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THE MAGAZINE OF THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND
www.ahss.org.uk AHSS Founded in 1956 – Over 50 years of Commitment I Autumn 2014 I No. 36 AHSSSAut14_Layout 1 15/09/2014 10:05 Page 2
Corporate Members
Anderson Bell Christie Architects Art Institute of Chicago Benjamin Tindall Architects Comrie Development Trust Edinburgh City Libraries Gray, Marshall & Associates Heritage Masonry (Scot) Ltd LDN Architects National Gallery of Art, Washington National Museums Scotland Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland RIBA Library Join us! Simpson & Brown Architects T Graham & Son (Builders) Ltd Scotland has a rich heritage of castles, mansions and garden landscapes, Tod & Taylor Architects ecclesiastical and industrial sites, cities, towns and villages. This wealth of buildings provides many opportunities for study, but despite being famous throughout the world, our heritage is in constant need of Educational Members protection. The Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland is committed to American University of Sharjah encouraging public understanding and appreciation of our built Centre Canadien d'Architecture environment and supports the thoughtful and meaningful preservation Glasgow Life and restoration of historic buildings. Historic Scotland Library The New Club Library Paul Mellon Centre Support our work and enjoy the many Robert Gordon University benefits of becoming a member. Swets Information Services Ltd University of Edinburgh, Department of Architecture Turn to page 9 for more information. University of St Andrews AHSSSAut14_Layout 1 15/09/2014 10:05 Page 3
WELCOME
his autumn issue has a distinctly 'elemental' theme running through it. Subjects include Sumburgh Lighthouse, built to challenge Shetland's stormy waters, the earthy turf and AHSS stone structures of Iceland, and the sad, fiery events at the Glasgow School of Art. Autumn 2014 l No. 36 Time will tell whether the Land Reform Review Group's report is a breath of fresh air orT becomes, well, just hot air. President Our 'International Perspectives' series continues with two articles examining the conservation Simon Green MA, FSA, FSA Scot practices of two very different countries: Australia and China. Australia's favoured 'carrot' over Chairman 'stick' approach is an intriguing one, but it begs the question: how do planners strike the right Emma Griffiths balance between pragmatism and idealism? Hon Treasurer We are often taught to 'think big' and certainly there are many architects who have taken that Hamish Macbeth mantra to heart with great success. However, this issue contains two articles that offer an Editor alternative by exploring the value of small spaces. 'Hutting' in Scotland has never matched the Abigail Daly Ruskin Lane Consulting popularity of similar movements in other European countries but a new campaign aims to change that and, hutters argue, bring the many social, health and cultural benefits of having a low-cost, Reviews Editor Mark Cousins 'escape' to the country. Design Coincidentally, Robyn Marsack, the author of this issue's 'My Favourite Building' feature, has Pinpoint Scotland Ltd. chosen a structure that that shares many of the qualities hutters would recognise, albeit in a location almost as far from Scotland as it is possible to go. Her evocation of a friend's cabin
NATIONAL OFFICE expresses in suitably poetic terms why small can be beautiful, and why good architecture, The Architectural Heritage however modest, is so vital. Society of Scotland Riddle’s Court 322 Lawnmarket Abigail Daly Edinburgh EH1 2PG T 0131 557 0019 E [email protected] www.ahss.org.uk
© AHSS and contributors, 2014 The opinions expressed by contributors in this publication are not necessarily those of the AHSS. The Society apologises for any errors or inadvertent infringements of copyright. The Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland, No. SC007554. The Society contents is a registered Company Limited by Guarantee, No. SC356726.
The AHSS gratefully acknowledges 03 Editor’s Welcome 40 Book Reviews assistance from Historic Scotland towards the production costs of the 04 42 AHSS Magazine. View from the Chair Activity Reports – Emma Griffiths The AHSS gratefully acknowledges 42 Historic Scotland assistance from the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical 06 Newsround 44 Royal Commission on the Monuments of Scotland with archive image reproduction and towards 08 Forthcoming Events Ancient and Historical production costs of the AHSS Monuments of Scotland Magazine. 14 Features 49 Built Environment Forum 14 The Green Townscape Scotland Heritage Initiative, Aberdeen 50 Scottish Civic Trust 18 Icelandic turf and stone 51 Members Area construction 51 23 Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Spotlight Visitor Centre and Nature 52 National Study Tour Reserve 56 Activities 27 Hutting in Scotland 62 Casework 30 Considering conservation 66 My Favourite Building in China – Robyn Marsack 33 Australia: the use of carrots 67 over sticks Programme of Events 36 Scotland’s Third National Planning Framework & Cover image: A pillbox, North Berwick, identified as part of the Scottish Planning Policy Historic Scotland / RCAHMS 38 The Scottish Land Reform World War I Audit Project. © Crown Copyright reproduced Review Group Report courtesy of Historic Scotland.
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EDITORIAL
VIEW FROM THE CHAIR View from the Chair
he view from the Chair is Environment Scotland Bill, which has now looking particularly sunny, as I passed its first parliamentary stage. The write on this fine August day. merged RCAHMS and Historic Scotland The Society has been based in organisation, Historic Environment Scotland, many locations over the years, is proposed to have charitable status – a ourT last home was the Glasite Meeting concern to not just this Society, but many House, and is currently Riddle’s Court, other organisations. There are limited funds where we are tenants of Scottish Historic available for building rescue, and Building Buildings Trust (SHBT). It has been an Preservation Trusts already struggle to raise excellent base on Edinburgh’s bustling Royal match funding on projects supported by Mile, in a building with a rich history Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery stretching back to 1587. It has been Fund. However, aside from the competition fascinating to observe closely the process of for third party funding, the adequate securing the future of the building: glimpses resourcing of the principal state organisation Emma Griffiths at first hand of the extraordinary efforts to responsible for the protection of the built National Chairman, AHSS secure funding, permissions, and clear heritage in Scotland must not be seen as an legislative and administrative hurdles while avoidable expense to drop, but simply outlining a robust, sustainable future for a necessary to enable the responsible building seen by many as in the “far too guardianship required for our generation to difficult” category. pass on to the future intact the rich and However, the great news is that SHBT varied designed environment that is have pulled it off, found a way to everyone’s right to enjoy. Our towns, our demonstrate viability, discretely insert 21st buildings, from castles to byres, these are the century services, and importantly secured stories in stone of our history. Funding for almost all of the required funding. While their proper care and maintenance is not a delighting in this success of our landlords, buck to pass, and we should expect and for this important historic building, we exemplary standards to be set from the were faced again with finding a new home. highest level in this duty of care. The AHSS We have an exciting plan for a new home comments on the Historic Environment with some illustrious neighbours, which we Scotland Strategy and Bill are included on will officially announce in the next few the Built Environment Forum Scotland months. Until then, rest assured that website (www.befs.org.uk). communication by email, post and I greatly enjoyed joining the annual study telephone will carry on as normal. tour in May arranged with huge skill and A second reason for great cheer is that many hours of careful preparation, by Simon while we have almost definitely been Green and Adam Swan, and taking the overloading our part-time administrator chance to introduce myself to some of the (and unsung hero) Bridget Mason, at last, we membership. I hope to be able to meet have managed to secure a fantastic more members at the AGM in October, and additional staff member. Sarah Pearce, who look forward very much to visiting the has worked on an ad hoc, part-time basis Crichton Campus in Dumfries. for the Society, took up full time A final thought, the Society’s voice in employment in August 2014. Sarah has speaking for the historic buildings of been assisting with our social media Scotland is already respected, and our views presence, representing the Society at events, often sought. This voice could only be and will expand this development and strengthened, and the Society made more support role, bringing to it her qualifications able to counter the threats to our heritage, in and enthusiasm for heritage, strong by increased membership. Please suggest administrative skills and charming joining to friends, consider giving a interpersonal skills. membership as a Christmas present, or The Society’s National Conservation presents! If we all recruit a single new Committee has been extremely active in member each, we will double our strength! the last six months, with comments on really We couldn’t do what we do without the critical changes in policy and the structural voluntary contributions of time, effort, delivery of conservation and heritage issues. expertise and energies, from members too The Society submitted measured comments numerous to mention, so to all, from a expressing concern over aspects of the fellow volunteer, I would like to express Historic Environment Strategy, and Historic enormous thanks.
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NEWSROUND
AN APPRECIATION
Professor Andy MacMillan OBE FRIAS (1928-2014)
ndy (never Andrew) MacMillan was one of the brightest stars both as a practising architect and as a Ateacher in the architectural firmament of Scotland. At an early age while working for the East Kilbride Development Corporation he joined the long established firm of Gillespie, Kidd and Coia, through his friendship as a part time student at the Glasgow School of Art with Isi Metzstein. Isi had already caught the eye of the principal, the astute Jack Coia, and had entered the firm as an apprentice. That was in 1954 when wartime building controls were being relaxed and there were governmental and local authority housing programmes in peripheral urban estates or in new towns with a concomitant demand for churches and educational and social buildings. All these would be supplied by a practice in which the principal was an Italian Catholic supported by a German Jew and a Scots Presbyterian – a mix of cultures (faith was not to the fore) which gave Scotland its foremost experimental practice. It was recognised with the award of the RIBA Gold Medal in 1969 which was the first time it had come to Scotland since the days of Sir Rowand Anderson half a century before. The firm had been founded in 1830 with many changes
including nomenclature since. Jack Coia had joined as a Hackett Paul © Image teenager and in 1928, after a spell working in London, he became its Head. The principal source of work was the Roman nobody had ever offered me so much money before!' Catholic Church and in the years prior to WWII Jack produced Over the next two decades Andy invented the Mackintosh a series of notable churches, such as St. Anne's Whitevale School of Architecture (or the Mac as it became universally Street, Glasgow (1933) using brick construction with round known) as one of the two (the other being the Architectural arches in a Romanesque style. The war brought an end to Association) leading design schools in the United Kingdom. building and it was only when Isi and Andy came along that Andy had an eye for talent and over the years poached work revived through Jack's contacts with the Roman Catholic members of staff from offices far and wide and from other church and the enlightened patronage of its archbishops in the schools. He ran the school as a paterfamilias, indeed very much Glasgow diocese. Jack devoted time to garnering commissions as a personal fiefdom so that a staff meeting was a rare while giving Isi and Andy their head in the office. The trio ran occurrence starting with coffee and scones. He would allocate the office as an atelier taking on young men and imbuing them somebody to a specific role and usually left them to get on with a zest and a knowledge of the best of contemporary with it. At times he could be irrational and self willed and at modern architecture gleaned from magazines and tours. The one point wanted to abolish lectures although deeply results were seen in St. Paul's Church (1956) in the new town passionate about retaining traditional skills such as measured of Glenrothes, the first of a series of notable works again drawing when it had disappeared elsewhere. So that students making use of brick and culminating in St. Peter's seminary at had contact with him he would very often teach at the Cardross (1966) in reinforced concrete but now ruinous while drawing board in the studios and he maintained the tradition the finest of all the churches, St. Bride's East Kilbride (1963) has that the head of a department should lecture to the first year lost its tower which was the iconic landmark in the town. students. Andy's chosen subject was history. If his scholarship In 1973 Andy became Head of Architecture and Professor was at times erratic his love for the subject was genuine and all at the Glasgow School of Art (GSA) and the University of embracing. Thus, on a study tour in Milan, he was just as eager Glasgow. Then the Glasgow School of Architecture, though to view the early Christian churches as housing by Aldo Rossi. long established, was in danger of extinction. The tripartite Andy retained the loyalty of his staff and of the students for division of responsibility between the GSA, the university of his humanity outshone his faults. After one rumbustious Glasgow and the Royal College of Technology had ended once meeting, standing in the street he asked, “Are you still angry the latter became the University of Strathclyde with its own with me?” When the answer was affirmative he said, “Well, we school leaving a rump at the GSA. There were changes in shall just have to go and have lunch.” In the restaurant he architectural education with part time tuition and scanned the menu before remarking, “I shall just have to have apprenticeships giving way to full time university courses. mince for I forgot to put my teeth in.” When a new head was required and it was mooted that a designer was required Jack Coia put Andy's name forward. James Macaulay Asked why he accepted the post Andy replied, 'Because Honorary Fellow, AHSS
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NEWSROUND
Design Team sought for Glasgow School of Art restoration
public contract notice has been issued by the Glasgow School of Art for an “Architect-led, multi-disciplinary design team”. Many key spaces in the West Awing of the Mackintosh building, including the library, were severely damaged in May’s fire. A carefully planned response from the fire service ensured that there was no loss of life and that the fire was contained, with the result that just days after the event, students and staff were able to enter the building. Since then, an international fundraising campaign has gathered pace, with significant donations and pledges from foundations, charitable trusts, private individuals, businesses, UK and Scottish governments. The actors Peter Capaldi and Brad Pitt have become Trustees of the appeal. Described by Murial Gray as “one of the most documented rooms in the World”, the successful design team will be tasked with “reconstructing and restoring” rather than redesigning or re-imagining the spaces. The notice also makes it clear that the intention is to ensure the building remains a working School of Art. Details of the selection process will be issued in September and the team will be appointed in early 2015. A funding target of £20m has been set with donations being collected via www.thebiggive.org.uk While the main GSA library was unaffected by the fire, the collections within the Mackintosh Building library were lost. A targeted appeal has been issued Glasgow School of Art Library. Courtesy of RCAHMS. SC1026492 for certain titles, details at lib.gsa.ac.uk Resourcing Scotland’s Heritage
new three-year programme has been launched in support of the heritage sector's efforts to attract funding from private sources. Training courses, events, networking opportunities and online resources will be made available to volunteers, staff and trustees working in a wide variety of Asettings – on projects and sites in rural and urban contexts, archaeological and heritage sites, historic buildings, and new community-led ventures. The project has been formed through a partnership led by Arts & Business Scotland with Archaeology Scotland, Built Environment Forum Scotland, greenspace Scotland and Museums Galleries Scotland. The partnership secured over £450,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund's Catalyst scheme. Two core training courses, costing £20-25, will provide participants with an introduction to fundraising from private sources, 'Make it Happen', and identifying the most appropriate fundraising strategies, 'Planning to progress'. In-depth events will focus on topics such as crowdfunding, legacies and corporate sponsorship. All the courses and events will include opportunities for networking and discussion. Training locations include Pitlochry, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Glenrothes, Aberdeen and Dumfries. Resourcing Scotland's Heritage © Arts & Business Scotland
For more information and to see what events are taking place visit www.resourcingscotlandsheritage.org or call 0131 556 3353.
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NEWSROUND
Kelvingrove Bandstand reopens
lasgow's only original bandstand has reopened following a £2.1m project to repair and transform it Ginto a venue suitable for modern use. The category B listed bandstand and amphitheatre was built in 1924 but fell out of use in 1999 following years of disrepair. It became the target for vandalism and was in a 'critical' condition according to the Buildings At Risk Register, despite its prominent position on the edge of Kelvingrove Park. In 2012, a partnership between Glasgow Building Preservation Trust, Glasgow City Council (its owner) and Glasgow Life (the end user), began works to conserve, repair and enhance the structure. In June 2014 the venue opened to its first audiences and a variety of performances as part of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games cultural Kelvingrove Bandstand © Andrew Lee programme have taken to the stage.
Gintautas Blaziunas sites from which a 'top ten' shortlist was Village in Glasgow to the reconstruction President of the created by a special advisory panel. The and extension of a black house on the Isle Architects’ Association public were then asked for their opinion of Tiree. Other winners included Clydebank of Lithuania, visited and over 3,700 votes cast. Loch Lomond East Workshops, Knockando Woolmill, The the AHSS offices in and The Trossachs National Park was Birks Cinema and Advocates Close. Riddle’s Court on 5th runner up followed by the West Highland June 2014 as part of a Way in third place. The awards were The mystery of who now owns Edinburgh’s walking tour of the sponsored by Barton Willmore and the category A listed St Stephen’s Church has city. He was here as a guest of the Royal Scottish Government. been solved. Leslie Benzies, Stockbridge Incorporation of Architects in Scotland resident and president of the computer (RIAS) and was accompanied by Viktorija The John Muir Trust is seeking a judicial gaming business ‘Rockstar North’, has been Žilinskaite (Baltic Business Connections) and review of the Scottish Government's revealed as its purchaser, in a move that his Mark Cousins, who acted as guide. He was decision to approve the Stronelairg wind spokesperson described as “entirely presented with some of the society’s farm in the Monadhliath Mountains, without philanthropic”. A charitable trust has been publications and expressed his admiration of a Public Local Enquiry. The charity argues created and discussions with St Stephen’s our volunteers’ commitment to safeguarding that Energy Minister Fergus Ewing's consent Playfair Trust, who had also submitted a bid Scotland’s heritage. for the scheme lacked the appropriate for the church, have begun. democratic scrutiny and contradicted the The Scotland's Urban Past project has recently launched 'Wild Land Areas' map Five buildings have been shortlisted for received a £1.65m grant from the Heritage which acknowledged the value of wild land. the Royal Institute of British Architects Lottery Fund. It will target people in towns Proposals are for 67 wind turbines prestigious Stirling Prize. Drawn from the and cities and will support communities in between 110-125m tall with the capacity to regional winners list, the sites are: the investigating, recording and interpreting power 114,000 homes. Objections to the Library of Birmingham, London Aquatics their local heritage. Based on the Scotland's wind farm, located on the edge of Centre, Liverpool's Everyman Theatre, Rural Past project, activity will be led by Cairngorms National Park, were received London School of Economics Saw Swee RCAHMS with a call for participants likely from Scottish Natural Heritage (a statutory Hock Student Centre, London Bridge to be announced in spring 2015. consultee), Cairngorms National Park Tower (The Shard) and Manchester School Authority and 96 members of the public. of Art. The winner will be announced at an Dundee Waterfront has been named Highland Council's South Planning awards ceremony on 16th October. 'Scotland's Best Place' in a poll as part of Applications Committee voted not to the Royal Town Planning Institute’s object by 11 votes to 3. centenary celebrations. The poll asked Correction: In the previous edition we stated members of the public to vote for a place The Royal Incorporation of Architects in that the Forth Road Bridge was nominated for that that had been “built, enhanced or Scotland Awards have been announced. World Heritage Site status. We should, of protected by planners and the planning 13 winners from 83 submissions were course, have said it was the railway bridge, the system within Scotland since 1914”. chosen ranging from the multi-million Forth Bridge. With thanks to Mark Watson of Nominations from the public identified 55 pound Commonwealth Games Athletes' Historic Scotland for pointing this out.
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EVENTS
FORTHCOMING EVENTS AHSS National AGM and walking tour
Saturday 25th October, 12.15pm | Crichton Memorial Church, Bankend Road, Dumfries
richton Memorial Church was completed in 1897 for the Crichton Royal Hospital, a model psychiatric hospital, the gift of Elizabeth Crichton of CFriar's Carse, widow of an East India merchant. The cathedral-style church was designed by Edinburgh architect Sydney Mitchell, 1890-97. The richly detailed exterior is of red sandstone from Locharbriggs, Dumfries and the elegant interior features pink sandstone from nearby Thornhill. The superb furnishings include an oak roof, stone carving by William Vickers of Glasgow, floors of Irish and Sicilian marble, pulpit and choir stalls, a magnificent Lewis organ from 1902 and impressive stained glass by Oscar Paterson of Glasgow. The church sits in 100 acres of parkland on the outskirts of Dumfries. Following official business, members are invited to join us for lunch (£10) and guided tours of this remarkable site. Booking form and AGM papers are enclosed in this magazine. Alternatively contact the national office for more information. Crichton Memorial Church. Courtesy of RCAHMS. SC00785445
AHSS National Spring Study Tour 2015 West Coast Houses and Gardens
£490 | Friday 1st to Monday 4th May 2015
rrangements are at an early stage for Kichurn Castle. Courtesy of RCAHMS. SC00359590 a tour, likely to be over the weekend Aof Friday 1st (midday) to Monday 4th (late afternoon) May 2015 and is to be to Argyllshire, with a pick-up in Helensburgh. It will be a circular tour, staying in more than one hotel (probably Inveraray and Oban) and including an island visit (Mull). The tour will be led by Simon Green and Adam Swan and administered by Caroline McFarlane. The intention is to look at the architecture of the region with a range of different building types and periods, focussing on country houses, castles and their gardens, some churches and also putting our interpretation on some sites that are otherwise accessible to the public. We start early, finish late and keep to a rigorous time scale, so it will be an extremely full weekend. The cost of the tour will be £490, a slight increase due to it being peak time for West Coast hotels of our usual high standard of accommodation. The price includes all visits, 2015. Places are limited in number, all Scotland member, non-members may need refreshments, meals, accommodation and delegates must be members and be to pay a surcharge. our legendary tour notes, plus a donation to physically able to walk modest distances and AHSS funds, so we are supporting the AHSS climb stairs. Most places will be on a room- and the buildings visited rather than a share basis, with a limited number of singles A report of the 2014 study tour can be commercial operator. It couldn’t be done in (requiring early booking and a £147 read on page 52. the same way commercially. Notes of supplement). The AHSS operates a To register your interest contact the interest should be directed to the national cancellation policy (available from the national office [email protected] office, with bookings to be confirmed by national office). Please indicate if you are a or 0131 557 0019. submitting a deposit of £50 by 8 January National Trust for Scotland or Historic
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Become a member
Monymusk House © Tom Parnell
Discover more about Scotland’s built heritage and take an active part in its protection and preservation by becoming a member of the Society. We are committed to encouraging public understanding and appreciation of Scotland’s historic built environment. Working across Scotland, the Society supports the preservation and restoration of historic buildings, towns and landscapes.
