Spring 2010 No.27
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Spring 2010 No.27 ATHE MAGAZINE OF THHE ARCHITECTURAL HESRITAGE SOCIETYS OF SCOTLAND For the Study and Protection of Scottish Architecture 2 introduction AHSS contents Magazine Spring 2010 (No. 27) Obituary Collation: Mary Pitt and 03 Carmen Moran Reviews Editor: Mark Cousins 07 News from the Glasite Meeting House Design: Pinpoint Scotland Ltd. 08 News President: The Dowager Countess of 11 Heritage Lottery Fund Wemyss and March Chairman: Peter Drummond 13 Projects Volunteer Editorial Assistants: Walking in the Air Anne Brockington Chris Judson 15 RCAHMS Philip Graham The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland NATIONAL OFFICE Edited by Veronica Fraser. The Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland HS Listing The Glasite Meeting House 20 33 Barony Street Edinburgh 21 Other Organisations EH3 6NX 30 Talking Point Tel: 0131 557 0019 Contemporary architecture in the historic environment. Fax: 0131 557 0049 Email: [email protected] My Favourite Building www.ahss.org.uk 33 Investigation The Rural Church Copyright © AHSS and contributors, 2010 The opinions expressed by contributors in this 36 Consultations publication are not necessarily those of the AHSS. Edited highlights of AHSS responses to recent consultations. The Society apologises for any errors or inadvertent infringements of copyright. 38 Reviews The AHSS gratefully acknowledges assistance from the Royal Commission on the Ancient and 43 Education Historical Monuments of Scotland towards the production costs of the AHSS Magazine. 50 National activities 50 Group activities 54 Group casework 59 Membership 60 Diary CALL FOR CONTRIBUTIONS If you would like to contribute to future issues of AHSS magazine, please contact the editor at [email protected] Submission deadline for the Autumn 2010 issue is 24 July 2010 . If you are interested in volunteering as a copy-editor for future issues of the AHSS magazine, please contact the AHSS National Office. Cover: St Benedict’s Chapel, Sumvitg, Switzerland. © p2cl, flickr THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND I SPRING 2010 obituary 3 Eleanor Robertson 1919 – 2009 n order to remember the immense per - ner. Our existence concentrated the minds sonal contribution of the founder of the of the Cockburn Association and the Society, Eleanor Robertson, who died on National Trust for Scotland. Joint action I12 December last year, we include here became possible. A society with limited aims, some of her own words, describing the the conservation of Georgian architecture, development of the Architectural Heritage had its place, it could focus attention. We Society of Scotland, in which her character widened the aims later perceiving the need shines through. In addition, some members for a national society devoted to the conser - of the Society recall their memories of vation of all historic architecture. Eleanor. George Square is long ago. What is not ‘T he Story of the Society: The Georgian realised now is what a close run thing it was. Group of Edinburgh and the Scottish The Secretary of State refused to intervene Georgian Society’ was not a committee member until he suc - on grounds provided solely by the University ceeded me as the Society's secretary in which revealed its ignorance on matters of This article is an abridged version of the 1964. He was its éminence grise without conservation and preservation. The amenity paper first published in AHSS Magazine No. whose advice the Society could not have societies were not consulted. Had it come to 6, Winter 1997. It is based on Eleanor become what it is. He was also an invaluable a public inquiry the result might well have Robertson's talk to the Forth and Borders link with the National Trust for Scotland at been different. The University paid for its Group entitled ‘George Square’ and the ori - that time. We both believed that a national intransigence. It was reported that the appeal gins and development of the AHSS, given on society was required but realised that to which it launched at that time evoked the Monday 21 October 1996 at the Glasite attempt to form one at that point was response from many alumni that they would Meeting House. impractical. The George Square threat was not contribute because of the University's immediate and in people's minds, it was a vandalism in the matter of George Square. 