Coffee, 1 Melville Pl, Edinburgh EH3 7PR

Please email us: [email protected]

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