We do this by: Benefits of membership: • Casework: The Society has a network of local cases • You immediately become part of the Society’s campaign to panels which monitor applications for planning, listed protect Scotland’s built heritage. Even if you take no active building, and conservation area consents. part, your support is vital to the Society. • Talks & lectures: A lively programme of architecture- • Participation in the Society’s active regional events related talks and lectures are organised across the Society’s programme including its National Study Tour. regional groups. • Free copies of the Society’s magazine and academic journal • Visits & tours: A variety of excursions to historic Architectural Heritage. properties, gardens and places of architectural interest are regularly organised by the Society’s regional groups. For all membership enquiries please contact our • Publications: The Society produces an annual Journal with Membership Services provider Hall McCartney: essays on architectural history and conservation. The T: 01462 896688 F: 01462 896677 Society’s magazine, which comes out twice a year, also E: [email protected] provides a round up of current news from within the built Hall McCartney, Heritage House, PO Box 21, environment sector in Scotland with features from guest Baldock, Hertfordshire, SG7 5SH contributors.
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AHSS Membership Department Heritage House T: 01462 896688 PO Box 21 F: 01462 896677 BALDOCK E: [email protected] Hertfordshire SG7 5SH W: www.ahss.org.uk
THE ARCHITECTURAL MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM HERITAGE SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND
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Q MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY Please choose a membership category. All rates except Life are for one year's membership. FSingle - £35 FFamily - £50 FSmall Charity - £50 FLife - £700 FLife (65y+) - £350 FCorporate - £140 FEducational Body - £70 FStudent - First year FREE, £15 thereafter. FPersonal benefactor - £85 Please quote Student Matriculation Card number:
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Q GET INVOLVED! The Society is always looking for volunteers to help out with the organisation of events, clerical work, and especially casework. Please tick the appropriate box if you're interested in: Fjoining your local cases panel Forganising group activities Fhelping out with administrative / clerical work Fcontributing to the AHSS magazine 3UHVLGHQW 6LPRQ*UHHQ0$)6$)6$6FRW &KDLUPDQ (PPD*ULIÀWKV The Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland (AHSS) is a registered charity: SC007554REG The Society is registered as a Company Limited by Guarantee: SC356726 AHSSSAut14_Layout 1 15/09/2014 10:06 Page 11
EVENTS
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
“A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma” Deciphering Riddle’s Court The Patrick Geddes Centre Research Studies Series, Scottish Historic Buildings Trust
£10 | Thursday 2nd October, 9am-3pm | Riddle’s Court, 322 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh EH1 2PG
he first of a series of study days will Future study days will look at: Riddle’s offer an appealing and in-depth Court in the context of other Royal Mile Texamination of fascinating new townhouses, libraries and learning; gardens research, placing in context well and lesser- of the Royal Mile; Riddle’s Court’s interiors known aspects of the history and and 'The Project and the People'. They will development of Riddle’s Court, the aptly- take place over the course of the next two named, intriguing 16th century merchant’s years when the building work to transform home on the Royal Mile. the building is under way. Speakers will include Una Richards and These events have been organised with Audrey Dakin (SHBT), Tim Neighbour and generous support from the Scottish Centre Mike Cressey (CFA Archaeology), Alasdair for Conservation Studies and are funded by Ross (University of Stirling), John Lowrey the Heritage Lottery Fund. (University of Edinburgh) and Anne Schmidt and Andrew Marr. The day will For more information and to book, please include a buffet lunch and a 'behind-the- contact the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust on Historic image of Riddle's Court from the East. Courtesy of RCAHMS. SC1115815 scenes' tour of Riddle's Court. 0131 220 1232 or visit www.shbt.org.uk STICK Annual Conference The Scottish Diaspora: International Mobility of Industry, Technology, Ideas, Products & People
£12 | Saturday 18th October | McManus Collections Unit, Dundee
he Scottish Transport and Industrial • Dr Douglas Harper, Bridges in Nepal: Collections and Knowledge The Aberdeenshire Connection Tnetwork (STICK) aims to promote • John Martin, The Brewing Archive, the care and enjoyment of these Scottish Brewing: International Links collections. Through research, stewardship • Dr Miles Oglethorpe, Historic Scotland, and advocacy, STICK will encourage wider Glasgow Cranes: the Japanese Connection engagement with transport and industrial • Meg Luckins, Scottish Ironworking: the collections across Scotland. This year their Russian Connection conference will examine the Scottish diaspora and will include the following Tickets are £12 and include a light lunch. speakers and topics: For more information contact • Mark Watson, Historic Scotland, [email protected] or visit Painting showing Camperdown Flax Mill and Linen Works in Dundee. Courtesy of RCAHMS. SC01132310 Dundee Jute and the French Connection www.stickssn.org Scottish Civic Trust Conference: Feeling Good – Wellbeing and the Built Environment
Wednesday 29th October | Maryhill Burgh Halls, Glasgow
he health and wellbeing of a and where and how they move around, they have population is a key focus for any the power to restore and promote civic pride, Tgovernment and the Scottish community resilience, mental and physical health Government recognises that the built and be a source of happiness. The latest confirmed environment has a significant impact on the speaker is Sir Harry Burns, Professor of Global health of Scotland's people. Public Health at Strathclyde University. Sir Harry When discussing public health, architecture will partner up with Riccardo Marini, Director at and place may not be the first thing that Gehl Architects, for a keynote session. springs to mind. Yet buildings and spaces play an inescapable role in shaping the quality of For more information contact our lives; they determine what people do Health and wellbeing © R. Thibbotumunuwe [email protected] or 0141 221 1466.
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EVENTS
FORTHCOMING EVENTS Scotland’s Community Heritage Conference 2014
Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th November | Crieff Hydro, Crieff
ooking will open shortly for Scotland’s topic for just one minute! Community Heritage Conference 2014. Scotland’s Community Heritage Conference BThe emphasis, as always, will be on is organised by a partnership of several contributions from volunteers and community organisations: Archaeology Scotland, RCAHMS, groups, and on providing a forum for Northlight Heritage, the Scottish Civic Trust, networking and the exchange of news and Historic Scotland, Perth and Kinross Heritage ideas. Organisers hope to repeat the success of Trust, the SCAPE Trust, the National Trust for previous conferences by offering an exciting Scotland and DigIt2015! mixture of workshops, presentations, walks and displays. There will also be the 'one minute Keep up to date with all the conference news by madness' series, where speakers have been visiting www.archaeologyscotland.org.uk, tweeting challenged to talk about any heritage related @chcscot or emailing [email protected] “A Dreamer of Dreams” Celebrating the Life and Career of Sir Robert Stodart Lorimer
Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th November 2014 | The Playfair Library, University of Edinburgh
lthough Robert Lorimer’s work can be The Society is working with the University of Edinburgh, the found across Europe, it is in Scotland Trustees of the Scottish National War Memorial, RCAHMS, Awhere he spent most of his architectural RIAS, St Giles Cathedral, the National Library and the career and set up his office in Edinburgh in 1893. It National Trust for Scotland, all of which are connected to is fitting that during his 150th anniversary year, Robert Lorimer and his work. Each has expressed interest in 2014, the newly formed Lorimer Society should our key event, in other anniversary projects and in the future celebrate this notable Scottish architect’s work. The plans of the Lorimer Society to celebrate this Scottish family highlight will be a two-day seminar at Edinburgh of arts and letters, who were much influenced by their University and key speakers will locate his work in association with Kellie Castle. the Arts and Crafts tradition, and speak about his The principal speakers at the ‘A Dreamer of Dreams’ relationship with the craftsmen who worked seminar will be Professor Emeritus Duncan Macmillan, author alongside him, his long commitment to the Scottish of the newly published Scotland’s Shrine: The Scottish National National War Memorial, his domestic architecture War Memorial and of Scottish Art 1460-2000 and Dr
and the many restorations he undertook. Sir Robert Lorimer Image courtesy Elizabeth Cumming, co-author of The Thistle Chapel and The Lorimer Society’s principal focus is on four of the Royal Incorporation of Hand, Heart and Soul: The Arts and Crafts Movement in Architects in Scotland generations of the family, firstly James Lorimer, Scotland. Other presentations will consider different aspects of (1818-1890) Regius Professor of Public Law at Edinburgh University; Lorimer’s work. Delegates will also have the opportunity to join a John Henry Lorimer (1856-1936) a Scottish painter who worked on number of guided visits to sites of Lorimer interest in Edinburgh. portraits and genre scenes of everyday life; Sir Robert Stodart Lorimer (1864-1929) a prolific Scottish architect and furniture Contact for further information: Professor Aline-Wendy Dunlop, MBE, designer and President of the RIAS, and Hew Martin Lorimer (1907- Honorary Secretary, The Lorimer Society 1993) a Scottish sculptor and the second son of Sir Robert. [email protected]
Built Environment Forum Scotland Congress
2014: Time to Deliver
Friday 28th November | Roxburghe Crown Plaza, Edinburgh
he Historic Environment Strategy for Scotland, look at the delivery of the Strategy, focusing on how
Our Place in Time, was launched in March this is already being done and where further work is
T2014. The Strategy was developed needed. collaboratively and its successful delivery will only be T possible through collaboration within and beyond the For more information contact [email protected] or F E heritage sector. The purpose of the Congress is to 0131 220 6241.
12 I THE ARCHITECTURAL HERITAGE SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND I AUTUMN 2014 AHSSSAut14_Layout 1 15/09/2014 10:06 Page 13
SHAWS ARCHITECTURAL TERRACOTTA & FAIENCE CRAFTSMANSHIP AT ITS VERY FINEST SINCE 1897
OUR TERRACOTTA HAS ADORNED SOME OF THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS BUILDINGS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, EUROPE, AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Shaws of Darwen, Waterside, Darwen, Lancashire. BB3 3NX. Tel: +44 (0)1254 775111 Fax: +44 (0)1254 873462 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT JON WILSON Email: [email protected] TELEPHONE: +44 (0)7792 267483 OR EMAIL: [email protected] Website: www.shaws-terracotta.com AHSSSAut14_Layout 1 15/09/2014 10:06 Page 14
FEATURES
PROJECTS The Green Townscape Heritage Initiative, Aberdeen Regeneration success in the heart of Aberdeen
Gille Young is a self employed Building Conservation consultant based in Scotland. She has advised and worked on a number of historic building and regeneration projects in Scotland, including 'The Green' in Aberdeen, as well as previously being a metal conservator in the museum and historic house field.
ver the last five years the station to the main shopping centre of the ending on 31st October 2013, it provided historic heart of Aberdeen has city on Union Street, and provides the first over £2.4m in grant funding to owners of been transformed. The Green impression of the city and shire to visitors eligible buildings to undertake high quality Townscape Heritage Initiative arriving by bus, rail or sea. The aim of the THI repair, restoration and refurbishment of their O(THI) was a major, conservation led was to drive and support the regeneration properties. Grant funding was also provided programme set up to tackle the problems of the area. In short, to give The Green back to Aberdeen City Council, as the statutory of run down historic buildings and not just the best of its historic buildings but roads authority, to undertake improvements streetscapes where long standing economic also to rekindle its historic sense of to the streetscape of the central area of the and structural decline had undermined the adventure, enterprise and confidence. THI, while preserving and enhancing the character of this historic and architecturally The Green THI was a partnership historic street patterns and traditional rich area. between The Heritage Lottery Fund, granite setts and paving. The project concentrated on a central but Aberdeen City Council, Historic Scotland, The Green THI addressed major underused area of Aberdeen, called 'The Scottish Enterprise and Aberdeen City problems including dereliction, vacant floor Green', that links the harbour and railway Heritage Trust. Launching in May 2009 and space and a general lack of proper
St Nicholas Street St. Nicholas Eligible Projects - 31 30 May 2009 Launch STREET Kirk
27 to 29 St Nicholas Lane STREET Main Grants Scheme
CORRECTION WYND
73 79 73
4 ADELPHI
LITTLE BELMONT 2 25 81 to 85 to 81
BACK WYND UNION STREET 13 Small Grants Scheme
6 24 VIRGINIA
14 89
BELMONT 87 11 21 22 95 to 99 to 95
13 15 17
101 to 105 to 101 Adelphi Lane 20
Green MARKET STREET 18 Grant Awarded Projects - 19
109 5 111 to 119 to 111 May 2012 Grant award deadline 21 14 SHIPROW East 23 60
DENBURN ROAD STREET Market
123 31 33 1 SHORE BRAE 37 64 62 Main Grants Scheme
44 35 to 39
18 to 22 to 18 HADDEN9 to 5
16 STREET 7 50 EXCHANGE Exchange Lane 24 25
76 Regent Quay 11 3
78 Small Grants Scheme
54 52
13 82
2 18
19 79 26 to 30 to 26 43 45 84 Back Wynd
Stairs
34
64 to 70 49 51
47 6 45 GREEN55 53 STIRLING 8 90
UNION TERRACE 1 10 15
3
13 to 23 9 to 1 3
65 11 to 29
1 to 9 92
to
5 STREET 36 40 12 2 61 67 to 71 to 67 1 to 11 17 90
2 to 12 12 5 7 2 to 8 42 19 2 6 47
Union Bridge 44 3
Rennie's Court STREET 14 1 10 31 to 41 4
CARMELITE LANE 49 to 53
11 to 25 11to 6 23
46 to 52 to 46
22 11
Martin's Lane 2 RENNIE'S WYND16 to 2
Imperial Pl. Trinity Lane Trinity Quay 24 CARMELITE 52a
33 18 to 32 to 18 41 to 27 10
21 4 2 26 to 28 to 26 UNION STREET 37
The 23 16 12 Harbour 30
BRIDGE STREET9 Trinity MARKET STREET 49 8 to 12 to 8 STREET 6 4 20 to 24
Centre 8 TRINITY1 STREET 10
1318 to 14 GUILD STREET
28 32 1 38 40 42 1 32
11 to 17
CROWN STREET 3
5 25 to 29
20 2 to 6 to 2
9 11 13 11 20
WINDMILL BRAE5 6 24 4 8 19 54
BATH 50
12 28 23
15 3 1 STREET
1 3 1
9 30 Bus BRIDGE PLACE WAPPING STREET
80 34 Station
Windmill Lane 4 42
2 19 44
21
CROWN TERRACE 50
23 25 52 GUILD STREET Union
9 56 58 Railway Square
27
60 to 64 to 60 Station
(C) Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Aberdeen City Council 100023401 2012. For clarity some information has been removed.
Main Grant Scheme eligible projects Schedule of Projects
1. The Tivoli Theatre, Guild Street 8. 2-10 Exchange Street / 11 Hadden Street / 15. 1 / 3 Bridge Place May 2012 2. TheVictoria Building : 32-52 Bridge Street / 5-7 Stirling Street 16. 44-50 Green 19-25 Crown Terrace 9. 56-58/ 60-64 Bridge Street / 27-29 Crown Terrace 17. 1-7 Trinity Quay 3. 76-78 and 82-84 Shiprow 10. The Carmelite Hotel, Stirling Street 18. 7 Hadden Street 4. The Palace Theatre, Bridge Place 11. 46-50 Market Street 19. Douglas Hotel, Market Street 5. The former Metro Hotel, Market Street 12. 18-44 Market Street 20. 50-54 Guild Street 6. 11a-13 Hadden Street / 1 Stirling Street 13. 8-18 Bridge Street / 32-38 Windmill Brae 7. 35-39 Market Street 14. 19 Adelphi
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maintenance and investment in historic properties, the majority of which were in multi-ownership with a variety of commercial premises with private flats above. 78 grants were awarded to building owners who delivered comprehensive repairs and 11 building projects involved the reinstatement of lost architectural features. In total, over £6m was invested including contributions by owners and other third parties. As well as improving the longevity of the building stock, 2,400 square metres of previously vacant floor space was brought back into use, and 28 full time equivalent new jobs created in addition to those safeguarded during the works and construction phases.
The Projects There were 20 key projects eligible for funding at the outset of the programme, but as funding was finite, priority was given to the Douglas Hotel front elevation, before. Douglas Hotel front elevation, after. delivery of clusters in order to achieve a broader impact on the streetscape. The following three project 'clusters', on Market buildings addressed decades of limited and Street, Hadden Street and Guild Street, are poorly executed maintenance and was to highlighted in this article for their notable ensure a wind and watertight approach, but historic qualities or for their technical interest. also to return many of the original The basis of the works carried out on architectural features lost during flat each property was to ensure the buildings conversion works in the 1970s and 80s. The were wind and watertight. Typically repairs Douglas Hotel was a highly visible project encompassed the roof, leadwork, chimneys, which was a good ‘showcase’ for the work Douglas Hotel, still image taken from archive film c.1950s. pointing, doors and windows. The use of of the THI. Image courtesy of Scottish Screen Archive. traditional methods and materials were The Douglas Hotel sits on the eastern encouraged, based on Historic Scotland's side of the street, near the junction of but it is unclear if this was ever reproduced. guidelines. Works also included Market Street and Guild Street. It has a An old film of Aberdeen found in the reinstatement of architectural features, simple 1937 Art Deco façade in ashlar Scottish Screen Archive from the 1950s mainly to the windows which had been granite with unusual decorative copper showed a different design was reproduced, replaced by poor quality or modern panelling above the front entrance door one more in keeping with the Art Deco versions, or to doors which often had which became the focus of the project. The design of the building, and it was this which modern ply doors. All repairs were on a recessed copper panels, flower boxes and the new canopy was to be based upon. “like for like” basis, and were informed by windows in this section were in poor The decision was taken to replace the historical photographs or plans, wherever condition and required significant work to copper rather than to clean it, as it was possible. Masonry cleaning was not part of repair and restore. The copper had unlikely that the original had more than 10 the THI funding but was permitted if the deteriorated badly and had become thin to 20 years of life remaining, particularly in stone was stable and the results were likely and brittle in places. There had been a such a harsh sea environment. The windows to be suitable for the building and number of failed attempts to clean the would be replaced entirely too, 'like for like', streetscape. copper that had left the patination patchy in order for the hotel rooms to have some and pitted from copper corrosion, and security and additional noise abatement. Market Street exposed to the sea air. The windows were in The vibrancy of the metal for the panels, Market Street is an important link between poor condition, with missing handles and window boxes and canopy was based on Union Street and the harbour. The street poor seals, and window boxes had become typical Art Deco colours and also allowed was laid out in the 1840s by the city’s litter traps and cigarette receptacles! the façade to stand out from the muted famous architect Archibald Simpson, and is Part of the project reinstated a more grey stone of the buildings in the street, as it lined with typical terraced three and four sympathetic canopy over the entrance door once would have been designed to do. The storey ashlar buildings, with large, often - the existing canopy was a later addition result was initially quite a contentious pedimented windows and doors, some of and didn’t blend with the Art Deco copper contrast but has lifted the profile of a simple which were originally arcaded. above it. There had been an entrance and plain building; more importantly the The Market Street cluster consisted of canopy designed in 1937 when the rest of funding has ensured the survival of a three tenement buildings and the Douglas the building was redeveloped in an Art singularly unique design feature in Hotel. Most of the work on the tenement Deco frontage. The design was quite simple Aberdeen.
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Hadden Street Cheerz Bar, 11 Hadden Street The fascia and lighting for the pub were Hadden Street is the main route into The The ground floor premises has been a pub also changed and improved and a traditional Green. During the 18th and 19th centuries since the late 1800s, although the design of timber panelled door was reinstated on the it was an industrial area, with linen factories the shopfronts were of a more recent corner main entrance. playing a major feature, one of them being design, possibly from the mid 20th century, Market Arms, Hadden Street Hadden’s, after which the street was named. with mock Tudor windows, and large fascias None of these buildings survive but there and stallrisers made from modern imitation This category C listed pub was very run are elements of the area’s industrial heritage granite panels. down, with a number of windows panes amongst the mainly 19th and 20th century The original design of the pub frontage missing and boarded up, and the moulded three storey granite ashlar tenement from the 1800s consisted of larger areas of wood and leadwork needing urgent buildings. The street and the area south of it glazing, with rusticated ionic columns repairs. The windows were made up of now consists mainly of converted residential between the openings. Fortunately many of large panes of etched opaque glass at head flats, originally 19th and 20th century the capitals and columns existed intact height and leaded coloured glass panels at commercial properties or banks, with a behind the panelling, and could be revealed the top. This glass was cleaned and the large number of old pubs and hotels. easily. However the recent refurbishments to leadwork around the sections repaired; a The Hadden Street cluster consisted of the pub meant that the window dimensions number of the etched glass panes were three commercial properties on visually were smaller than the original 1800s design reproduced. In addition a poor modern prominent corners. Both No. 7 and No. 11 and it was agreed to re-use the architect's glass roundel was replaced with a leaded (the Cheerz Bar) had unsympathetic design intention within the current window one in keeping with the design of the replacement shopfronts from the 1980s and apertures as much as possible. decorative vent covers. 90s which by then were looking run down. The third property was the Market Arms, No. 13 Hadden Street, a category C listed property, which urgently required significant repairs, and reinstatement of the decorative glass windows.
Drugs Action, 7 Hadden Street This building was initially built in 1903 as a seed warehouse with a ground floor shop. In the 1980s the upper floors were converted into residential flats with office space on the ground and lower ground floors, the shopfronts of which were replaced with aluminium frames and smoked glass. The opportunity arose to replace the shopfronts with more traditional designs in keeping with the architect’s original scheme, but unfortunately due to the previous building conversion this was impossible to carry out. In addition the 11 Hadden Street, before. Market Arms, before. design of the replacement had to incorporate necessary features which allowed the occupier of the offices a certain level of security and privacy, hence a 'shopfront design' was not necessarily the answer. The final result was as close to the original as possible, using traditional materials and methods.
