The Scottish Trail – Educational and Cultural Route
The Scottish Trail is a planned educational and cultural route that highlights the historical connections between Polish and European cultural heritage. This route links cities along the former Wielkopolska border (Wschowa) with towns in the former Konin district (Konin, Kleczew, Koło). Key points along the trail include Leszno, Gostyń, Jarocin, Pleszew, Kalisz, and Konin, with Żychlin marking the final stage within the Konin district.
In the second half of the 16th century, a significant group of Scottish emigrants settled in the Polish Kingdom. Religious and political persecutions later prompted a second wave of Scottish immigration in the early 17th century. Among the towns where the presence of "islanders in checked skirts" can be traced are several in the former Konin district, including Konin, Kleczew, and Koło.
Scottish Communities in the Konin District
The Scottish community in Kleczew was not large. Among the Scottish families living there were the Morrisons and Rossmets, who were related to the Rottermund family. It is likely that some Scots in Kleczew converted and rejoined the Roman Catholic Church. Evidence for this includes the fact that some Scots living in the town held clerical positions, such as village mayor.
The Scots arrived in the royal town of Koło in the 16th century, though their stay was temporary. A list of Scottish merchants from 1651 includes surnames of Scots from Kleczew, and it also mentions four citizens from Konin.
The Reformed Evangelical Church (Calvinist) parish in Żychlin is linked to the Scottish presence in these towns. Several former citizens of Konin and Kleczew, including members of the Andrus, Benet, Gibbon, Melton, Morrison, Pekok, and Thomson families, were part of this religious community. Some of these families remained in the Konin area until the early 18th century, while others migrated to towns where living conditions were more favorable, such as Jarocin, Kobylin, and Gostyń, where fiscal burdens were lighter.
Żychlin and the Scottish Heritage
Żychlin, located near Konin in the Stare Miasto commune, is home to the oldest parish of the Reformed Evangelical Church. Many noble families associated with this community are buried in the local cemetery, including the Potworowski, Żychliński, and Bronikowski families, who have a mausoleum near the cemetery. The old church bell tower, dating back to the 18th century, has been preserved, along with a lapidary of tombstones that were brought to Żychlin from across Poland. Among these, several gravestones are linked to members of Scottish families, offering rare evidence of their presence in Poland.
Some of the Scottish emigrants later returned to the Roman Catholic Church. Their wills, which include donations to Catholic churches, serve as further confirmation of this. Additionally, inscriptions on the brick wall of the St. Bartholomew Church in Konin are notable. Among them is the name of Jan Scot (or Szkot) from Konin, dating back to the 17th century.
Conclusion
The Scottish Trail offers a fascinating glimpse into the historical presence of Scots in Poland, particularly in the Konin district. Through preserved monuments, gravestones, and historical records, we can trace the footprints of these early emigrants, whose contributions enriched the cultural and religious fabric of Poland.
Prepared by: Paulina Wojtyniak