'Whatever is good of its kind ought to be live Edinburgh issue. We lost but we had made our mark. preserved in respect of antiquity as well as our present advantage, for destruction can Anyone thought likely to be interested in In 1961 the main issue was St George's be profitable to no one but such as live by saving George Square was invited (postcards Parish Church. An appeal had been launched it.' Hawksmoor, 1714. individually typed, no photocopying in and money collected but not enough to pay 'Regulations give the force of law to the folly those days) to meet in my drawing room at for complete restoration. There was a likeli - and limitations of the present.' Isumbard 10 Buccleuch Place on 20th March 1956. hood that the congregation would be united Kingdom Brunel. One of them coming up the common stair with that of St Andrew's, George Street, thus was heard to remark: 'Hm, same old stage making St George's as a church redundant, Arriving here as a foreigner in 1946 I army'. Colin's paper ‘Georgian Architecture and so the Kirk Session did not feel justified became conscious of some of the differ - in Scotland’ was distributed. The decision in using the money for its restoration. This ences between English and Scottish to found an Edinburgh society, 'The Society and the Cockburn Association called Georgian architecture. I found a lack of Georgian Group of Edinburgh', was taken a meeting of representatives of the National awareness of its value, greater I think than by 25 peo ple. Trust for Scotland, the Charlotte Square even that in England at the time, and the Proprietors, the Saltire Society, the Ancient threat to the survival of George Square We were a small body, easily dismissable, but Monuments Society, the Patrons of the seemed the most conspicuous example. that changed. We succeeded in establishing Appeal, the Pilgrim Trust, together with the Efforts to interest such older and estab - ourselves as a voice to be listened to very Session Clerk, the architect and the City lished figures largely failed, with the excep - quickly. In 1957 the late Earl of Haddington Planning Officer. tion of Robert Hurd. agreed to become our first president. People had to take us seriously after that. The meeting took place in the board room I believed that to reduce the threats to He possessed the two major virtues, intelli - of the National Trust for Scotland and Lord George Square it was necessary to start a gence and goodwill, and was held in great Haddington took the chair. Universal good - society and, knowing how crucial to the suc - public esteem and affection. He made him - will was expressed but no action followed. cess of any campaign the availability of accu - self available to us in all sorts of ways. He Providence intervened, however, because the rate information is, I asked Colin McWilliam had much good sense and practical knowl - Kirk Session found that they might be held what he thought (realising that he was as edge. responsible for a dangerous building. They fanatical as I was and much better informed). realised that they could use the money He agreed that this was the way forward, so Many people asked: 'why another society?' raised to make it safe and time was gained Colin's impeccable scholarship was available The answer was that those which existed for an alternative use to be found. Lord to the Society from its beginning.The impor - had appeared unable to concentrate on the Cameron at a meeting of the council of the tance of this cannot be overstated. Colin threat to George Square in an effective man - Cockburn Association opined that Mrs SPRING 2010 I THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND 4 obituary Robertson might have been getting at the beyond the Georgian period became clear about Society activities and could she help in telltales, a proud day for her. over the threat to the New Club (Burn and any way? So I asked her to come to the Bryce) and the Life Association Building same committee meeting. We were asked by the City Planning Officer (Barry and Rhind).Thirty years later it seems to define an area of great architectural and incredible that they should have been The result was that between them they set landscape value in connection with the quin - allowed to disappear, this is in a way a meas - and ran a much enhanced programme. I quennial review and our proposals, which ure of a swing in public opinion which we overheard two ladies whom I didn't know were accepted, included the New Town with have helped to create. agreeing that the Georgian Society had not its outlying areas and a large proportion of had very much to offer before the advent of early 19th century Newington. This marked The Civic Amenities Act 1967 recognised this wonderful young Irish doctor. I was puz - rapid progress (in 1961) since the refusal in the need for the preservation and enhance - zled for a moment thinking of a medical doc - 1960 to zone Charlotte Square and other ment of whole areas and conservation areas tor. But Alistair's and Margaret's contribu - New Town areas as of great architectural began to be designated in Scotland, though tions to our Society go far beyond the importance. delays occurred occasioned by fear of what recreation of the programme, splendid the financial implications might be.