Douglas Hotel, still image taken from archive film c.1950s. Image courtesy of Scottish Screen Archive. 11 Hadden Street, after. Market Arms, after.
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Tivoli Theatre, before.
Market Arms, showing new glass roundel and replaced etched Criterion Building Sizzlers elevation post works. glass panels.
Guild Street works programme continues with the aim The Guild Street cluster comprised the of bringing the theatre back to full operation category A listed Tivoli Theatre, a THI Tivoli Theatre, after. by the autumn 2014. priority project, and the adjoining Criterion The Criterion Building, 50-54 Guild Street Building. These buildings occupy a prominent architects William Lippe contracted to corner position opposite the railway station, ensure the building was wind and This prominent granite building was built in bus station and Union Square shopping and waterproof, prior to any internal works, with 1882 for the Aberdeen Cork Company as entertainment complex. They are two of a extensive roofing and chimney works. Major shops and offices. It was converted into number of grand buildings that visitors see repairs were required to the unusual “fines” residential accommodation in the 1990s on arriving in the city. concrete walls to the rear, and this entailed with a bar and a fast food outlet on the detailed assessment and analysis prior to ground floor. The Tivoli Theatre structural repairs and complete restoration One of Aberdeen’s most important of the failing substrates. Very few original The works again included roof, leadwork landmarks, the Tivoli Theatre, was awarded architectural features needed to be and pointing with repairs to windows and grant funding of £508,000 to undertake reinstated to the building apart from a doors. In addition, there was an comprehensive building repairs and the number of small vents and windows under opportunity for the fast food outlet to reinstatement of lost architectural features. It the eaves. improve both its front and rear shopfronts, had been largely derelict since its closure in In December 2011, Aberdeen-based replacing aluminium window frames with a the 1997 and the works formed the first David Chouman Architect, working in timber design close to the original phase in bringing this nationally important collaboration with Graham Mitchell shopfront seen in an early 1900s photo. Victorian theatre back into sustainable use. Architects, was selected as project lead Grant funding also facilitated improvements The Tivoli Theatre, built in 1872, is an consultant to undertake detailed appraisal to the façade of the former pub, bringing outstanding, rare and almost intact example and works to the property in support of this vacant space back into use as a local of a Victorian theatre. It has a distinctive and the Tivoli Theatre Company’s objective of convenience store. striking entrance façade and an excellent creating a self-financing business operation. Conclusion interior decorative scheme. The building is This included the refurbishment of building the product of two renowned theatre services and ancillary accommodation, The delivery of The Green THI and the architects, CJ Phipps, who designed it in assessment and repairs of the decorative various funded building projects is regarded 1872, and Frank Matcham, who undertook plasterwork and frescos in the main as a major ‘win’ by both the Heritage alterations in 1897. The interior has been auditorium, including redecoration Lottery Fund and Historic Scotland despite described as one of the best remaining throughout, seating and audio visual the unique set of challenges faced, notably examples of Matcham’s work in the UK. The provision improvements, new external the high proportion of absentee landlords entrance elevation uses red and grey granite signage and the reinstatement of a shop and and buildings in multiple ownership. The to create a polychromatic, round arched booking office. Temporary interpretation investment in the area’s rich historic building pattern which makes an unusual and and exhibition areas were established which fabric has enabled businesses and residents significant contribution to the streetscape. proved to be very successful in raising public to look forward to a more prosperous Significantly, it also contains the first large- awareness and support for the property’s future for this important historic area of the scale use of concrete in a theatre building in regeneration. Since then a number of test city of Aberdeen. Scotland. performances have been held on the stage, A series of repairs to the external fabric including the popular pantomime Robin began in 2010 with Aberdeenshire Hood in December 2013. The interior All images © G. Young except where stated otherwise.
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FEATURES
PROJECTS Icelandic turf and stone construction
The iconic turf building complex at Glumbaer.
In this article Neil Buchan, Vice Chairman of Castletown Heritage Society, explores the traditional building techniques of Iceland and how they are being used to conserve and interpret historic sites.
he Cultural Heritage CHIST programmes – Cyprus, Iceland, danger of being lost. The School also seeks Interpretation and Sustainable Slovakia, Bulgaria and Estonia. The to build a network of cultural institutions, Tourism (CHIST) programme programme that I took part in was hosted professionals and companies in the industry aims to give those who work in by the Fornverkaskólinn Heritage Craft and promote research and exchange of Tthe field of Scottish Heritage Interpretation School in northern Iceland. cultural sciences. and Tourism an idea of what is being ARCH Network is a Scottish non- My desire to participate in the CHIST undertaken in their field out with the UK, governmental organisation promoting Iceland programme arose from my role as and the inspiration to apply new methods learning and development in natural and Vice Chairman of Castletown Heritage at home. CHIST is coordinated by ARCH cultural heritage between Scotland and Society (CHS), a community-led Network and funded by the Leonardo da other European countries. Fornverkaskólinn organisation dedicated to the preservation Vinci programme of the European Heritage Craft School is a partnership of the character, history and traditions of Commission Directorate General for project between the Carpentry the village of Castletown and the parish of Education and Culture. The programme's Department of the Northwest Iceland Olrig in Caithness, in the far north of primary focus is vocational training and the Comprehensive College, Skagafjordur Scotland. Like all other CHS members I am provision of “opportunities for those Heritage Museum and the Tourism an unpaid volunteer. involved in the design, delivery or Department at Holar University College. Based in Castlehill Heritage Centre, we implementation of training or careers The Craft School supports and promotes regularly organise and deliver a programme guidance to undertake visits to partner historic building skills as well as recording of interpretive and collaborative events and organisations to exchange experience and and preserving the vernacular names and workshops to showcase, stimulate and best practice.” terminology associated with traditional sustain community interest and participation During 2014 there were a total of five Icelandic building methods, which are all in in a range of craft, arts and vernacular skills.
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Our first task was to prepare a stock of the three most common forms of turf material used for building construction in Iceland: torfur, strengur and klombruhnaus or 'klambra'. Torfur and strengur were both of strip form nominally 1.2m long and 350mm wide, but differed in profile across the short dimension – torfur are nominally 75mm deep along the centre line, tapering on a gentle curve to a feathered edge at each side, whereas strengur are cut with a perpendicular face nominally 75mm deep on one side, tapering to a feathered edge at the other side. Both were sourced from relatively thin but tightly formed turf on a nearby flood plain, which by definition was The turf farm complex at Tyrfingssta ir very wet! ð The cutting tool, called a ‘lau’ closely We also operate an archaeological research resembled a short section of a scythe facility including field survey, excavation blade, slightly curved along its length and workshops and post finds analysis. mounted onto a curved wooden cross Our core theme relates to depicting and handle. It is used double handed and preserving the rich social history required frequent re-sharpening due to the surrounding the Caithness flagstone abrasive nature of the turf and sub-soil. industry, a key element of which was the Klambra by comparison are rather more Castlehill Flagstone Works in Castletown. substantial wedge shaped turf blocks Our activities include running highly popular notionally 600mm from base to apex, 300mm hands-on vernacular skills workshops across the base, and around 175-200mm relating to the built environment, such as thick. These were cut on the site at dry stone dyking using local Caithness Tyrfingsstaðir from turf having a root structure flagstone, and lime mortar pointing, the that penetrated the full depth of the wedge. A latter being run in conjunction with the key feature of klambra is that the long sides Scottish Lime Centre Trust. are not cut perpendicular to the top and The CHIST Iceland programme bottom face, rather at a 20-30 degree angle. In profile the blocks resemble a parallelogram. presented a well-focused opportunity to Internal passages within the Tyrfingssta ir farmhouse support training and development in my ð Turfs cut, our challenge was to restore a ‘spare time’ interests, especially as the aims at Tyrfingsstaðir, a farm complex in northern section of wall belonging to a turf built and objectives of the Fornverkaskólinn Iceland dating from the late 19th to early byre, part of which was still in use to shelter Heritage Craft School are remarkably 20th century. The restoration of the farm sheep which were lambing at the time of consistent with those of CHS. complex is being undertaken by the our visit. The wall would be some 1m thick The core theme of the seven day Skagafjorður Heritage Museum through and built on a previously constructed base programme was the restoration and training programmes and activities managed course 1m high comprising alternative preservation of traditional Icelandic turf by Fornverkaskólinn. During the remaining layers of turf and locally gathered stone. The buildings. We spent an intensive two days days we visited and explored several iconic stone creates a basic damp-proof barrier learning basic turf cutting and building turf buildings, plus a number of wood and and affords a measure of protection from restoration skills, putting them into practice stone structures. abrasion by animals.
Cutting torfur and strengur Cut klambra showing turf and subsoil layers Cut klambra showing turf and subsoil layers
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The completed byre walls at Tyrfingssta ir – the loose torfur on top will be rearranged later to bed the roof timber structure. Gable wall showing the turf and stone wall base, overlaid with ð klambra laid in classic herringbone pattern.
The main turf section of the wall was actually a very forgiving building material as in the year and will comprise a basic timber formed by laying a continuous strip of misshapen material and construction errors frame overlaid with several overlapping strengur with the square edge facing can usually be corrected by on-the-fly layers of torfur. The uppermost layers are outwards along the face of the wall, trimming and re-profiling. When viewed in laid with fresh live turf facing upwards such followed by a course of klambra laid on plan our building end walls were square on that the development of a robust root their side, thick end outermost, and closely the inside, but rounded on the outside. This structure is encouraged, binding the roof packed together. The process was repeated was achieved by trimming an angle on together. As timber has always been a on the other side of the wall, then the void either side of klambra as they were laid to precious commodity in Iceland due to a
in the centre of the wall filled with torfur ‘bend them’ round the profile of the curve. distinct lack of trees, roof structures were laid longitudinally with one laid transversely Unsalvageable reject turfs became fill typically constructed using whatever wood as a cross-tie every metre or so. The gaps material. Nothing is wasted! material was available, often recycled from were filled with loose turf material then In the finished wall the green ‘top’ turf previous buildings or salvaged driftwood. compacted by tramping until the core was layer of each klambra is clearly visible on A well built and maintained turf building level with the top edge of the klambra. A the outer face as a series of regular lines on might survive for up to around a hundred second layer of klambra was then laid and a 20-30 degree slant. By laying alternate years, however the friable nature of turf and the fill process repeated, finishing off with a layers of klambra on the other edge a the vulnerability to wear and tear (and the layer of strengur around each face and herring bone pattern can be readily odd fire!) inevitably mean that major further fill as before. created, but on our building the klambra reconstruction is inevitable at some point. After compaction the outer faces of the were laid in the same direction to match Often the simplest option is to start again wall were trimmed using the lau to the original construction. with a new building close to the site of the produce a smooth finished surface. Turf is The roof of the byre will be added later original, or added as an ‘extension’. At
These two vernacular 19th century timber buildings were rescued, transported to Glumbaer and restored for use as a shop, café and offices.
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The turf church at Vi im ri. Holar Cathedral and bell tower. ð ý
The kitchen and larder inside Glumbaer.
frame construction, with the outer walls and roof covered in turf. There has actually been a church on the site since the 12th century; the current building was purchased by the National Museum in 1936 and restored. Nyibaer farmhouse, a classic medium-sized turf house of northern Icelandic style. A different approach to the preservation and presentation of Icelandic vernacular Tyrfingsstaðir the outline of past abandoned use. The Glaumbaer complex includes two heritage was witnessed at the turf and buildings was readily evident in the rare wooden vernacular 19th century timber farmhouse at Elríksstaðir. This landscape of the farm. houses that were rescued and transported interpretive replica was constructed in 2000 Restoration of turf buildings presents to the site. These have been fully restored on the ruined site of the original building. typical conservation issues. Should non- for use as an (excellent) period café, and the The general shape of the replica was based traditional building materials be used in museum shop and offices. on the sub-structures revealed during their repair? The main dwelling at However, the marked increase in visitor archaeological excavation, and all the tools Tyrfingsstaðir was inhabited until the mid numbers to Glaumbaer in recent years is used in the construction were based on 1960s so what period should be presented having a negative impact on the friable fabric tools used in the Age of Settlement (874- - the original build, contemporaneous with of the buildings, increasing maintenance 930 AD). last use, or a combination? Taking part in a liability and forcing the retrospective Whilst vernacular building construction in live, ongoing conservation project certainly installation of protective measures. With Caithness is principally in stone, I observed brought these issues to life and provoked increased popularity of any venue of this strong parallels between the general design much discussion, ‘last use’ winning out for us nature comes a proportional increase in the and layout of the Icelandic turf buildings and at the end of the day. number of visitors who may not be entirely their Caithness stone counterparts, in Of the other turf buildings visited the sympathetic to the aims of heritage particular their progressive modification to Glaumbaer museum was without doubt the preservation. Achieving a sustainable balance meet changes in social and functional most impressive. This complex set of turf between the promotion of heritage tourism requirements and the optimisation of buildings interlinked by a central passageway and the conservation of the very facilities construction methods to take best has been preserved and restored by the one seeks to increase access to is a advantage of the available raw material. Skagafjordur Heritage Museum and is universal challenge, and my observations As observed by Historic Scotland in their operated as one of the principle heritage during the week were most thought excellent Technical Advice Note No. 30, tourism visitor attractions in the area. All the provoking. Scottish Turf Construction, turf has long rooms and outbuildings are accessible by On a much smaller scale the turf church been used as a traditional building material the public and are presented with an at Viðimýri is still in regular service as the in Scotland. From Roman times, amongst eclectic collection of artefacts and parish church. The medieval style building other uses, the material has formed the ephemera contemporary to the period of dates from 1834 and is primarily of wood basis for building defensive structures, the
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fine historic artefacts, such as the Gothic altarpiece, believed to be of German origin and given to the church in the early 16th century by Jon Arason, the last Catholic Bishop. The site at Holar also contains an example of a typical medium sized turf house of the northern Icelandic style, which are characterised by forward facing gables with the rear building rooms set at right angles. Built in 1860, the Nyibaer farmhouse has been in the care of the National Museum since 1956 and has been extensively restored. I was particularly struck by the stone church at Þingeyrar, which derives its name from the legislative assemblies held there during the Commonwealth period (930- 1264 AD). Whilst the original church dated from 1133 the present stone church was The 1877 stone church at ingeyrar. dedicated in 1877. As no suitable raw Þ material was available locally, the stone was dragged to the site by boat and sledge from the Vatnsnesfjall mountain range some 15km distant across the nearby lake Hóp. The stone would probably have been difficult to build with as the material did not appear to have cleaved in straight lines, making each stone unique in shape. The end result however was impressive, with a handsomely proportioned main structure and a bold square entrance tower. Inside, the simple curved ceiling was free from any structural members and was painted a deep rich blue, decorated with regular gold stars. The effect created the impression of a much larger space, redolent of an open air assembly on an autumnal star lit evening. In common with other stone and turf churches visited, the fixtures and furniture were simple, elegant and beautifully decorated. A delightful building. Overall, an incredible week, exploring
Internals of ingeyrar showing simple but elegant decoration and smooth, blue star studded roof. vernacular construction techniques from Þ the days of the Vikings to the modern era. walls of houses, creating field enclosures late eighteenth century when Iceland was The knowledge and practical experience and been used as an underlay roofing under Danish rule. We visited the cathedral gained will be used directly by me to enrich material associated with thatch. The range at Holar, which was built of red sandstone and support the development of training of turf building block shapes we used in the quarried from nearby Mt Hólabyrða and activities and workshops, and the reconstruction of the byre at Tyrfingsstaðir consecrated in 1763. Extensive restoration development of Castlehill Heritage Centre and observed at the various turf buildings was carried out in 1988-90 under the as a rewarding visitor interpretive visited were not dissimilar to those supervision of Icelandic architect Þorsteinn experience. associated with turf buildings in Scotland, Gunnarsson. The internals of the relatively and the generic building techniques would simple building are decorated with some All images © Neil Buchan appear to be remarkably similar. Perhaps this is not too surprising given that both countries share a common Norse heritage, to a greater or lesser degree. For information about Castletown Heritage Society visit By comparison, in Iceland the transition www.castletownheritage.co.uk from turf and salvaged or imported timber To read more reports from the CHIST programme and for information construction methods to the use of cut about ARCH Network visit www.archnetwork.eu stone only started to take place during the
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Sumburgh Head Lighthouse, Visitor Centre and Nature Reserve
Sumburgh Head Lighthouse buildings have recently been restored in a £5.4million project, which has transformed the already popular outdoor attraction into a multi-use visitor centre, focussing on the wealth of heritage and history surrounding the location. Here, Emma Miller from Shetland Amenity Trust, details its reinvention.
Sumburgh Head Lighthouse is located on the dramatic southern coastline of Shetland's mainland. Image courtesy of RCAHMS. DP00081348
he Sumburgh Light is the first Walter Scott, while employed as an Sumburgh Head has delayed the completion point of mainland Shetland seen engineer with the Commissioners of of these works.” by those arriving in Shetland by Northern Lighthouses, now known as the Despite this, work continued and the light boat. It is an iconic and welcome Northern Lighthouse Board (NLB). shone from the 56ft high tower for the first Tview for those seeing it for the first time, or Stevenson advised that Sumburgh would time on 15th January 1821. At this time, the returning home. The work that has been indeed be a suitable location for a light was a stationary single white light, done during the restoration project has Lighthouse and ordered building work to fuelled by oil. In 1868, paraffin replaced oil as included the restoration of the engines and commence in the winter of 1819. He the fuel for powering the light, although the foghorn, meaning that the horn will be able expected this to be completed by autumn light remained a stationary beam. to sound once more. Indeed, visitors can go of 1820. However, he did not account for In 1905 the Foghorn Tower was built, into the Engine Room and press the button the harsh weather conditions or having to along with the Engine Room to house the to sound the replica horn and even flash build a road to the site in order to transport engines needed to create the air pressure the light. It is believed that this now the building materials. to sound the horn, which was as little as only working foghorn in Scotland. The construction was not without 25psi! As this increased the need for incident as, on 5th October 1820, the vessel manpower, a new accommodation unit was Lighthouse Tower History Freemason which was bringing building also built that was, of course, given to the Sumburgh Head Lighthouse is the oldest materials and glass foundered on nearby Principal Keeper. Stevenson designed Lighthouse in Shetland. rocks at Grutness, losing her cargo and all of In 1914 the light mechanism was replaced Robert Stevenson surveyed the area on a her crew. Stevenson declared that he “much with the revolving mechanism which is still trip to Shetland in 1814 with his friend Sir regretted that the untoward situation at in place today. At this point, Sumburgh Head
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Sumburgh is a significant site for seabird colonies including puffins.
established its own 'character' of three white flashes every 30 seconds. This continued unchanged until the introduction of the electric light as late as 1976. Lightkeepers continued to maintain this operation until 1991 when the last Keeper
Sumburgh Head Lighthouse left Sumburgh Head in the care of Lighthouse Board engineers as the light became automated.
History and Archaeology Sumburgh has been a significant strategic defence point for as long as there have been people in the area. There are signs of an Iron Age Fort on the site, with excellent lines of site up the coast to other archaeological sites at Jarlshof and Scatness, and Mousa. This continued through into more recent war times with the addition of the radar huts during WWII. These helped Sumburgh play a very important part in deterring a potential Pearl Harbour scale event – a sizeable German air raid was detected in time to warn the British Home Fleet, recently returned to Scapa Flow in Orkney, and defensive manoeuvres were put into place. This story is told through
Sketch showing Lighthouse façade. Image courtesy of RCAHMS © Northern Lighthouse Board interpretive displays in the East Radar Hut, which transports the visitor back to the evening of April 8th 1940.
Restoring Sumburgh Head The project to develop Sumburgh Head into a visitor centre was first mooted at a meeting to discuss development opportunities in the South Mainland of Shetland. The 'Ness 2000 Conference' outcomes included an agreement to create a critical mass of tourist attractions in the South Mainland of the islands, focussing on the rich heritage of the area. With the support of the local community and statutory bodies, Shetland Amenity Trust subsequently acquired the site at Sumburgh Head, which was in private ownership, with a view to develop it as a visitor attraction. The Trust secured title to the property in 2003. Following acquisition, the Trust commissioned Groves-Raines Architects to Inside the East Radar Hut illustrating the site's use during WWII. produce a Feasibility Study and proposals
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for the conservation and adaptive re-use of where members of the public signed up to Sumburgh. These proposals were published learn the basics of dry stane dyking to begin in November 2004. The site was already their own projects at home. This was very well known for its impressive seabird well attended and led to a demand for colonies and fantastic ‘up close and personal’ further such classes. access to puffins, but there was a clear Many of the original sash windows were opportunity to develop other interpretive removed and restored before being threads to fully explain the significance of reinstated. During this process, small blocks Sumburgh Head across the centuries. of wood were discovered in the pockets, or By 2008 funding was in place to develop void spaces around the windows of the later the project a stage further, producing more buildings; the Engine Room and Principal definitive design proposals along with a Keeper’s cottage. These blocks of wood had detailed business plan that clearly on them handwritten messages left by the demonstrated the viability of the project. construction workers of the time. Messages Shetland Amenity Trust put in place a included comments about the boss being project team comprising members of Trust away, bad food from the cook, religious text, staff, along with representatives from their and even a complaint about a lazy colleague Dry stane dyking along the pathways leading to Sumburgh project partners and funders, including Head. who could not get out of bed, even with a Shetland Islands Council, RSPB Scotland, and glass of spirit to coax him! There was also a Scottish Natural Heritage. Shetland Amenity list of all the workers, with details of where Trust appointed their Architectural Heritage they had come from. When the windows Project Officer as Project Manager, and were replaced, new wooden blocks were Groves-Raines Architects were appointed as inserted into the voids – provided by Lead Consultants to develop the primary school pupils from the local school architectural designs. at Dunrossness. Full funding for the project, and The k series diesel Kelvin engines, which permission to proceed, was achieved by were installed in 1952 and used through May 2010 and the design teams were given until the Foghorn last sounded in 1987, the go-ahead to proceed with final detailed were restored during the construction designs; obtain statutory consents (such as The completed dry stane walls. period, by former NLB engineer, Brian planning permissions, listed building consent Johnson. These are now, once again, in full and building warrants) and to prepare the working order and can often be seen in detailed documentation required to engage operation as part of the visitor experience a main contractor to manage and deliver at Sumburgh Head. Care was taken to the on-site construction work. Following a ensure that the original tiled floor, and full tender process, Corramore decorative wall tiles were protected and Construction Ltd were awarded the where required, replaced with like-for-like. contract. Construction work started on site When Sumburgh Head was an operating in May 2012 and was completed on lighthouse, these would have been kept schedule and within budget in April 2014. shining by the meticulous Lighthouse Access to the nature reserve was The new chimney stacks, closely matched to the original Keepers. The Foghorn was also restored design and materials. maintained throughout the construction during this time. work. On 3rd June 2014, the restored Visitor Attraction Lighthouse Buildings were officially opened Prior to the restoration, Sumburgh Head to the public by HRH The Princess Royal in already received around 30,000 visitors a her capacity as Patron of the Northern year. One of the main reasons most people Lighthouse Board. had always visited was, of course, the puffins, and a plethora of other breeding seabirds. The Restoration Process The area is an RSPB nature reserve and The category A listed buildings were open all year round, but did not previously restored with great care and attention to offer indoor facilities or public toilets. Self- detail. Later extensions, such as a porch and catering accommodation at Sumburgh Head kitchen in the Assistant Keeper’s cottage Children from Dunrossness Primary School wrote their own had been available since the Amenity Trust messages on wooden blocks that where inserted into the were removed to put the building layouts window voids. acquired the property in 2003, and had back to the original Stevenson design. An proved very popular, although was in need internal staircase which had been sealed up stonemasons also replaced window sills and of repair and updating. and out of use for many years was built the new chimney stacks which were The newly restored buildings offer state reinstated, and all roofs were re-leaded. recreated from specially quarried stone to of the art visitor facilities with interactive New dry stane dykes were built by match as close as possible to the originals. and informative displays relating to the bird, Shetland Amenity Trust stonemasons on the During this process, stonemason, Robbie animal and plant life, history, archaeology, pathways up to the top of the Head. The Arthur from the Trust led two training days geology and heritage of Sumburgh Head.
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Marine Life Centre. The engine room with the original tiled floor.
The Engine Room provides graphical displays informing the visitor of the development in technology for the light and the foghorn. The mechanism of a former Light from Fair Isle can be seen to give perspective of its operation. Also in the Engine Room are the large air receiver tanks which are utilised to tell of the perilous nature of the seas around Sumburgh Head and emphasise the importance of Sumburgh
Head Lighthouse in saving the lives of The Foghorn before and after restoration. mariners. The smithy, with the original (restored) forge and bellows from 1822, is used to tell the story of the men who lived and worked at Sumburgh Head with their wives and children. Visitors can see for themselves what family life was like living here and flip through the ‘family album’ of Sumburgh lighthouse keepers. The Marine Life Centre will take the visitor on a journey beginning deep under the sea,
learning about ocean currents, food chains and The main lighthouse buildings before and after restoration. the importance of light as being fundamentally important to every organism as far down as plankton. Visitors can climb up through a 'kelp classroom, the views are inspirational. An ex-Minor Light from the west side of forest' – a staircase created by cutting into the The full Lead Consultancy Team bedrock of the cliff and exposing the stone – Shetland was restored and rebuilt in the car included Moreham and Brotchie Ltd and emerge at the upper levels of the ocean park as a welcoming beacon to visitors. Staff as Quantity Surveyors; Irons Foulner to meet killer and minke whales, as well as the are on hand here during the summer season as M&E Engineers; D Narro and amazing array of birdlife that call Sumburgh to offer information and advice. Partners as Civil Engineers; and D Adamson and Partners as CDM Head home. The natural heritage of the area is The newly restored Lighthouse Buildings are open to the public from 10am to 4pm Coordinator. In parallel with something quite special and the Marine Life progressing the architectural works, daily between May and August. A new website Centre gives a hands-on opportunity to learn an exercise led by John Veverka more about the habits of the creatures and with information about Sumburgh Head Design, engaged with Trust staff, their environment. including downloadable activities can be seen project partners and members of the The only new build element of the at www.sumburghhead.com and anyone who community to establish the project was the Education Room. This would like to stay in the newly refurbished interpretive themes and stories to be told at Sumburgh Head. The building houses the public access toilet self-catering accommodation, which sleeps up to 5, can check availability and book online at consortium of Bogacki Design and facilities and provides a unique and stunning Leach Colour Ltd were then classroom space which can be used for a www.shetlandlighthouse.com appointed as design and build range of purposes and hired by businesses, contractors for the interpretive works. All images © Shetland Amenity Trust except where community groups or individuals. As a stated otherwise.
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Hutting in Scotland
Gail Halvorsen runs her own architectural practice, and is involved in Reforesting Scotland’s Thousand Huts campaign. Here she reflects on her experiences of growing up ‘hutting’ in Norway and looks at future of the movement here in Scotland.
rom my childhood holidays in Norway I have fond memories of “hytter”, and wonder why Scotland does not have a similar culture? FOne week would be spent in a “hytte” in the mountains and one in a “hytte” by the sea. Sometimes we stayed on my godfather’s island in Hardanger fjord where we ate what we caught in the sea or, if there was a celebration to be had, would kill one of the sheep to roast over a large bonfire. It was a back-to-nature existence with little distraction except what the land had to offer. The worst were the night time trips to the outside loo which was of the double seater, ‘sing if you want to be left alone’ variety while trying to avoid the hanging catfish and other cold, wet Terøen, Hardangerfjord. This is my godfather’s island (about 20 acres) – it is a 20 minute boat ride from the nearest shop and is totally off-grid. The two smaller hytte in the centre are quite new and there are now five hytte in total on the island. monsters that thwacked your face in the Image © Gail Halvorsen dark. There are over 400,000 huts in Norway, or 1 to every 10 people and about 660 in Scotland, or 1 to every 8,000 people, according to the 1999 Scottish Executive paper, 'Huts' and 'Hutting' in Scotland. So what, if anything, can Scotland learn form the Norwegian experience where hutting is integral to the culture? Do we even know what a ‘hut’ is? We all think we know what a bothy, shieling, or for that matter a chalet is but now there is an official definition to help. Last month the Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) supported, for the first time, the construction of huts in rural settings for recreational accommodation, under Section 79: Promoting Rural Development. According to the SPP definition, a hut is: “A simple building used intermittently as recreational accommodation (ie. not a principal residence); having an internal floor area of no more than 30 metre square; A typical Norwegian hut located in the Hunnedalen valley. It is just over an hour's drive from the city of Stavanger, so is popular for constructed from low impact materials; weekend trips, especially in winter when cross country skiing is possible. There is electricity but no running water which is collected generally not connected to mains water, from springs or melted snow in the colder months. electricity or sewerage; and built in such a way that it is removable with little or no trace at and working with animals; and a chalet tends History the end of its life. Huts may be built singly or in to be a kit house associated with mobile There is scant remaining evidence of huts in groups.” home parks. There are inevitably grey areas Scotland. It is not clear when hutting first A bothy is a basic shelter traditionally between all these types. Everyone wants to started but, according to the Scottish built to temporarily house estate workers in call their rural idyll a bothy nowadays. It is, Executive’s paper, ‘Huts’ and ‘Hutters’ in remote rural locations, and now used by however, much more likely to be a hut, but Scotland, “during and after the two World mountaineers and hillwalkers as refuges; a no-one wants to call their retreat what, let’s Wars, some Scottish landowners made land shieling is a seasonal dwelling for those living face it, sounds like a garden shed! available on lease on which ex-servicemen
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and families from deprived inner city areas were allowed to erect dwellings at their own cost, primarily to enjoy the benefits of the countryside and fresh air for holidays and at weekends.” The earliest of these seems to have been in 1919. In the inter-war years hutting became popular due, in part, to better transport links to the countryside, and increased awareness of health issues. They were mostly in clusters of between 3 and 50 huts, although a few numbered over 100. The numbers declined after WWII due to a combination of factors - loss of interest, changing use of land and occasional ‘clearances’ by landowners. There has been little change since 1950s largely due to the lack of provision in Scottish planning. The initial supposition that huts and hutting emerged as way of providing a means of weekend and holiday escape into the country for poorer people from overcrowded urban conditions may have Aerial photograph of Carbeth taken in 1939. Image © Carbeth Hutters Community Company Archive been correct. Certainly nowadays hutting involves a mode of living that is simpler, directors, Ninian Stuart, Director of Falkland closer to nature and uses less energy, space Centre for Stewardship. Advisors include and materials than conventional urban Andy Wightman, the land reform activist, lifestyles. While the catchment areas remain and broadcaster and journalist, Lesley broadly similar today, mostly within easy Riddoch. The group aims to nurture and reach of the larger conurbations, hutters encourage the growth of a Scottish hutting are, from much more diverse backgrounds. culture similar to that in Scandinavia, The original landowners of hutting sites enabling people to build low-impact retreats were a mix of small farmers, people running away from the stresses of modern day living. rural businesses, and a few owners of larger Where it differs from the Scandinavian estates. Overall there has been a strong model is it wants to foster a long-term A Carbeth 'hut' photographed in 1959 and made from a small degree of continuity of ownership. sports changing pavilion that was taken down and rebuilt relationship between private individuals and Scotland’s earliest and largest hutting on-site. Image © Alan Graham a particular place by private ownership, community is in Carbeth, Stirlingshire, which rather than one-off hut usage, although this came to widespread attention in 1999 as a distinction does not apply to the new result of a dispute between the hutters and planning policy. The group, and the their landlord. There had been virtually no associated campaign, was the major force, political or policy focus on hutting aside backed by Friends of the Earth Scotland, from a brief period in the early years of the behind the change in SPP guidelines. first session of the Scottish Parliament when The next goal of the Thousand Huts evictions at Carbeth forced the Scottish Campaign is for the adoption of the Parliament to take note of the inadequate guidance into local authority development legal arrangements surrounding tenure for plans and the creation of a clear set of Building Standards designed for simple hutters. Unfortunately this led to no change Carbeth's 'Thistle Dae' hut © www.thousandhuts.org in legislation, although the Carbeth structures such as huts. These would be less community were able to buy their land in onerous than those applying to most 2013. There are many other smaller sites building types. around Scotland that are under threat of eviction. Architecture There are several other surviving hutting There are a wide range of styles and sizes of communities that have been converted to huts in Scotland, but they are typically small different uses. The huts at Seton Sands are and of a vernacular style. Most huts have now a caravan site and Soonhope is a mix more than one room. They are all of huts and holiday ‘chalets’. temporary structures sitting lightly on the In 2011 members of Reforesting Scotland ground, rather than digging into it, on established a campaign group, 'A Thousand supports such as old railway sleepers. They Huts', to champion and revive hutting as a are largely built by amateurs at low cost, of way of life, spearheaded by one of its Inshriach Bothy, The Bothy Project © Johnny Barrington whatever materials are readily available such
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Recycled materials built in to a hut at Carbeth © Abigail Daly The Pine Trees Hut during construction © Falkland Centre for Stewardship
as timber, corrugated metal or, in the early choice of materials is a contentious issue. If over 240,000 members. With a model like days, old bus-bodies and converted railway recycled materials are to be encouraged this there is less need to own your own hut. carriages, such as those at Carbeth. then the choice is almost limitless, including The Thousand Huts Campaign must be More recently, prefabricated panels have modern, processed materials. There are applauded for its success so far. For the first been used or even complete prefabricated precedents of ultra-modern huts using time in nearly a century the new policy will huts. Roofing material is mostly tarred or shiny metal cladding, particularly on the allow both private individuals and families mineral felt, over wooden boarding. Most continent, but is it too out of keeping in to build their own huts and landowners to huts have some form of toilet - compost or the Scottish landscape? build huts to rent. As for initiatives on the chemical. These may be in the main hut or The space occupied by hut sites is also ground, Reforesting Scotland is working to in an out-hut. very variable. Some are compact and establish a Federation of Scottish Hutters. The Bothy Project is one of the few tucked away, others much more spread out. There is every reason to believe such a developers designing huts in a Often the huts themselves occupy movement will have a revival now. There is contemporary style. It develops small indeterminate patches of land with no clear a trend towards more domestic holidays, a studio spaces for artist residencies. They boundaries which is similar to the growing demand for ‘wilder’ and adventure have recently completed two huts (or Scandinavian model. Fencing in a garden is holidays and concerns about mental bothies as their owners prefer to call not encouraged except around areas for wellbeing, physical health and sustainability. them) that are prototypes for more to be growing fruit and vegetables. However people are busier than ever and built across rural Scotland. They are I fear the 30m2 size restriction in the do not necessarily want the responsibilities prefabricated off-site by a team of new policy may limit larger families and of owning a hut. Organisations such as volunteer builders, transported by truck groups and I hope that in the future there Scottish Waterways Trust have already and tractor to their rural sites, where they will be a broadening of the policy to expressed an interest in building huts to are reassembled. The Inshriach Bothy was include larger huts, with possible rent. The Forestry Commission's first built in 2011 in the Cairngorms National restrictions on grouping together. The proposed pilot scheme of ten huts on a Park followed by Sweeney's Bothy on the Norwegians have a tradition of larger huts, site in Saline, Fife, is currently undergoing a Isle of Eigg. They are constructed of owned by bodies as varied as The Royal community consultation. Farmers and corrugated metal, wood cladding and other Norwegian Air Force and, more recently, landowners are looking for ways to reclaimed materials, including the windows. Statoil. If you do not own your own hut diversify and welcoming hutting Their sustainable features include sheep’s then you might have the use of one owned communities could be another source of wool insulation, wood-burning stove, by your employer. Alternatively the revenue for them. Let’s hope that soon rainwater harvesting system, outdoor Norwegian Trekking Association (DNT) more Scots will be taking to the hills in a suspended bag shower heated by stove, owns 460 huts throughout Norway and is way that benefits all without detriment to composting toilet and solar panel power. an ideal model of shared hutting.This is a biodiversity or intrusion into unspoilt areas Even amongst campaign groups the hugely popular organisation in Norway with of wilderness.
For more information about the Carbeth Hutters Community visit www.carbethhutters.co.uk For information about Reforesting Scotland's A Thousand Huts Campaign visit www.thousandhuts.org
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INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES Considering conservation in China
As well as being Chairman of the Strathclyde AHSS Group, Jeremy Watson has travelled extensively, while pursuing a keen interest in the conservation approaches of other countries. His MSc dissertation touched on the subject, and here, in the first of a series of articles on the subject by a range of authors, he examines Chinese attitudes to their built heritage.
Temple complex, Xingmengxiang, Tonghai © Sarah Watson
he evolution of conservation in that is one of the most influential in world Charters were referred to. Agnew notes in Scotland, how we perceive it and affairs: China. the 2004 publication, Principles for the apply its principles, is something China has a long and extremely rich Conservation of Heritage Sites in China, Twe are proud of. Yet we still find cultural heritage. Modern concepts and that “Since 1978, when China adopted an resolving diverse conservation approaches practice for the conservation of its heritage open-door policy, economic development challenging in a changing social-political and began in the 1930s, although it had become has been extremely rapid. Massive economic climate. It can be very interesting increasingly clear by the 1990s that there construction has occurred, industrial to compare our situation to that of other was a need for guidelines for heritage capacity has burgeoned, and population countries. The differences with England, conservation practice and management. mobility, along with the desire for access to Wales and Ireland are relatively subtle, but Recourse to foreign guidance was sought historic and natural sites, has occurred on a a look beyond can highlight some very and bodies such as the International scale previously inconceivable. The impact contrasting situations. It is within this Council on Monuments and Sites of these changes, over little more than context that I decided to look at a country (ICOMOS) as well as the Venice and Burra twenty years, on the face of China has been
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profound. The great and ancient wealth of buildings in Hong Kong are met with China’s archaeological and historic legacy incredulity and sometimes anger, much as in has come under new pressures, and cultural the UK, by owners denied the right by the heritage authorities at national, provincial, authorities which impose conditions on and local levels are hard pressed to meet them. But conservation is also becoming these challenges effectively”. It may be a more appreciated for its cultural and vast and ancient land, but in many ways it is commercial value. Heritage trails have still discovering conservation. opened up historic buildings to visitors and China has initiated a number of high exposed communities to conservation profile projects and ICOMOS has played an concepts. important role. In 2005, the Xi’an Parts of China have embraced (and Declaration on the Conservation of the outdone) the western mode of Setting of Heritage Structures, Sites and commercialism. Others still reflect the Areas, acknowledged the relevance of blandness of mass housing for the international expertise and of the relevance burgeoning population. In the process of the established Charters. The definition of conservation considerations rarely come to The Big Buddha at Po Lin Monastery, Hong Kong setting of a heritage structure, site or area is © Jeremy Watson light. But cultural respect for the traditional notable “as the immediate and extended temple persists. Other forms of traditional environment that is part of, or contributes heritage of Chinese and British colonial buildings are slowly gaining new to, its significance and distinctive character. buildings. Only recently has this begun to be appreciation. In some cities, traditional tea Beyond the physical and visual aspects, the synthesised into a conservation and tourism houses, banned under Mao, are making a setting includes interaction with the natural asset. The Po Lin Monastery and 34m high comeback. In rural areas traditional houses environment; past or present social or Tian Tan Buddha statue, ‘The Big Buddha’, still exist. Few of these could be considered spiritual practices, customs, traditional completed recently after 12 years of of historical or architectural interest in knowledge, use or activities and other forms construction was based on traditional form themselves, but they perpetuate culturally of intangible cultural heritage aspects that and has become the country's primary historical practices and with them building created and form the space as well as the tourism attraction. This is a concept of and design skills. current and dynamic cultural, social and ‘conservation’ not contemplated in the Beijing and Shanghai are growing at an economic context”. Values here reflect West. It shares parallels with the astonishing rate. In his article, Inner City considerations that no longer feature very reconstructed townscapes of Europe, but it Revitalization in Beijing, Shrawan Kumar much in western conservation or planning, should not be confused with the recreated Acharya expresses concern for the historic yet they are willing to draw on western historic villages used to interpret history. The inner city area of Beijing, comprising “87 expertise. Buddha is first and foremost built from square kilometres of traditional lanes called The Chartered Institute of Building religious confidence and to serve its hutongs and siheyujan”. Redevelopment of (CIOB) has established a conservation followers. It is designed to cope with vast the old areas began way back in the 1950s centre near Shanghai through UNESCO's crowds and all are welcome no matter what and led to a neglect of conservation. World Heritage Institute of Training and their diverse background. It produces, Frequently we encounter the conflicting Research. Some traditional skills are well instead of recreates, built heritage – an objectives of redevelopment and established and can be extremely expansion of it through tradition. conservation. Acharya points to the Draft impressive, sometimes incorporating The planning restrictions of listed on Reconstructing and Expanding Beijing modern technology. The tradition of Municipality report, which as recently as rebuilding temples, for instance, or building 2003, warned that “the foremost danger is The extraordinary, and relatively new, stone carvings at the new ones to traditional designs, keeps some Po Lin Monastery, Hong Kong © Jeremy Watson an extreme respect for old architecture, skills alive, but this appears largely limited to such that it constricts our perspective of this building type. This is still not sufficient for development”. Does this sound rather like the objectives of the conservation Glasgow's Bruce Report? movement. A number of projects involving In Article 22 of the constitution of the international training exist across the People's Republic of China (1982) it clearly country to re-inculcate in them the skills, states “it is the nation's policy to protect its respect and understanding. historical monuments, its valuable artefacts, The style of the country's religious built and all other objects connected with its heritage remains a strong influence in new- cultural and historical heritage”. Acharya build projects too, unlike in the West where notes that 24 cities were designated as traditional, classical or even the great being of “historical and cultural renown”. In heritage of Renaissance ecclesiastic recent years legislation has begun to architecture have been completely increasingly cover conservation issues, but truncated from the stylistic continuum of the resilience of this against expansionist the theology it serves. economic pressures remains in doubt. Foreign tourism is limited in mainland Anthony M Tung argues in 'Erasing Old China although this situation is changing. Beijing, A Conservation Tragedy', that the Hong Kong, by contrast, with its long Beijing Olympics even exacerbated the standing internationalism, has a diverse built situation.
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wiping whole segments of history and heritage from memory. Yet there is renewed interest in conservation inspired by such iconic features such as the Great Wall (with new studies on stabilising the less well known sections), the Forbidden City (with major restoration work ongoing) and the Terracotta Warriors. ICOMOS has established an International Conservation Centre based in Shaanxi Province. Its ambitions go far. One of its major projects is recording and protecting the historic Silk Roads, linking China and a number of other countries. So what does all this tell us about the broader situation of conservation further afield and can we use this as a gauge of where conservation has reached in Scotland? In spite of its vast size and extensive cultural history, China provides an image of conservation practices and philosophies catching up with that of Carved woodwork of Kun Ting Study Hall c.1870 on the Ping Shan Heritage Trail in Yuen Long, Hong Kong Europe with all the bumps along the way. © Jeremy Watson Some, in retrospect, appear astonishingly familiar. By looking outward and then Tung gives a vivid description based on reflecting back on our situation, we see the recounts of early visitors of a vast and Scotland as right up in the forefront of very impressive old Beijing on a par with conservation. Yet we have no reason to be the classical cities of Europe. Restructuring complacent. We are losing aspects of our and modernisation in the mid 20th century built heritage at an alarming rate and came with almost autonomous competing compromising much of value in a manner ministries eradicating vast areas for services that frequently appears to mock otherwise and highways. “During the Cultural sound policy. China teaches us that Revolution (1966-1969) and the reign of conservation ranges from restoration of the Gang of Four, which ended in 1976, ancient remains to perpetuating not just arbitrary rules – for example, that no traditional technical skills, but also cultural existing building could be replaced by new traditions – in a sense rebuilding its construction – led to the siting of industrial heritage. While this may be rather restricted plants wherever open lots occurred, even in to religious buildings, it is this latter aspect the middle of residential districts. Protection that we in Scotland do not have any A private courtyard house, Xingmengxiang, Tonghai of historic assets was considered parallels with. In fact there is almost a fear © Sarah Watson. ideologically incorrect. Temples in particular of reconstruction; of 'pastiche'. Other were looted, and many of China’s movable countries, such as Germany, have recreated artworks and artefacts were destroyed.” their heritage. The philosophical questions What remains may be under constant remain. Hopefully, with consideration of threat, but Tung gives a note not so much of practices in other countries, we will be able optimism, but of the opportunity, “...though to reflect on our own situation with greater dilapidated, overused, and haphazardly clarity and avoid being stuck within altered – many of these structures restricted trends in attitudes. nonetheless retained sufficient original fabric that they might be accurately Further reading reconstructed. In those few instances where • Agnew, N. and Demas, M. (Editors), 2001, Principles for the Conservation of Heritage Sites in China, this has occurred, the results are splendid. International Centre for the Study of the Thus at the moment that modern Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property conservation protections were established • International Council on Monuments and Sites in Beijing, it remained possible to reclaim (ICOMOS), 2005, Xi'an Declaration On The Conservation Of The Setting Of Heritage Structures, substantial parts of the old city”. That Sites And Areas opportunity, in the larger cities, is fading • Townsend, S., 2010, CIOB helps protect China's away. delicate heritage, bit.ly/XMAFNH, The Chartered China under Mao followed by the Institute of Building • Tung, A. M., 2003, Erasing Old Beijing, A Conservation Courtyard of a restored house on the Ping Shan Heritage Trail urgency of reform from 1976 into a Tragedy, International Centre for the Study of the in Yuen Long, Hong Kong © Jeremy Watson. modern industrial state, both intentionally Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
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INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVES Australia: the use of carrots over sticks
Marc Beattie is originally from Scotland having worked with Strathclyde Building Preservation Trust and sitting on the AHSS Lothian and Borders cases panel. Since 2012 he has been living in Perth Western Australia working for TPG town planning, urban design and heritage as a senior heritage planner.
“Why?” – A simple question I was asked a number of times following my arrival in Western Australia when on the hunt for work in the heritage planning sector. Those who asked were generally interviewing me for a job and, quite fairly, wanted to understand why someone would move from Scotland to work in a country with such comparatively recent built heritage. Apart from the obvious benefits of site visits in the sun, my go-to response was always that heritage is all relative. For a State that was colonised in 1829 the buildings are of a younger vintage but no less important in relative terms than the tower house ruins and medieval borough architecture I was used to. This response was of course very much in line with philosophical principles outlined in the Burra Charter and given that the Burra Charter is the guiding document of Australian heritage legislation it went down quite well. But my primary reason was to gain some understanding of how heritage is managed working in a different climate – economically and meteorologically. I have since been working with one of Perth’s leading planning, urban design and heritage consultancies. Working as a heritage consultant in Western Australia is not vastly different to the role of heritage consultant or conservation professional in the UK. The legislation is similar; there exists a three tier system of listing (National, State and local) in addition to heritage protection areas, World Heritage Sites, and protected landscapes etc. Protection is primarily the responsibility of the local authority in their Local Planning Scheme in the first instance and then can be referred to the State Heritage Council or Australian Heritage Council as required. It should be noted that pre-colonial, Aboriginal heritage is dealt with by an entirely separate act and stands as a very separate entity. As an interesting aside, the Aboriginal Heritage Act (1972) Treasury building Perth, and new tower © Mirvac and Building Studio.
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The need for incentives was recognised even before the passing of the 1990 Heritage Act, during the economic boom of the 1980’s. High demand for commercial space in the Perth commercial business district gave rise to a system of providing development based incentives for the conservation of heritage listed buildings. Essentially this system encourages commercial developers to conserve and protect heritage buildings and as recompense they can develop that site with up to 20% more floor space than they otherwise could on a non heritage listed site (as determined by the City Planning Scheme). This incentive both ensures that the building is conserved and the developer achieves a higher level of net letable floor area. In a city centre constantly under development pressure from the various mineral booms from the 1890s until the present day, the context of many of the 19th and early 20th century buildings has already changed dramatically making this policy workable where in more intact historic city centres it may not be. The Palace Hotel with the R&I tower rising behind. Image courtesy of TPG town planning, urban design and heritage. Building towers within the curtilage of a heritage listed site is not always desirable however, and to build on constrained lots pre-dates the Heritage of Western perception that retaining a building is with quite modest heritage structures Australia Act (1990) by 18 years. unfeasible and heritage listing is a road would prove unworkable in certain In addition to the statutory similarities block to development opportunities. Again circumstances. To overcome this problem, it there are also the familiar problems of this view is not unique to Western Australia was suggested that where heritage viability, profitability and historic building but with land values increasing year on year buildings were being conserved but could conservation. It is from this experience I in the Perth metropolitan area and a shift not be further developed vertically or would like to offer some perspectives. in planning guidelines to encourage higher otherwise, this plot ratio bonus could be Perth is a city that rides in the wake of a density of residential zoning it is sold on to another site where it is more recent mineral boom but for someone understandable people wish to avoid befitting. This process is known as transfer arriving from the UK in 2012 it seemed like curtailed development ‘rights’ on their of plot ratio. the boom was very much still on. Land property. Consequently all owners of Transfer of plot ratio was first used in values are increasing, albeit slightly less potential heritage listed buildings are Perth during the construction of the R&I exponentially then they were in 2007. Home consulted prior to their building being Bank (now Bank West) tower, the inaugural owners and corporations alike are added to a heritage list. With a generally commercial tower to pierce the Perth understandably still seeking to maximise cautious attitude towards heritage there is skyline in 1989. The tower utilised both plot their built assets. This is often where heritage a chance that following consultation a ratio bonus and transfer of plot ratio giving listed places can come into conflict with building will not become statutorily it considerably more height than would investment and big business, and where the protected as a direct result of owner have been normally allowed at the time, role of the heritage consultant comes into opposition. It is important therefore to but in doing so the developers directly its own. offer incentives to owners that provide conserved one heritage building, namely In working with large commercial opportunity beyond just stewarding a piece the Palace Hotel, which sits at the base of developers (and individual home owners of built heritage for future generations. the tower and indirectly a former bank for that matter) the question “why?” has That balance of protecting the building several city blocks away. arisen quite regularly, most often posed by recognised cultural value of place while The Conservation of the Palace Hotel an individual or organisation that has a maximising the commercial return on was quite ground-breaking in Australian heritage asset on a valuable piece of real investment is often a careful one especially terms when it was completed in 1989. estate: “Why should I protect this when the costs of conservation and Artisan plasterers were brought over from building?”. This question is not exclusive to adaptation are thought to be prohibitive West Germany to reconstruct the highly Western Australia and one I’m sure many and unviable. This is where incentivisation decorative plaster Dining Room and expert Scottish colleagues have been faced with. helps keep the project palatable to the painters matched the original 1895 paint What is different here is the increasing owner while achieving the best heritage scheme based on pain staking paint scrape value of land combined with the occasional outcome. analysis.
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The Dining Room of the Palace Hotel which was expertly reconstructed. Image courtesy of TPG town planning, urban design and heritage.
In a more recent example the multi investment required without the heritage suited to the scale of building and avoid award winning Brookfield Place component or the opportunity to build trying to squeeze a ’bull into ballet shoes’. development completed in 2012 the tower. This symbiotic process of highly I have had a number of interesting conserved five long vacant and largely commercial investment and conservation is revelations since working in Australia. The derelict State listed heritage buildings to an excellent example of the incentives development based incentives system is construct a new city precinct that placed process brining a new lease of life into one I originally grappled with the heritage assets at the centre of retail, unused heritage building and revitalising a philosophically in my slightly more food and beverage activity while using the part of the city that was in need of conservative Scottish way of thinking about plot ratio bonus to construct the new BHP investment. urban planning and protecting historic Tower for commercial tenancies. In addition to the development based townscapes. In a city with such a vast level The most exciting project in the city incentives discussed above there is more of change, the context of the most historic right now, and possibly the most exciting traditional incentivisation of heritage in the building stock is much changed and the heritage and adaptive reuse project in form of local and State grants to private City of Perth has been quite shrewd in Australia, is the conversion of the Old owners. There are also grants awarded leveraging investment in the historic Treasury building into a boutique hotel and from the State Lottery (Lottery West) to architecture that remains. The more entertainment complex. local government and not-for-profit regional areas of the state do not benefit The treasury project is reinstating the organisations. Grants are often used in from the same level of private investment original Welsh slate roof imported conjunction with development incentives as Perth but Western Australia is an especially for this job, in addition to and the projects listed above have used economically liberal state and one which is restoring the external façade to its original State Heritage grants in some form to used to embracing the mineral booms appearance and in the process using achieve the conservation outcome. when they come along. This has in some hydraulic lime imported from Masons To allow a transfer of plot ratio or to cases been to the detriment of the historic Mortar of Edinburgh. The internal spaces ensure that conservation works are environment but considering that the will be returned to their original grandeur guaranteed there is often a condition that Heritage Act was only first passed in 1990 while the sensitive incorporation of bars, a legal agreement to be entered into there has been real progress in people’s bistros and a boutique hotel is carried out. between the State and the developer. This attitudes to conservation and adaptive re- This project was a partnership between has a number of standard requirements for use. This improvement in public opinion two developers; one to carry out the the building’s long term maintenance and could partly be due to trends in reusing conservation and adaptive re-use project protection but can also allow for the historic buildings within urban design but I and one to build the new 32 storey tower owner to apply for rates (council tax) think it’s more likely that it is the system of at the rear of the site. These two buildings reduction. These rates reductions can incentivisation that has worked and people could not have achieved the level of certainly help in attracting tenants more will always value carrots over sticks.
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Scotland’s Third National Planning Framework & Scottish Planning Policy
Planning Aid Scotland (PAS) is a national charity which helps people in Scotland to understand and engage with the places they live in through advice, training and engagement events. Here, David Wood, PAS's Planning and Policy Manager, examines the new planning framework and policies.
ottish planning law, policy, into account by decision makers. procedure and guidance are all On 23 June 2014, a veritable red-letter- constantly evolving. To give just one day for those who had been involved in the example, in June 2014 a Scottish consultation and engagement process over SGovernment Directive was issued which almost a two year period, Scotland’s Third will impact upon some aspects of planning National Planning Framework (NPF3) was decision making regarding World Heritage the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) released alongside a revised Scottish Sites and historic battlefields. Included Act 1997, as modified by the Planning etc. Planning Policy (SPP) document. Notably, under the new procedures is the (Scotland) Act 2006 – set the legal the Scottish Government had consulted requirement for Historic Scotland to be framework for how the planning system in upon and published NPF3 and SPP consulted regarding “non-householder Scotland is to operate. It legislated for the contemporaneously to facilitate better permitted development” affecting World Scottish Government’s agenda of engagement and co-ordination between Heritage Sites. A further new requirement modernising the Scottish planning system the two. is that planning authorities must notify with the inter-connected aims of making it So what will the uninitiated reader Scottish Ministers when they do not intend more efficient and more inclusive. encounter within National Planning to follow advice issued by Historic Scotland A significant aspect of the 2006 Act was Framework 3 and Scottish Planning Policy? regarding non-householder permitted its setting in statute that any planning NPF3 sets the context and a strategy for development in both World Heritage Sites authority, for example local authority, the overall spatial development of Scotland and historic battlefields – meaning that National Park or Strategic Development over the next 20-30 years. Internally the greater scrutiny of the proposals is likely to Planning Authority, should exercise its document is divided into four themed take place. planning function with the aim of sections: a successful sustainable place; a Many people first encounter “planning” as contributing to sustainable development. A low carbon place; a natural, resilient place, a concept when they learn of a proposal further significant requirement of the Act and a connected place – offering a flavour which will impact upon their home or local was that Scottish Ministers should prepare of the themes identified as of most area (and PAS frequently advises concerned a spatial plan for the whole of Scotland. importance over the next 20-30 years. members of the public via its planning Called the National Planning Framework Under the first theme above, NPF3 helpline that built into the Scottish planning (NPF), this plan should contain a strategy examines the particular role it envisages for system is the opportunity for members of for Scotland’s spatial development and a each of Scotland’s cities in driving forward the public or organisations to support, statement of what Scottish Ministers the Scottish Government’s economic comment on or object to any planning consider to be priorities for that strategy. Dundee, for example, is described application). However, there is also an development. In addition, a decision should as a city which is already established as a overall legal and policy framework which be taken every five years as to whether to centre for creative industries (particularly underpins the Scottish planning system, of revise the document. video-gaming), life sciences and high-tech which there is almost certainly even less Directly below the NPF in terms of a manufacturing, but is envisaged as becoming public awareness of the opportunities hierarchy of documents which underpin the an “internationally recognised city” with a which exist for involvement. planning system sits Scottish Planning Policy focus on “place marketing” and “tourism In fact, there is a whole network of (SPP) – a non-statutory statement of the promotion”. Five smaller and six “coastal interested parties (ranging from individuals Scottish Government’s policy on a range of hub” towns are also included as examples to large organisations) who respond to planning matters, and which aims to inform of the diversity of place in Scotland and to Scottish Government planning consultations planning at local authority level and highlight their potential for change. The with the aim of trying to influence policy in influence the production of Strategic and section, A Connected Place, covers matters line with their individual views, or with the Local Development Plans. Importantly, it is ranging from the “dualling” of the A9 to ethos of their organisation. As any policy the policies and designations in these plans construction of new broadband cabling officer would advise, if the content of which in the first instance inform decisions focusing on the Highlands and Islands area. planning documents can be influenced on planning applications (and applications A further significant aspect of the positively at consultation stage, better for listed building consent also), although in National Planning Framework is its ability, if planning practice may then follow. Scotland’s discretionary planning system, Scottish Ministers feel it appropriate to do At statutory level, the “planning acts” – other relevant factors can also be taken so, to designate “national developments”.
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These large-scale projects, considered to be priorities for Scotland’s The Principal Policies are underpinned by the Core Values of the future development, would gain acceptance in principle by being planning system, as set out in SPP, including focusing on outcomes, designated as such. balancing competing interests and being inclusive and engaging all National developments in NPF3 range from the need for a high interests as early as possible. PAS’s comments on SPP focused around voltage electricity transmission network (throughout Scotland) and a the issue of engagement, making the overall point that SPP could aim National Long Distance Cycling and Walking Network to more site to be more aspirational about the type and level of engagement specific developments, such as the re-development of Dundee which could be achieved. Waterfront and the former Ravenscraig steelworks. An example of a SPP also contains a series of subject specific policy sections and national development from NPF2 currently underway is the AHSS members may find the section entitled Valuing the Historic replacement Forth crossing. Environment of interest, and may wish to comment on any future It should be noted that the early part of the NPF3 consultation consultation processes. It is not within the scope of this article to process offered up the opportunity for anyone to submit a proposal critique this policy section, however it clearly identifies the historic for a national development, and several hundred were submitted. In environment as both “a key cultural and economic asset” and indeed the later stages, all aspects of the draft content including a “short list” “a source of inspiration”. As is always the case – and particularly given of proposed national developments were consulted upon, and it is the discretionary nature of planning decision making in Scotland – perhaps particularly important that community councils and other there is a need for high quality and confident decision making to take community groups engage at this stage. place at local level. While NPF3 recognises the importance and contribution of Scotland’s cultural heritage, it does not deal with the specifics of Scotland’s historic built environment – that being seen primarily as a matter for Scottish Planning Policy. To find out more about the work of PAS visit Unlike the National Planning Framework, Scottish Planning Policy is www.planningaidscotland.org.uk not a statutory document and can be updated at any time. SPP is the Scottish Government’s statement of how the planning system should PAS provides a free and impartial Planning Helpline operate and for the development and use of land. Planning to members of the public and community groups on authorities are expected to interpret the content of SPP at local level 0845 603 7602. in how they deliver their planning function – thus aiming to promote consistency across Scotland. However, it should be noted that the discretionary nature of planning decision making which defines the Scottish planning system means that matters other than policy can be taken into account. SPP sets out two Principal Policies: Sustainability and Placemaking. The latter very much a current buzz word in Scottish planning circles as the discipline seeks to re-claim its original remit, as the Royal Town Planning Institute of Scotland put it, of “creating great places for people”. The consultation draft of SPP contained a larger range of Core Policies, differentiating between Sustainable Development (a legally defined concept) and Sustainable Economic Growth (the aim of the current Scottish Government). This became a matter of considerable debate during the consultation period, leading to the final outcome of a single core policy as described above. In line with NPF3’s focus on towns, the revised SPP contains a dedicated section on Promoting Town Centres. This sets out a “town centres first” policy which is aimed at supporting town centres (and in rural areas, local centres) through the planning process in terms of promoting planning and decision making for uses which attract a significant number of people, including retail uses alongside cultural Experts from around the globe at Historic Scotland’s annual uses, and where appropriate promoting town centre residential uses. conference will explore energy efficiency issues such as retrofit A further aspect of the draft SPP, which garnered a relatively high guidance, energy performance and provide updates on current level of attention and was also picked up on by the Scottish media, research. was the issue of the siting of wind farms. The policy divided Scotland into 3 classes of area: those where wind farms will never be Tickets and programme information can be found at acceptable (National Parks and National Scenic Areas); areas of www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/conservation significant protection where wind farms might be appropriate in some circumstances (eg World Heritage Sites, Sites of Special or you can contact us at Scientific Interest amongst others); and areas with definite potential [email protected] for wind farms (i.e. all other areas). An area that was initially particularly questioned was the use of Scottish National Heritage’s or on Wild Land Maps as an area of significant protection, with the feeling 0131 668 8683 in some quarters these maps themselves had never been the subject of public consultation. A further consultation ensued into the robustness of the maps.
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POINT OF VIEW The Scottish Land Reform Review Group report If there were only one reason why planners should read 'The Land of Scotland and the Common Good'
Bob Reid is Director of Planning at Halliday Fraser Munro. Here he expands on the Royal Town Planners Institute (RTPI) blog he wrote listing 10 reasons why planners should read the Scottish Land Reform Review Group report..
n finding 10 reasons I deliberately is indeed broken. This assertion begs both could be assisted through land reform. adopted a tabloid approach simply evidence and alternatives that we should be For 40 years after WWII we managed to because the report itself, published by considering. build at levels which at least met the the Scottish Land Reform Review When referring to ‘the system’ I speak of demographic needs, even if they didn’t IGroup (LRRG) in May 2014, is a hefty tome the complex interplay between public and always meet the design aspirations we’d weighing in at 260 pages. private sectors, financial sectors, central rightly have today. Since the mid-1980s we Members of the LRRG were appointed government, local government, the have relied ever further on the private by Scottish Ministers and were tasked with construction sector, land and property sector and never achieved the rate of identifying how land reform will; sectors, and of course the community construction we require, building-up a • Enable more people in rural and urban (whether as user and consumer of ticking-time bomb problem we are only just Scotland to have a stake in the development or as neighbour to coming to terms with. Whatever we do ownership, governance, management and development). In reality it is many separate now, we will have 20 years’ worth of use of land, which will lead to a greater systems interacting and interfacing as best catching-up with the shortfall. diversity of land ownership, and they can. Insofar as there is any rational The LRRG sees this, essentially supply-side ownership types, in Scotland; design behind these systems, it stems from issue, as a three dimensional problem: • Assist with the acquisition and the advance of a 30 year experiment with accessing land (how land is made or becomes management of land (and also land neoliberalism which many commentators available for housing); the price of land for assets) by communities, to make (not just me) think has perhaps run its housing development (and the way that stronger, more resilient, and independent course and overstayed its welcome. impacts upon affordability); and the operation communities which have an even greater And the evidence? of the planning system (which tends to work stake in their development; and You don’t have to look very far. We are in a reactive manner, rather than perform a • Generate, support, promote and deliver seeing fewer homes built than ever before. more proactive enabling role). new relationships between land, people, Approximately 13,000 homes were built in Last year the Royal Institution of economy and environment in Scotland. Scotland in 2013 against a requirement of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Scotland Focusing in on just one reason is not simply more than double that figure. And, surprise established a Housing Commission to a journalistic device. Nor is it a way or surprise, house prices have once again examine the ‘broken system’. They wrestled ranking my original 10 reasons, all of which climbed past their 2007 peak. You might have with the question of whether this was a still apply. Given the breadth of the remit thought we would have learned from the ‘Housing Challenge’ or a ‘Housing Crisis’, and and the wide ranging set of most significant financial crisis for a century while I don’t want to sound alarmist, but it is recommendations you would be forgiven caused by extraordinary levels of private and clearly the latter. for thinking that simplification down to one sovereign debt. Demographics show that our That the RICS Commission came up single, overarching, underpinning rationale population is rising with ever increasing with many similar proposals to the LRRG is would be quite impossible. Not so. There is household numbers being formed. Yet we evidence of the growing consensus that a one reason which sums up why we should appear to be caught in the headlights. First major overhaul of the system is necessary. all look in great depth at what has been time buyers are especially penalised as Some of that overhaul will be at the front proposed by the LRRG. Just one reason: the average house prices are now approaching door of the planning regime we have in system is broken. seven times average earnings. Yet we choose Scotland. At least what we recognise as the system to tackle this problem with even more cheap The system is broken. Can we fix it? of development practice currently applied in debt. It is just not sustainable. Scotland. By all indicators we are not In this context it is extremely useful that Read Bob Reid's RTPI blog at delivering on what any, self-respecting 21st the LRRG chose not to see Land Reform as bit.ly/1pXWYtT century society would see as acceptable purely a rural phenomenon. A substantial Read the Land Reform Review Group norms. There will always be an section of the LRRG report examines land report at bit.ly/YUyuro unquestionable rationale that justifies a development and housing issues and makes Read the Royal Incorporation of planned approach to development but significant recommendations for change. The Chartered Surveyors commission where the outcome is as fractured and LRRG recognised that there is a housing findings at bit.ly/1p5tcyl flawed as we see today, then yes, the system crisis in Scotland, the resolution of which
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REVIEWS
BOOKS
David Chipperfield Architects
Although David Chipperfield established his practice Gehry’s Guggenheim). The Museo Jumex in Mexico, in 1985 and launched his career with a catalogue of for example, has a wedge-shaped plan, a bold saw- bespoke retail outlets for fashion luminaries such as tooth roofscape and a distinctive stepped façade Issey Miyake, it’s telling that recognition at home somewhat reminiscent of Breuer’s Whitney Museum in came somewhat belatedly and is due largely to his New York. Meanwhile in Zurich, the architect work overseas including the remarkable Neues incorporates walls of blue and purple with transitional Museum in Berlin and the Stirling Prize-winning zones delineated by a tracery of brass rods. Museum of Modern Literature in Marbach-am- His most notable Scottish building is undoubtedly Neckar. Today, David Chipperfield is lauded as one of BBC Scotland’s headquarters at Pacific Quay which our finest architects and was knighted in 2010. The opened in 2007. The commission was secured invitation to curate the 2012 Venice Biennale, entitled through an international competition in 2001 and the ‘Common Ground’, merely confirmed his standing imposing stepped central space will be familiar to within the profession. most TV viewers. Chipperfield, however, ceded overall Authors: Chipperfield, Irace, Schulz + Fernandez-Galiano control halfway through to a local practice, reportedly This impressive monograph extends to 384 pages Published by: due to concerns about quality of finishes. and the list of featured projects reflects Chipperfield’s Thames + Hudson (2013) His approach has always been uncompromisingly shift in fortune with the early one-off residential ISBN: 978-0-500-29060-6 modernist (with a small ‘m’) which perhaps explains projects now eclipsed by prestigious civic Price: £48 why he struggled initially to secure substantial work in commissions scattered across the globe. The book the UK. Although he has satellite offices in Berlin, encompasses a diversity of projects but the cover is given over to the Shanghai and Milan, he remains loyal to London with an office at comparatively modest, if appropriately austere, Hepworth Gallery in Waterloo. Somewhat poignantly, the book includes his unsuccessful Wakefield. competition entry for the Tate Modern but it is represented by one A stubborn determination to maintain standards is integral to his small photo-montage of the revamped Bankside façade, minus its approach and has helped elevate his status as the preeminent gallery distinctive tower. This ability to edit out material, to pare things back designer. Client bodies in a plethora of cities have engaged his services to the essential is a central tenet of his philosophical outlook and is to revamp and augment their existing gallery provision. The results inherent within his expansive oeuvre. may vary but the work is consistent in its organisational legibility and its deferential relationship to the art on display (the antithesis of Reviewed by: Mark Cousins
Of Its Time and of Its Place: The Work of Richard Murphy Architects
Given these straitened times, any aspiration to be protracted period on site, the latter has just been acknowledged as Scotland’s primus inter pares completed and offers us a veritable cornucopia of contemporary architect may smack of hubris. Murphy’s personal design peccadilloes and material Admittedly the competition is limited and may preferences. Due to its proximity to my own home, I comprise only a handful of potential contenders but have been fortunate to watch it slowly take shape and most would agree that Richard Murphy deserves have been impressed by the care and craftsmanship consideration. Certainly this impressive new book exhibited by the principal contractor, Inscape Joinery. (dedicated to the late Isi Metzstein) bolsters his Murphy considers this small house to be the “…most standing within the profession and presents an difficult project of all” but this intricately crafted extensive oeuvre characterised by his attention to Author: Richard Murphy + intervention into Edinburgh’s august New Town (with detail and juxtaposition of diverse materials. Richard MacCormac its Rubik’s Cube-like interior and subversive ski slope Published by: roof) embodies the aspirations of the nascent Slow It’s clear that his reputation continues to grow and Artifice (2012) Architecture movement. his academic credentials remain strong. Indeed, ISBN: 978-1-907317-76-7 Of course, Richard Murphy Architects (RMA) Price: £29.95 Murphy was instrumental in re-invigorating Carlo comprises more than one individual talent and the Scarpa’s (then waning) reputation in the early 1990s practice’s success is due to a dedicated team including with the publication of two seminal monographs on the Castelvecchio fellow directors Bill Black, Matt Bremner and James Mason. This new Museum and the Querini Stampalia Foundation. The esteemed critic publication picks up a number of themes from the previous Kenneth Frampton summarised Scarpa’s approach as the ‘Adoration of monograph ‘Richard Murphy Architects: Ten Years of Practice’ (2001) the Joint’ and Murphy remains in thrall to this influential Italian master. but exhibits a more international portfolio with notable projects in This new book documents some 107 projects arranged into 16 Macedonia, Ireland and Sri Lanka. The book’s cover is given over to the sections demonstrating the expansive typological scope of the practice. British High Commission in Colombo which garners 12 pages and Each section (residential, educational, commercial or cultural) is framed must be RMA’s flagship project. Certainly this exemplary building by a concise introductory essay and an arch sub-title such as reflects the practice’s enduring debt to Scarpa, as well as a willingness ‘Crusading against the Corridor’, ‘Repairing the Street’ or ‘Practising to disengage the ego and employ vernacular precedents where what you Preach’. The latter relates to an eight-page exposition on ‘The appropriate. Architect’s House’ and catalogues two Edinburgh projects: Bakehouse Close and Hart Street. The former was never realised but, after a Reviewed by: Mark Cousins
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REVIEWS
BOOKS
Peter Zumthor: Buildings and Projects 1985-2013
Prior to his glittering career in architecture, Peter Totalling some 856 pages across its five cloth Zumthor’s apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker bound volumes, the book contains 278 colour and fostered a love of the presence and physicality of 142 black and white photographs, along with 341 man-made objects and their ability to connect us sketches and drawings. to our experiences and memories. His Opening with a brief essay, Zumthor architectural work has striven to capture powerful summarises his approach to architecture giving the and timeless ‘atmospheres’ through carefully reader some context to his work. The considered spaces, material choices, sensitive use presentation format is informal without feeling of light and a deep understanding of craftsmanship disjointed, and is adjusted to suit each individual and making. The Kunsthaus Bregenz, Kolomba project. Some works are preceded with an Museum and Thermal Baths at Vals have all become explanatory text while others lead the reader well-known examples of Zumthor’s work, however, through the project with carefully chosen a great many of his projects have remained photographs of models, sketched details and plans. relatively unknown to all but his clients. Editor: Thomas Durisch Competition entries as well as un-built projects Published by: are included – something not easily embraced by For those looking for an insight into Zumthor’s Verlag Scheidegger + Spiess many architects who would rather not cast the ISBN: 978-38588172235 oeuvre, his published work to date is rather slim: spotlight on losses and near misses. These unrealised Price: £175 Thinking Architecture (1998) and Atmospheres: works are some of the most revealing sections of Architectural Environments Surrounding Objects the books as Zumthor’s writing shows how real these (2006) presented some of his thoughts on architectural experience, un-built works still are in his own mind – their forms and materials and his conviction that architecture exists only as a physical entity still vibrate with potential. to be experienced first hand and cannot be fully understood While some projects are presented with full plans and sections, through architectural imagery. It is perhaps this cautious approach to and a few include a scattering of detail drawings, this monograph is committing his works to print which has kept his bibliography not intended to be an exhaustive technical breakdown of every sparse. In 1997 Lars Muller Publishers released Peter Zumthor Zumthor project. Anyone looking for a catalogue of ‘Zumthor’ details Works: Buildings and Projects 1979-1997, however, its single print and drawings will be disappointed. Instead this publication aims to run has resulted in it becoming rare and highly collectable with present the atmosphere of each building and share some of the secondhand copies regularly listed for sale online for upwards of ideas and explorations which inform the process. As much an £600. exercise in self-reflection as a presentation to the public, Zumthor Fortunately, 2014 has seen the release of a new monograph from notes his surprise at discovering recurring themes in his work, often publishers Scheidegger & Spiess - Peter Zumthor: Buildings and appearing in projects separated by decades. The result is a unique Projects 1985-2013, an astonishing five volume hardback set, which collection of crafted and elegant books where the great architect’s chronologically presents Zumthor’s extensive range of projects. hand in their design is clear. Despite its daunting price tag this is an Although initially announced in 2013 as a single volume, the book important and illuminating monograph and a genuine delight to read. was delayed several times before emerging as the most comprehensive monograph of the projects by Atelier Zumthor. Reviewed by: Matt MacKinnon
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HISTORIC SCOTLAND
Historic Scotland Listing and Designed Landscapes Team Update
he last six months have been very where major industries emerged to supply Working with Scottish Canals we have busy for the team as we completed the war effort, where men recovered from recently completed a review of all of the Ta number of projects and began their wounds before returning to the front, buildings in their estate. This gave us the those that will become our focus for next and where some of them were finally laid to opportunity to understand more about the year. rest. Illustrated with forgotten and previously importance of canals in Scotland’s industrial A number of exciting publications have unpublished wartime plans, historical history. recently been launched. We have created a imagery and specially-commissioned Eleven buildings were added to the list. new series of affordable richly illustrated modern photography, this book is one of These include a lock keeper’s bothy at the books for retail to promote Scotland’s the first to focus on Scotland's home front entrance to the Forth and Clyde canal at heritage with a focus on designation. Two of as a whole, from coast and air defences to Bowling. This simple structure, dating from these titles are now available priced £11.99. hospitals and prisoner of war camps. the latter part of the 19th century, is a In the year that Scotland hosted the Again working with our colleagues in the prominent feature at the western entrance Commonwealth Games, Scotland’s Sporting Scheduling, Marine and Battlefields Team we to the canal. It is a simple square-plan design Buildings, by Nick Haynes celebrates the have produced two delightful sets of 20 with a chimney which provided warmth and diverse range and outstanding quality of detachable postcards in a hardback cover. shelter for the lock keeper whilst he kept historic purpose-built sporting architecture Scotland’s Heritage: Architecture and Scotland’s watch on the canal. As these watches may that exists across our country. With a focus Heritage: Monuments feature listed and have included being up all night in the on listed buildings it showcases the results scheduled structures and highlight some of winter, a fire was a necessary feature. The of our landmark, nationwide study and Scotland’s most well-known (and some bothy is designed with two windows; one charts the development of everything from lesser-known!) buildings and monuments. looking outward to the River Clyde to sporting arenas and venues, to places where Images in the Architecture book range from detect boats approaching the canal from the people gather to socialise after the game. the iconic red steel cantilevers of the Forth sea and the other looking east to the canal. Using stunning photography, the publication Rail Bridge, to the sumptuous and ornate The bothy is now category C listed. brings the special interest of these sites and façade of Duff House, celebrating the Another addition, also category C listed, is structures to life for the first time in a diversity of Scotland's unique architectural a commemorative plaque at Clachnaharry fascinating and accessible guide. treasures. Monuments has images from Road, Inverness, dating from 1822 which The second title in the series is Scotland’s prehistoric stone circles and the evocative celebrates the work of the Caledonian First World War, by Kevin Munro which was ruins of ancient brochs, to picturesque Canal’s principal engineer, Thomas Telford in produced by our colleagues in the castles and even the remains of Second a 25-line poem by the then Poet Laureate, Scheduling, Marine and Battlefields Team. A World War defences, showing how these Robert Southey. Southey wrote the poem century on, it can be difficult to understand sites stand as enduring links to the long and to his friend Thomas Telford at the opening the enormity of the conflict that tore diverse history of Scotland. Both are of the canal in October, 1822. Southey, who Europe apart. This compelling book tells the available priced £6.99. was Poet Laureate from 1813 until 1843 story of the First World War through Our free booklet about signal boxes is met Telford in 1819 and from August to Scotland's people and places. It explores the also now available following the completion October that year, he accompanied Telford buildings where, one hundred years ago, of our nationwide review of signal boxes on an extensive tour of his engineering men and women enlisted, where they which we carried out in partnership with projects in the Highlands. Southey kept a trained, where they stood up for their rights, Network Rail. Find out more about this diary of this tour which was published in and where they defended their country unique building type by downloading the 1929 as Journal of a Tour in Scotland in against the enemy. It also looks at the places booklet from our website. 1819. The verse on the plaque by Southey
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HISTORIC SCOTLAND
Lock Keeper's Bothy, Bowling. Glentore, Airdrie by John Maurice Arthur, taken c.1910 © Rebecca McCaig
Culzean Castle Designed Landscape.
maternal grandfather George Arthur existing listed court buildings in the Scottish Plaque, Clachnaharry Road, Inverness. (1906-1968) was the third generation of Court Service estate and looking to see if architects to run the family firm of George any of their unlisted buildings also meet the extols the virtues of Telford and the Arthur & Sons, which originated in Airdrie criteria for listing. We will update you with engineering feat of the Caledonian Canal: and practised around 1890s-1960s. John our findings in a future issue. “Telford it was by whose presiding mind Maurice Arthur, Becky’s great-grandfather the whole great work was plann’d and (1877-1954) inherited the family practice in Historic Scotland’s Listing and perfected.” 1899 and was the most prolific architect of Designed Landscapes Team However, the plaque was not erected in the firm. He appears to have continued the All images © Crown Copyright except where stated 1822, as Telford believed that the other monopoly on significant building otherwise engineers involved in the project, including commissions in Airdrie and further his consulting engineer William Jessop established his name on projects in should also be mentioned. It was Lanarkshire and Greater Glasgow. Around rediscovered in the early 20th century and 1910, John designed, ‘Glentore’, a villa for eventually put up in 1922 to mark the himself at Drumbathie Road, Airdrie, where centenary of the opening of the canal. he stayed with his three children, two of Our canal heritage are will be celebrated whom would go on to practice in the in a new book, Scotland’s Canals, due to be family firm after studying at the Glasgow published in the Autumn. school of Architecture. Historic Scotland Heritage Management has created a new The Inventory of Gardens and Designed one year graduate trainee post and the Further information about our work Landscapes entries for Brodick Castle on can be found on our webpages at second graduate to take up this position, Arran and Culzean Castle in Ayrshire have www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/ Becky McCaig, recently spent some time in been updated and can be viewed on our heritage the Listing and Designed Landscapes Team website. To discuss any of our initiatives in to find out more about what we do. Becky One of our new projects for the current more detail please contact us on comes from a long line of architects and year is a review of courts which we are 0131 668 8701/8705 or at has contributed some fascinating [email protected] carrying out in partnership with the information and photographs to the Scottish Court Service. We will be visiting Dictionary of Scottish Architects. Becky’s
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RCAHMS
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Club olf has played a role in shaping the House with the course spread around the clubhouse improvements dated 1937 depict Scottish landscape just as the Easter and Wester Craiglockhart Hills. The alterations to the locker rooms and the GScottish landscape shaped the Club is popular with local residents and has upgrading of washroom facilities. Within the game. In September 2014, Scotland hosted a modern clubhouse built in 2001. The Club spacious clubhouse there were also the Ryder Cup, one of the most popular has a collection of artefacts and documents changing facilities for the ladies, and a and prestigious international sporting events, relating to its past including, for example, gentlemen’s locker room lined with wooden offering the opportunity to celebrate golf as many minute books, annual reports and lockers and a large billiard table in the one of our most famous exports. RCAHMS accounts as well as ephemera relating to centre. The main gentlemen’s lounge was to is carrying out a 'Golf 2014' project, annual dinners and fixtures. Some of the the west with a mixed lounge and dining recording significant golfing structures and drawings and photographs of the original room in the central part. There was also buildings, digitally disseminating some of the clubhouse and landscape shots of the accommodation for the clubmaster at the wealth of material from our collections and course were selected for copying. These rear of the building. The clubhouse was in working with golf clubs to selectively copy images may be viewed on the Canmore use until the late 1990s when the decision items from their own historic archives. The database on the RCAHMS website . was made to replace it with a modern and opportunity to assess the archive of the The original clubhouse was a good larger building. The original building was Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Club, a typical example of the colonial style that was demolished in 1999 and the new clubhouse Edinburgh golf club, arose as part of this popular around 1900. Brick-built and harled opened in 2001. project. with a rosemary tiled roof, it originally had The Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Club, an open veranda that gave access to the Richard Craig, founded in 1907, is located next to Craig lounges and locker rooms. Two drawings of Historic Land-use Assessment Officer
First tee, being played by Alice Clark and Olive Gardener in a medal finals competition, with the clubhouse and original pro shop in the background, c.1955. Courtesy of RCAHMS and Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Club. DP189019
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RCAHMS
Group gathered outside the main (south) front of the clubhouse for opening event, 1907. Courtesy of RCAHMS and Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Club. DP189018
Plans of proposed addition and alterations, showing ground plan, elevations and sections A-A and B-B, W N Thomson, 1937. Courtesy of RCAHMS and Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Club. DP189011
Front and side elevations (alternative design) for proposed alterations to clubhouse, W N Thomson, 1937. The ninth green, prior to the demolition of the wall and removal of the trees, c.1955. Courtesy of RCAHMS and Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Club. DP189013 Courtesy of RCAHMS and Merchants of Edinburgh Golf Club. DP189017
Commercial Bank, George Street, Edinburgh
CAHMS is delighted to have been able to acquire a R perspective design for the head office of the Commercial Bank in George Street, Edinburgh by David Rhind (1808-63) thanks to generous assistance from The Art Fund. The drawing dates from c.1843. It skilfully conveys the grandeur of Rhind’s design, contrasting its classical, temple front with the modest Georgian buildings to either side. This building is particularly significant in terms of Rhind's career as it was his first scheme for the Commercial Bank. The Bank went on to become his principal client and the branch buildings he designed for it have helped shape the urban fabric of Scotland.
Jane Thomas, Commercial Bank, George Street. DP170254 Collections Development Project Manager
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RCAHMS
Sketchbooks
ne of the many highlights in the architecture and beyond, and the of glass plate negatives of wrought collections at the Royal sketchbooks highlighted below give a ironwork, which featured in the Autumn OCommission on the Ancient and valuable insight into Scotland’s past, 2013 magazine. The sketchbooks can be Historical Monuments of Scotland are the chronicling a bygone era from a record of consulted in the RCAHMS search room in sketchbooks. These form a unique Scotland’s lost vernacular architecture to Edinburgh and some are also in the process collection of material by architects such as burgeoning industrial cities. of being digitised and made accessible Sir Robert Lorimer and A N Paterson, as Some of the sketchbooks are currently online. well as lesser known and anonymous being catalogued through the RCAHMS artists. The sketchbooks were compiled for volunteer programme. Eleanor Marshall, an Kristina Watson, a variety of reasons, including for undergraduate architecture student at the Collections Cataloguing Officer architectural record and design, or for an University of Edinburgh who has been Eleanor Marshall, appreciation of a townscape or local volunteering with RCAHMS since last year, RCAHMS volunteer and architecture scenery and feature measured drawings, is carrying out this task. She has previously student at the University of Edinburgh pencil and ink sketches, and watercolours. worked on the cataloguing of the Thomas They cover a wide range of Scotland's Hadden Collection, a fascinating collection
A collection of 16 sketchbooks by William Lee Ferguson encompasses architectural pencil drawings from a variety of places around Scotland, dating from the early 1900s. One particularly interesting sketchbook to the right contains measured drawings of Duns Town Hall in the Scottish Borders, designed by James Gillespie Graham in 1816, and including a proposal for the addition of a spire, which was not This watercolour drawing above depicts a dovecot near executed. Ferguson’s sketches are Gilmerton House that was demolished around 1950. It particularly important since the is from a sketchbook created by Dr John D Finlayson in building was demolished in the the 1930s which includes another twelve watercolours 1960s. DP 191026 of dovecots, mainly in East Lothian. DP191028
This drawing of Waterloo Place, Edinburgh above depicts horse- drawn omnibuses, a street vendor and ladies in bonnets. The drawing is from a delightful sketchbook with views of Edinburgh A mid-nineteenth century sketchbook by an anonymous artist includes from around the mid-nineteenth century. It was gifted by a J T buildings and landscapes from Falkland and St Andrews in Fife as well as Mayne, perhaps the artist, to a Mrs Bartley and the illuminated Edinburgh’s Old Town. The twelfth-century St Rule’s Tower in St Andrews frontispiece shows the Rectory at Stocking-Pellham, feature in many sketchbooks from this date, proving to be a source of Hertfordshire, which presumably had a connection with the inspiration for the Victorian traveller. In addition to the architectural artist or the recipient. The sketchbook could be described as an subjects, the sketchbook also contains charming ink cartoons. opulent souvenir of a visit to Scotland. DP191022 DP190610 and DP190620
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RCAHMS
Two ink sketches above of Kelvinside and Kelvindale in Glasgow from 1892 show a landscape that is now much altered by the expanding city. The sketchbook is by an anonymous artist and includes several views from the Scottish Borders. DP191023 and DP191024
Rare Book Project
CAHMS has completed the Rare Book Project, which has been Rcarried out by volunteers from the Edinburgh Decorative and Fine Arts Society (EDFAS). This has resulted in the cataloguing of 8,433 illustrations from 462 books, and has considerably added to the accessibility of the RCAHMS Rare Book Collection. The association with EDFAS began in the early 1990s, when volunteers worked on the care of the leather bound volumes in the Rare Book Collection. When that task was completed, Ian Gow, then Curator of Architectural Collections, devised the project to catalogue the images relating to Scotland’s Sarah Hynd, Kathleen Orr and Isobel Mackay at the celebration to mark the completion of the Rare Books project. DP176183 built heritage in the Rare Book Collection, a under their relevant building, which valuable but undocumented resource. The sometimes required detective work to track team worked with successive RCAHMS down. The creator of each image was also librarians Yvonne Hillyard and Norma noted, allowing research on individual Aldred, and then with Veronica Fraser. illustrators. Sadly Theresa Churcher died in Ranging in date from 1678 to the middle 2007, and Sarah Hynd joined the project. of the twentieth century, the Rare Book Thanks to the project providing access to Collection holds a wide range of volumes the illustrations, the Rare Book Collection is including topographical books, tour books, one of the most requested in the Search agricultural surveys, trade catalogues and Room, and has been of great assistance to architects’ source books. The books users. Many images have been digitised, and themselves can be slim guides or massive made available on Canmore, in particular, all tomes. The illustrations include drawings, 295 of those in Views of Scotland, a large engravings and photographs, and vary from collection of eighteenth-century engravings sketch depictions to highly finished showing a wide array of buildings around engravings. The illustrations are of country the country. houses set in their landscapes, interior views, Examples of rare books and the images which were the To celebrate the project conclusion, details of furniture, architectural details and subjects of the project. DP175859 members of EDFAS, RCAHMS volunteers specimen trees. In some cases, the illustration and staff (current and former) came together in the rare book may be the only image held slips for the paper catalogue. In 1998, they on 1st April 2014 to mark the occasion and by RCAHMS of the building or structure. began to transfer this information to a to thank the volunteer team for their hard At the beginning of the project, Isobel computerised system which allowed the work and dedication over the years. Mackay, Theresa Churcher and for a couple illustration entries to appear on the of years, Kathleen Orr, catalogued the RCAHMS website thus allowing access by Veronica Fraser, information by using typewriters to create remote users. The illustrations appeared Accessions Programme Manager
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RCAHMS
A Tale of Two Cities exhibition
major exhibition that tells the story of how the cities of Edinburgh and A Nanjing have developed over the centuries, has welcomed over one million visitors and was the focus for International Museum Day in China. Opened last November at Nanjing Museum in China, A Tale of Two Cities was created by Edinburgh-based Nomad Exhibitions, in partnership with the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland and Nanjing Museum. Using archival material, artworks and interactive digital content, A Tale of Two Cities tells the story of how the cities of Edinburgh and Nanjing (a former capital of China) have developed over the centuries, and investigates the similarities and celebrates the differences. The exhibition explores and compares the architectural A Tale of Two Cities exhibition in Nanjing Museum and urban development of the two great cities, both of which have areas designated as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and provides insights to the domestic, industrial, educational and cultural lives of each city over the centuries. The development of the exhibition was a pioneering co-curation arrangement that showcased RCAHMS’ collections alongside Ming, Qing and Republic period material from Nanjing Museum, as well as loans from the National Galleries of Scotland and Glasgow Museums, allowing the Scottish material to be shared directly with a Chinese audience for the first time. The partnership between Nomad Exhibitions and RCAHMS has been shortlisted for an Arts and Business International Award. The exhibition supports the Scottish Government’s Memorandum of Understanding on culture with China and day in Nanjing. What was particularly everyone was talking about the city! There’s showcases the architectural heritage of the striking, in addition to the huge numbers clearly a huge interest in and appetite for city of Edinburgh to a very substantial and flocking through the doors, was the depth of Scotland and all things Scottish among rapidly-growing tourist market. their interest in, and engagement with, the Chinese people, and A Tale of Two Cities has Receiving over one million visitors has material on show. It’s been wonderful to see given us a great opportunity to share skills been well beyond our wildest hopes in the intense interest shown by Chinese and knowledge in exhibition curation and terms of audience reach. To put that into visitors as they pored over the cases and interpretation with our counterparts in perspective, the Commission's most exhibits. Throughout the museum, during the China. substantial exhibitions attract a Scottish opening days, the one word that the audience in the region 7,000 a month; a Scottish team could understand amid the Rebecca M Bailey, figure that was often exceeded in a single Mandarin was ‘Edinburgh’ – it seemed Head of Education and Outreach
General comments or requests for information can be addressed to Veronica Fraser Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, John Sinclair House, 16 Bernard Terrace, Edinburgh, EH8 9NX t: 0131 662 1456 f: 0131 662 1477, e: [email protected] w: www.rcahms.gov.uk – All images courtesy of RCAHMS except where stated otherwise.
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BEFS
Built Environment Forum Scotland
he work of the small BEFS team Ancient and Historic Monuments of proposals and it will no doubt pay close over the past six months has Scotland. BEFS, along with the National attention to such exclusions: could an Tfollowed on from what was Trust for Scotland (NTS) and the Historic excluded feature become of historical reported in the Spring 2014 magazine, with Houses Association, gave oral evidence to interest in the development of a site? two interrelated work themes. the Education and Culture Committee and Fewer than 20 MSPs attended the Stage briefed MSPs on 4 key points prior to the 1 debate of the HES Bill, a respectable Measuring Success Stage 1 debate in the Scottish Parliament: number I am told, but one that could BEFS is currently convening the working • The advisory relationship between certainly be improved upon. During the group to measure the success of the Historic Environment Scotland (HES) debate Stewart Maxwell, MSP for West Historic Environment Strategy ‘Our Place in and planning authorities should be Scotland and Convenor of the Education Time’. The group is developing a proposal explicitly recognised in the Bill, bringing and Culture Committee, made the for a Performance Measurement together local knowledge with national following contribution: Framework which will be a key element in oversight “I also highlight that our report laid down moving from strategy to delivery. The brief • The collaborative ethos advocated in something of a challenge to the other requires the framework to do the following: the Historic Environment Strategy ‘Our members who would be taking part in this • Articulate what success will look like Place in Time’ should be reflected more debate. That challenge stems from the frank • Identify ‘measures’ of success under the strongly within the Bill but welcome admission that some parts of priorities within the Strategy • The operational detail around the Scotland are punching below their weight in • Begin to identify who will lead on and delegation of functions relating to realising the full benefits of the historic contribute to each set of indicators Properties in Care will be critical in environment. Other parts of the country • Identify where there are gaps in safeguarding owner interests (whether are, of course, doing very well. Given that evidence public or private) comment, which we received while taking • Make recommendations about • The inclusion of the definition of ‘historic evidence, we want other MSPs to consider monitoring and recording activity environment’ within the Bill would how they can best help to promote • Agree a stakeholder engagement plan provide helpful clarity of the term within Scotland’s historic environment to make for developing and launching the this enabling legislation sure that its value is fully realised. If, as framework The debate picked up on all four points parliamentarians, we endorse a bill and a • Produce clear guidance to accompany although the last one with perhaps the least strategy that advocate improvement, the framework enthusiasm. partnership working and better leadership, The group has met four times and the The NTS has voiced concern that a large it might strengthen our position if we meeting notes are available on our website. new publicly funded conservation charity demonstrate those qualities ourselves.” At the time of writing BEFS is currently could potentially destabilise the charitable I’m keen to foster the interest and pulling together input from the group as a giving sector. While there has been talk of leadership of politicians in the heritage draft performance framework which will ‘growing the cake’ of charitable funding that sector and believe the AHSS has the then be subject to wider consultation in the is available, the Cabinet Secretary assured capacity to help local and national autumn (the group is due to report to the Parliament that the business case for HES is representatives champion the care, Historic Environment Operational Group in not reliant on charitable status. maintenance and protection of Scotland’s late August). It is envisaged that the Correspondence between the Cabinet heritage. This isn’t just by telling them where framework will be operational from 1st Secretary and the Convenor of the it is going wrong: perhaps inviting them to April 2015. Education and Culture Committee finds some of the Society’s many events, social BEFS Congress 2014, ‘Time to Deliver’, is them in agreement that charitable status is and educational, would help them become on 28th November at the Roxburghe desirable and the Office of the Scottish ever more passionate advocates for the Hotel, Edinburgh. The event will focus on Charity Regulator has confirmed that it can value of the architectural heritage in their the collaborative delivery of the Historic see no reason that it would be disallowed. constituencies and wards. Environment Strategy, looking at good It will be down to the new Board of HES to examples of collaborative heritage projects decide whether to pursue charitable status. Euan Leitch, and areas where improvement is needed. One item that may be of particular Advocacy and Communications Officer Please see our website for the latest news interest to members of the AHSS is a and booking details. change to the statutory list of buildings. The Bill provides the ability to exclude elements Historic Environment Scotland Bill of a building within the building address on The Historic Environment Scotland Bill was the statutory list: this would make it clear published in March and, as anticipated, is that certain parts of a building are not tightly drafted to create the new non- protected, therefore their removal not departmental public body Historic contentious. However, any addition which Environment Scotland (HES) which replaces the removed element would still For more information about BEFS combines the existing functions of Historic require Listed Building Consent. The AHSS please visit www.befs.org.uk Scotland and the Royal Commission on the is sometimes a consultee on listing
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ACTIVITY REPORTS
SCT
The Scottish Civic Trust
s this magazine comes out there should still be one weekend left of ADoors Open Days events, with Edinburgh, Clackmannanshire and Highlands: Badenoch and Strathspey, Lochaber all still on offer. For those you who have already visited buildings in September please help us keep the festival vibrant by sharing your feedback with using our new online visitor surveys. Check www.doorsopendays.org.uk for more details. Doors Open Days continues to be one of the highlights of the Scottish Civic Trust calendar. This year we called our campaign ‘Scotland through the Keyhole’ as part of Homecoming Scotland 2014’s cultural programme. There has been an exciting and welcoming programme of visits and events with a focus on four broad areas: food and drink; natural, active and industrial resources; creativity and culture; and ancestry. Abernethy Old Church, Highlands © Scottish Civic Trust shown courtesy of Damian Shields An event coming up for calendars is the Scottish Civic Trust Annual Conference on 29th October which will take place in the we always welcome new entrants. If you causes we, as a community, can undertake. I wonderful recently restored Maryhill Burgh know someone who would be suitable for am half Scottish, my mother was a Halls in Glasgow. The theme is the our competition please help spread the Johnstone lass, so I am particularly proud to important relationship between wellbeing word. help Scotland’s heritage community and the built environment. Partly inspired by Finally, news of our other awards celebrate the rescues of some of our most the recent Built Environment Forum schemes. The My Place Awards, which are a valuable cultural treasures.” The Scottish Scotland lecture by Scotland’s ex-Chief national celebration of good local design, Civic Trust is acting as the main delivery Medical Officer, Sir Harry Burns, the event heritage and placemaking, will be open for partner for the scheme, working in close will examine the important and sometimes business in October. The 2014 winner was collaboration with the other members of overlooked role that building and spaces the Grassmarket Community Project in the steering group. can have on our mental and physical Edinburgh. You can read about this project The focus of all the awards, the My Place wellness. Speakers include Etive Currie and all the entries since 2010 at Awards, My Place Photography Competition (Glasgow City Council), Anne Lamb www.myplacewards.org.uk. Also, in and the Scottish Heritage Angel Awards is (Scottish Natural Heritage), architect Alan November, we will be launching a new local people and the role they play in Dunlop and David Spaven of Living Streets. awards programme in partnership with protecting, promoting and celebrating The day will also include 'soapbox' short Historic Scotland, RCAHMS, Archaeology Scotland’s built environment. presentations by representatives of local Scotland, the Scottish Government and the civic and amenity groups and heritage Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation. The John Pelan, projects. You can read about the full Scottish Heritage Angel Awards, funded by Director programme and book places by visiting the the Andrew Lloyd Webber Foundation, will events section on our website. celebrate the contribution of volunteers Our HLF-funded My Place Photography across Scotland who work to protect, Learning Project goes from strength to understand and value the historic strength. Visit the My Place Photography environment. section of the Scottish Civic Trust website to The awards, which were announced in see some new resources and a short film. August, will be formally launched at the The Learning Project complements the Community Heritage Conference at Crieff existing My Place Photography Competition Hydro on 8th November. The first such – both encourage young people to think awards in Scotland, the programme will about and photograph their local heritage in complement the new Historic Environment creative ways. The 2015 competition opens Strategy, Our Place in Time, with its strong To find out more about the shortly and, once again, we expect to get emphasis on community participation in Scottish Civic Trust, its services hundreds of entries from across the heritage. Speaking about the new awards, and projects please visit country. The competition is open to all Andrew Lloyd Webber said: “Protecting our www.scottishcivictrust.org.uk young people of school age in Scotland and heritage is one of the most important
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SPOTLIGHT
Bill Beaton
Bill Beaton has been involved with the AHSS for many years, contributing a huge amount of his time and energy. To mark his retirement from the role of the Perth & Kinross cases panel convener, Bill is the focus for this issue's 'Spotlight'. When and why did you get involved with the Society? In the early 1970’s many people were becoming very concerned about the indifference of all local authorities to our architectural heritage and townscapes and all over the country civic trusts and other similar bodies were being formed. I was an active member of such a body in Tayport. In 1970 I was asked by Bill Jack, an eminent conservation architect who practised in St Andrews, if I could assist The Scottish Georgian Society by examining listed building applications in East Fife where I then lived and report my observations to their Edinburgh office. They then decided whether or not to respond to the local authority and wrote accordingly. This was the Society’s first venture outside Edinburgh and it worked satisfactorily. Soon after the start, Colin McWilliam suggested I write the letters myself and send them to Edinburgh for processing. This also worked well. After 1970 I then moved to Perth where, after some time I was joined in case work by Jane Anderson and then by Eva McDonald. We now had a panel with which we could discuss cases. We realised that discussion was a crucial way of reaching good decisions. It has long been the norm. Has anyone in particular inspired or influenced you? Eva and I both became members of the council. I was appointed Chairman and during my term in office the Society changed it’s name to the current one, making it clear to the uninformed that we are interested in all architecture, not just Georgian. I was Chairman for a period of two years and found that helping run “Bill was the first member of the Society to become a the Society at a high level and running my own business was panel member living outside of Edinburgh and his reports unfortunately too much so I reverted to being a member of were a delight – he examined every building in great council. Without question, being on the council was an inspiration; detail and had a wonderfully perceptive eye. He owned an meeting members of the stature of Colin McWilliam, Ian Begg and antique shop in Perth, which he stocked with exquisite James Macaulay was an opportunity I will always be grateful for. pieces, and this business background was invaluable to the Society. As Secretary, I was keen to have it running on a What impact do you think the AHSS has had? business-like footing and appreciated Bill’s experience and As is well-known, the Society is devoted to “the study and counsel, as well as his friendship, now over many years. protection of Scottish Architecture” and thanks to the devotion of During the 1980s Bill oversaw the Society’s change of case workers throughout the country, over the past fifty years, it name from The Scottish Georgian Society, a misnomer, has had a steady impact on the decision-making of local planning which was not an easy task!” authorities. This impact is made clear in the reports of individual Margaret Gilfillan, former Secretary of the Scottish Georgian planning officers. Society / AHSS (1971-1991)
What do you see as the biggest threats to the built “Over very many years, during my time with The Scottish environment? Civic Trust, I found Bill to be unfailingly helpful, through his The biggest on-going threat to our built heritage is the persistent work with the Tayside Group, when important listed application by large nationwide house builders for highly intrusive building casework needed attention. His professional large scale developments which have no respect whatsoever for expertise in the world of antique dealership extended existing townscapes and landscapes. equally to his knowledge and love of the Fair City and its How would you inspire new members to join the AHSS and hinterland and I will always remain grateful for his get involved with our work? constant dedication to the common cause of its proper If people are sensitive to the environment in which they live and protection and conservation.” work, which most people are, they should undoubtedly be John Gerrard, Vice President of the AHSS and former Technical interested in the Society’s work. Perhaps, if the Society advertised Director of the Scottish Civic Trust it’s achievements more widely it would increase the numbers of people being involved.
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National Study Tour: North-East Scotland
It is a delight to be writing something other than a review of casework with Tits related frustrations, and instead be discussing a real highlight of the AHSS year: the annual Study Tour. It’s a while since I’ve been on one, but I gladly accepted the challenge to write this year’s review. The intensity of visits – or to put it more bluntly, architectural history by the shed load – has become a hallmark of Simon Green and Adam Swan’s itineraries, and the 2014 visit to the North-East of Scotland was no different. Over 20 visits in three and a half days and with the emphasis on visiting buildings that are not generally open to the public. As before, I’ll concentrate on a few highlights, rather than discuss each and every one, but I accept these might not be the highlights of everyone else who was on the tour. The tour started at Aberdeen Railway Balbithan tower house Station. Although not a formal part of the convinced it will be an improvement. tour, it merits some discussion. For someone But back to the tour itself. Our first visit who hadn’t been to Aberdeen in nearly ten combined lunch with an architectural years – much to my regret – the absorption mélange of much interest at the smart of the railway station into the adjacent Thainstone House Hotel. Here, the simple Union Square shopping centre came as a 18th century house remains, albeit masked surprise. Although the grand looking hall behind the principal elevation had been lost by a frankly rather bizarre Archibald in an earlier ‘modernisation’ project decades Simpson block combining porte-cochère ago, the fact that the smart frontage is now with two new reception rooms. I say bizarre nothing more than a piece of decorative Monymusk House not because it is in anyway unpleasant, just wallpaper in a typically bland and soulless for the rather odd way it extended the shopping centre is somewhat to the a multi-storey car park to meet the coach original house: what should really be a side detriment of the city. The entrance to the on College Street. Nevertheless, as I had wing was instead plonked right in front of railway station from the public realm is now taken the opportunity to get an earlier train, the principal elevation. The 1990s extension an incidental door in the corner of the I was afforded a few hours to wander was well-executed, and like the 1840 square, and whilst Aberdeen and its railway through the kirkyard of St Nicholas, in the extension, is clearly discernible although it’s station have never felt particularly well shade of blossom-laden cherry trees, almost as if each phase of the building was integrated, it certainly hasn’t been improved. followed by a visit to the remnants of the pretending the other parts weren’t there, The fact that there is nowhere for coaches quite different House named after the same tip-toeing around the original house to form to pick up passengers arriving at the city by saint, in the process of demolition. Broad an intriguing composition of interiors. rail is another clear failure. For us, it involved Street is going to change quite dramatically I’m rather confident in stating that our several flights of stairs and a wander through in the next few years, and I’m not entirely next visit was perhaps the favourite of many
Pluscarden Abbey Pluscarden Abbey. Image courtesy of RCAHMS. SC1201685
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We arrived just after morning mass with restoration in the 1950s which, perhaps started by the 3rd Marquis of Bute and John the incense heavy in the air unusually, retained as much original fabric as Kinross continue, not least by Ian Lindsay in possible and altered relatively little. the post-War era, amply supported by Astonishingly, the view from getting off the magnificent 20th century stained glass. coach, approaching from the west, remains Portsoy came next for a walkabout, with almost identical to that shown in the many of us buying some of its famous watercolour by James Giles, dating to 1841, marble, if not quite in the quantity that was the cover image for our tour notes. purchased for use at Hopetoun or Versailles! The rest of our afternoon was dominated If visiting Portsoy, the Salmon Bothy museum by the various highlights of Monymusk is also well worth a visit. This was followed including the house (where we were treated up by lunch at the Cullen Bay Hotel with, to a very entertaining, and topical, what else, a hearty bowl of Cullen Skink. interpretation of a thistle-and-rose cornice), Whilst we didn’t stop in Cullen itself, it planned village church and arts centre. The would be worth a revisit – the spectacular church was perhaps my highlight as we were railway viaducts, all dating to the long- able to climb the tower and appreciate the defunct Great North of Scotland Railway view across the kirkyard and planned village, branch of 1886, contrast with the tightly- and inspect the bell and clock mechanisms packed cottages on the coast and the on the way. planned town inland. Saturday started with an ecclesiastical Sadly I missed out on the visits to focus. First up was the charming St Cairnbulg, Crimonmogate & Tarlair Lido – I on the coach: Balbithan, a largely 17th Gerardine’s in Lossiemouth by Sir John had a camera battery emergency to sort century L-plan tower house. Our notes James Burnet and an important reflection of out which involved a diversion to Aberdeen recorded that the family moved from their changing approaches to church design and and back. Despite being relieved to be able previous castle at Old Balbithan after the layout at the start of the 20th century. Next to take photographs on the subsequent then laird “was so disgusted at a shot being up was Pluscarden, a pre-Reformation days (I’m rather lost without my camera), I fired from Hallforest into the courtyard of Priory still in use as such, albeit not quite was informed by my fellow delegates that his castle near Kintore, that he determined continuously - a mere 250-year gap post- these three site visits had been very special to abandon it, and, if possible, to select a Reformation until Benedictine life resumed indeed. I was both gladdened they were locality distant from public roads, and the in the 1940s. Here, we had the privilege of good visits, and enormously disappointed I observation of hostile visitors.” Whilst I’m being guided beyond the crossing and had missed them. The lido sadly hasn’t been sure our group would not fall into that latter transepts to the chancel, cloister and in use as such since 1996, but it survives category, the description of the location chapter house. Having arrived just after with few alterations and is category A listed. certainly still applies today. I doubt any of us morning mass, the chancel was full of I’ll have to go back sometime. would have been able to find this house, incense. Combined with the light shining A welcome break from the coach came nestled as it is in a natural hollow, revealing through the windows, the effect was on Sunday when we were guided around itself only at the last possible moment. The incredible. After 750 years as a Priory, Elgin on foot. We had almost the entire family who live in the castle were most Pluscarden’s status was raised to Abbey in town to ourselves – not a soul to be seen welcoming, and the character of the house 1974, and it’s a remarkable site that wears that early! Elgin is a smart town, retaining reflected this and clichéd as it might sound, its changing fortunes with honesty. Each many fine buildings, although it was the we all felt we could quite happily move in. phase from the 13th century onwards can curious conversion of a 1980s supermarket Much of this character is due to its careful be discerned, and the restoration works into council offices by Bennetts Associates
Portsoy harbour
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Kildrummy Castle Hotel
Moray Council offices
Risk register for too many years – again, a multi-phase building, with 16th century L- plan tower extended to the east in the 17th century and a further extension eastwards in the 19th century. A few of us commented that perhaps the house would be better without the later block – as could often be said of 19th century extensions to country houses – but the current owner is both capable and determined, and has already achieved a great deal. One last visit was squeezed in before our return to our hotel – the Greyfriars Convent in Elgin. Originally established as a Franciscan friary, after the Reformation the building was used for a variety of secular uses before being converted to a mansion in the late 17th century. By the 19th century, the buildings were in ruins, and towards the end Glenkindie House of the century, the Elgin Community of the Sisters of Mercy persuaded the 3rd Marquis that sticks in my memory – an interesting, enjoyed for a day each year as part of the of Bute to assist in restoring the site for their and topical, example of consolidation of Scotland’s Gardens Scheme – highly use. Again, John Kinross conducted the council premises within a town centre, and recommended, if you can. restoration, and we all enjoyed his re-use of empty retail units. At our next country house, Skene, we remarkable attention to detail and beautifully Kildrummy Castle Hotel is definitely one were treated to an astonishing tour of a crafted joinery throughout. The Sisters of for a revisit, and I’m sure the gardens would house that has been largely shut up since Mercy moved out in 2010 – the remaining be even more delightful when seen without the 1940s, and is being slowly and carefully sisters, being elderly moved to a smaller, the rain, but after a very pleasant lunch, we brought back to life by the current owners. more management property. It looked like were off to the Glenkindie House estate. It appears to be an enormous task, and one the buildings might well fall into disuse again, Although we weren’t able to go inside, we that can only be managed in stages. Here, but in 2013, four Dominican Sisters from learned a lot from the exterior. There was a the aforementioned Archibald Simpson and Nashville refreshed the community – and, as 16th century wing, balancing 18th century his assistance William Ramage added a new with Pluscarden, it is a pleasure to see such wing, all recast and joined by a replacement suite of reception rooms and entrance in a buildings continuing a thread of history, and in centre block by Sydney Mitchell in 1900. The manner perhaps more successful than at use as originally intended. gardens were an absolute delight, and it is Thainstone – what is even more remarkable The two country-houses-in-progress that clear the head gardener and his team take here, is that the 1840s decorative scheme we saw on the Sunday were complemented enormous pride in the remarkably pristine survives. I think we all felt this was by the beautifully restored Innes House on lawns, woodland and rather fun topiary. something very special indeed. We saw the Monday. In the same family for over a Aside from the few weeks of the year that another ambitious restoration project at century, the house itself dates to the first half the owning consortia visit, the efforts are Westhall, which has languished on the At of the 17th century. It is very smart indeed,
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Skene House decorative schemes survive from the 1840s Innes House
Greyfriars Convent Of course, it’s not just the buildings that we visit that make these tours special. I heartedly enjoyed the company of the many interesting and knowledgeable people that fill the AHSS study tour coaches, and our immersive experience of long days – from breakfast at 8am to dinner at 8pm – leads to a real sense of camaraderie. Our hotel was perfectly chosen, and ideally suited to the task, and our coach was, if anything, too good for us (I would be nervous taking a brand new coach down some of the narrow pot- holed drives that we went down and am in constant awe of intrepid coach drivers!) But of it all, it is the frankly astonishing organisation by Adam, Simon and Caroline McFarlane that really ensures the success of these trips. The careful curation of such a balanced and interesting variety of buildings – entailing, I’m sure, very delicate The robotic lawnmowers negotiations, careful timing and a significant although the robotic lawnmowers manicuring amount of background research for the the lawns did do a good job in competing for plentiful notes and introductions that we our attention. At Aswanley we saw both a received is what makes these tours stand 17th century house and a converted steading out. That, and the constant supply of – the latter I was familiar with, and can attest refreshments and variety of sweets provided to its suitability for a really fantastic wedding on the bus! I’m sure I’m speaking for reception, having been invited there a few everyone who was there, that I note our years ago. We saw another hotel in a enormous gratitude to our esteemed tour remarkable building at Meldrum House Hotel leaders. It really was a treat. Aswanley House – also modified by the ubiquitous Archibald Simpson – before the last visit of the day, Tom Parnell House of Formartine. This was quite different All images © the author from all the other visits – a country house dating to 1995, designed by Robert Steedman of Morris and Steedman. It is quite a house, and the description in our notes of More photographs from the tour can be viewed online – bit.ly/AHSSTours it being akin to a Lutyens Italianate garden Find out about the 2015 Spring Study pavilion is very accurate, sitting as it does Tour on page 12 and register your rather handsomely in the walled garden of interest with the national office. Haddo House. House of Formatine
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ACTIVITIES Forth and Borders
he Forth and Borders Group began Andrew Kerr showing the group some of the lamp posts of Edinburgh the summer in late May with a visit to Tthe New Club in Edinburgh. The Club Secretary, Andrew Campbell welcomed us on behalf by the New Club’s members, and conducted us on a tour of the hushed interiors of this 1960’s modernist building, interiors that also include the Robert Lorimer designed panelled dining room re- located from the Club’s previous building on the site. We took in the evening views across on Princes Street from the Club’s balconies, before settling down for our Annual General Meeting. It was indeed a privilege to meet in such fine surroundings. Our programme of summer events began with a warm summer evening walking tour discovering more about Stockbridge, and early 18th century headstones. intelligently led by Andrew Kerr. We Our summer party this year was held at explored the layout of this former village the Drum, an 18th century estate on the now absorbed into the fringes of southern edge of Edinburgh. This fine villa Edinburgh’s New Town, and saw the sites of designed by William Adam has extremely former schools, churches, markets and more. good stucco decorated interiors. The owner, Even the lamppost typology and history Patrea More Nisbett, conducted the group were explained. Our walk ended at St on a tour of the house and made us most Bernard’s Crescent where Charles and welcome. Caroline Macfarlane welcomed us with refreshments in their elegant home. Benign neglect? As became the trend for the rest of our On our tours this summer we enjoyed summer, we had another sunny evening for seeing a wealth of good architecture and a walking tour around Calton Hill in we realised there is much to discover and Edinburgh exploring the historic graveyards learn about ‘on our own doorstep’. of Old Calton, New Calton and Canongate, However, the tours also highlighted some of as well as admiring the monuments on the concerns and challenges facing our Calton Hill itself. The three graveyards are towns and cities, not least our historic each distinct in their character, and they A Matthew Steele designed house in Bo’ness graveyards. Both in Edinburgh and in show the gradual transition from traditional Bo’ness the graveyards show the sad effects kirkyard burial grounds to the planned One of the fine 17th-18th century headstones in the of neglect, vandalism and decay. Yet these cemeteries of the 19th century. Each site Old Kirkyard in Bo’ness sites are textbooks in stone of the social reflects the changing social histories of histories of our towns and cities. And the Edinburgh, from the tombs of the nobility at fine monuments are clearly important Canongate to the monuments to artistic and architectural assets that deserve tradesmen, merchants, and professional men recognition and care. at New Calton. Clearly for the local authorities now Our final walking tour of the year took given charge of these historic graveyards place on a hot July Saturday when we the burden of maintenance and care is a ventured to Bo’ness. We explored the challenge. But sites like these encompass historic ‘Lower’ town, once the site of a and reveal so much about the history of thriving trading port. We were led by Geoff our towns and cities, and the people that Bailey who shared his expert knowledge of populated them, that they deserve our the local history and buildings. We snuck attention and interest; and surely some into the Bo’ness Hippodrome Cinema just modest investment to preserve them for after the children’s Saturday matinee had the future? finished, and then toured the town. We In Edinburgh, the World Heritage Trust admired the work of local architect (EWT) is addressing the challenge by Matthew Steele (1878-1937). Concluding promoting interest in and visitors to the five our sepulchral theme for the year we ended historic graveyards in the city centre, our tour of Bo’ness in the Old Kirk burial including Old Calton and New Calton, as ground with its fine collection of late 17th part of the their Edinburgh Graveyards
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Project. The EWHT is a looking to establish a 'friends' group for each North East site, for if neglected and unloved, the historical insight that these sites offer will be forgotten and lost. ur first visit of the year was a tour of Neglect of our historic building Lower Deeside. We began at Mergie and sites perhaps poses a greater House, on the ‘Slug Road’ between threat today than wholesale O Crathes and Stonehaven, courtesy of Mr R redevelopments, although in McKenzie. This ‘bonnet laird’s house’ was Edinburgh redevelopments continue started in the 17th century and is described in to be a challenge. One cannot escape the RIAS guide as “miniature in scale but high the feeling when walking around our in presumption”. It was in fact the mansion of a capital and other towns and cities, that large estate, and has been restored by the so many of the historic buildings, present owners to its original condition where particularly those in local authority possible, with stone floors downstairs and, in care, are rather unkempt and unloved. the bedrooms, the original wooden panelling – Sadly our local authorities are not stripped but painted, as the carpenters some of the poorer offenders when would have intended them. We were grateful it comes to good husbandry of their that the weather was amenable, as we had heritage estates. Shut up building several interesting garden features to explore. with trees growing out of the A walled terrace extends along the south- gutters and parapets, and saturated Balfour Tower © Michael Rasmussen Associates facing slope to the south-west, at either end of wall heads might be expected of an which is a compact two-storey building, one at bathrooms, to cater for cold, tired shooters, absentee landlord. But go and look least with the remains of a fireplace, which and outside, some very superior kennels for at the Royal High School on Calton prompted much debate as to their intended the gundogs, as well as an impressively Hill or the Tron Kirk on the High use. productive fruit, vegetable and flower garden. Street then consider writing to the Next, we moved on to Balfour Tower, As so often with houses of note, the details City of Edinburgh Council and ask owned and built by Ian and Grace Watson, are what make a place so special, and it was them what they are doing. stalwart members of the North East group. clear that the owner enjoys participating in At least in Glasgow this summer a This extraordinary three-storey L-plan tower- deciding on these details. The dining room, for real effort has been made to ‘lift’ the house was built as recently as 1991 and must example, was felt to be too low, so after City with some basic and be an inspiration to any doubting Thomas of careful consideration it was heightened, impressively transformative new-builds. Despite the inevitable constraints stealing a little from the height of the improvements. They may have just of the planners, including a light-enhancing bedroom above (the architects amongst us painted up the shop fronts, cleared Georgian-style French door in the kitchen, the agreed that this sectional planning was some of the street clutter, turned Watsons have designed every detail with the enticing). Solutions to potential problems can waste ground into pockets parks and utmost care and inventive use of modern also be innovative. For example, when bats got out café tables, but these simple materials. We had a bonus in the presence of were discovered this challenge was overcome changes makes Glasgow a place you the tower’s architect Michael Rasmussen who by installing eyelets between the slates on the want to explore, and a better place was on hand to answer questions (another roof. The slates themselves are of superior to visit and to live. benefit of a new-build, not possible had the quality, with reducing courses to enhance the It doesn’t take much to neglect our tower been built centuries ago!). We finished perspective of the pitch. Charles Pearson buildings, our towns and cities. Equally the day with the AGM and a splendid himself could not be present but generously it doesn’t take much to make simple afternoon tea at nearby Balbridie, the home of provided afternoon tea for us in the house. and hopefully lasting improvements. our erstwhile secretary Sheila Rhind and her Our July visit was south of Aberdeen to There is a challenge here for groups husband John. They will soon be off to Gallery House, near Marykirk. The house has like the AHSS. Traditionally we have pastures new in Angus and we shall greatly been sympathetically restored by Mr John been reactive in that we have miss Sheila on the committee. Simson since 1996 when he and his late wife responded vigorously to specific In June we ventured to Strathdon and acquired the property. The long gallery is planning and redevelopment treats as visited Edinglassie House, courtesy of the Hon. particularly impressive with wonderful they come along. Our casework Charles Pearson. Since the Pearson family tapestries on the walls and the drawing room panels do an excellent job keeping on recently sold Dunecht House, Edinglassie has ceiling featuring ornate cornicing. The gardens top of the steady flow of planning been the family’s main residence in Scotland, are a series of ‘rooms’ and are based on the applications. But we have perhaps and is used extensively as a shooting lodge. designs at Crathes Castle, and the white been less active in responding to the The estate consists largely of grouse moor and garden with a water fountain as its central routine neglect that affects our town is run alongside the extensive Dunecht Estate. feature was enchanting. Readers may note that and cities, day in day out. Members Factor of both, Stuart Young, talked to the the gardens are open (by appointment) as part might consider how they could help, group about the estates’ history and day-to- of Scotland’s Gardens Scheme. The tea after keep a watchful eye, and let us know day management. After a fire in the 1990s, the this visit was taken at nearby Balmakewan about the concerns they come across, house itself has been extensively restored and House, an impressive classical mansion, which so that we can follow these up with altered, details of which were given by now includes a restaurant and farm shop. owners and especially our councils. architect Peter Thain of Archial NORR. The Dominic Echlin house now has 18 bedrooms and 16 Amanda Booth
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Group AGM Another Glasgow issue of philosophical This was held in the fine Gothic Revival concern is to do with Craigie Hall in Rowan Landsdowne Parish Church in Glasgow (John Road. This elegant two storey Renaissance Honeyman c.1880) – literally a conservation mansion was designed by John Honeyman project in action with scaffolding all around (1872) with additions and fittings by John us. The Four Acres Charitable Trust are Keppie and C R Mackintosh (1892). As adapting it for use as a function venue along befalls so many large houses, it has spent similar lines to the successful Cottier Theatre, many years as offices. Now the current but with a greater community role. This was owners wish to return it to being a home. followed by a light lunch and a visit to the That is very welcome, but in order to nearby St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral achieve pragmatic sizes, they propose designed by George Gilbert Scott with later subdividing it. That too is understandable works by Robert Lorimer. This building, although loss of some detailing is of driven past by so many of us, was a concern. What most concerns us though is revelation. A really joyous interior. the proposed removal of an amazing organ by Mackintosh. Even if this was to remain in The dramas of loss and optimism the city and be donated to Glasgow Life (as has been suggested), the loss of Conservation minded people generally architectural and heritage integrity horrifies concern themselves with the slow creeping us and we have responded accordingly. We loss of valuable built heritage to neglect, The stunning vaulted ceiling of St Mary's Cathedral are strong believers in the principle of being conflicting tastes and commercial pressures custodians of our heritage for future and try to awaken such concern in those generations and the retention of such who fail to notice these gradual changes. important buildings as close to their Despite Glasgow being somewhat resigned intended design as possible. to the occasional fire in historic buildings, Sensitive reuse and adaptation of historic nothing could have prepared it for that in buildings is often something that triggers Mackintosh's iconic Glasgow School of Art in very different responses. West May. This event has had such impact that you Dunbartonshire Council has announced will see references to it elsewhere in this that it intends to reuse the surviving three magazine too, including our cases panel façades and tower of the Old Dumbarton report. Unfortunately the double volumes Burgh Halls or “Academy” building within and the extensive use of timber quickly drew large new council offices. They state that the the fire upwards. But the skills of the fire existing large modern premises have department combined with the horizontal Part of Dumbarton Burgh Hall's façade deteriorated to such an extent that they segmentation of the building by concrete and are no longer viable and will be demolished. masonry stairwells limited the losses to the Somehow that logic just doesn't sound west side. Since the initial widespread convincing to us. The once fine Burgh Halls outpouring of emotion there have come designed by William Leiper and R.G. Melvin arguments about how to remedy the in 1866, had suffered from various mishaps situation, including the option of not and then vacated only to be grossly replicating Mackintosh's original design in neglected by the council until they felt it order to avoid 'pastiche'. This is something necessary to demolish all but the main we consider symptomatic of not features and shore them up. We have understanding sound conservation responded expressing our concerns. philosophy, as seen elsewhere in Scotland as contradictory 'interventions'. However, with Jeremy Watson, much of the original documentation available, Strathclyde Group Chairman common sense appears to be prevailing. Dumbarton Burgh Halls All images on this page © Jeremy Watson
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Kinross House and Falkland Place It is difficult to avoid hyperbole when considering Kinross House and even the literary creator of Robinson Crusoe, Daniel Defoe, could not avoid this when describing the house as "the most beautiful and regular piece of Architecture in Scotland” in the account of his travels, 'A tour thro' the Whole Island of Great Britain' from 1724. Built in 1685 by, and to the design of, Sir William Bruce as his own home, it is Scotland’s earliest and most important house following the principles of Andrea Palladio’s classicism of balanced symmetry. Set on a primary axis focussed on the ancient tower keep of Loch Kinross House from the gardens Leven, and running through the centre of the house up to the paired ogee roofed gatehouses, this sight-line unifies both the house and the designed landscape gardens, the latter pre-dating the house by some 10 years. One of the most interesting features of the house is that the impressive elevation and massing belies the intimate domestic scale of a great many of the rooms many of which utilise to the popular 'picturesque' setting to great effect. Of its original building there are significant archive records detailing not only The group having tea and cake in the Entrance Hall Kinross House Dining Room expenditure but also the name of the various trades craftsmen engaged in its inherited the house at the start of the 20th W Baldwin, an award winning landscape construction such as masons, slaters and century, and was responsible for further designer. glaziers and including Dutch stone carvers changes. Sir Robert Lorimer was involved It is small wonder that in 2013 the Peter Paul Boyse and Cornelius van Nerven. from 1899–1902, whose contribution property won an Historic Houses The records indicate that the house was included alterations to the panelled entrance Association Sotheby’s Award; we were highly never fully completed and, as is the case with hall; here evidence confirming Bruce’s original impressed. Mr Donald Fothergill clearly has a many such houses, has been the subject of layout was also identified. Thomas Ross passion for heritage as he is undertaking a later alterations. subsequently took over the work after 1902. similar venture at the Grade II Listed The house remained in the possession of The house remained largely unchanged in the Grantley Hall in Yorkshire. the Bruce family until 1777 when the 20th century. From our arrival our group of 43 property was sold to George Graham and Following his acquisition, Mr Donald participants we were given a most warm subsequently passed by marriage to the Fothergill, with a vision to have a sustainable welcome with morning coffee in the Montgomery family who owned it for the future for the building, embarked on a major panelled entrance hall followed by tours of next 240 years. programme of conservation and repair from the house and the restored gardens not Kinross House was put up for sale amid the roof to the basement. The forgetting use of suites of rooms in the fully concerns for its future and potential dispersal comprehensive scheme, incorporating new refurbished basement for our indoor 'picnic of its contents. It was acquired by Mr Donald services and technology has been lunch' due to the truly inclement weather. Fothergill 2011 First Sight Estates Ltd., along Our thanks to the owner Mr Fothergill for with a significant portion of the furniture and undertaken with meticulous care, attention to detail and perceptive taste enlivened with allowing us to visit the house, which is not paintings. normally open to the public. Special thanks The appointment of Simpson & Brown humour thereby lifting the project well above the ordinary. The building is not only a family are also due to Helen McKenzie-Smith, Architects and the development of a General Manager assisted by daughter Poppy conservation plan involving research into the home but also has a viable future with its and House Manager Billy Dunn, for their architectural history of Kinross House availability for corporate events, weddings very special welcome and making our visit revealed a number of interesting facts. The and the like. truly memorable. original Great Dining Room had been a Similarly with important landscape setting, We ended the day with a short visit to double cube and there appears to have been the gardens have been restored to their Falkland Palace by way of contrast. alterations, possibly in the 19th century during original historical layout following extensive roof repairs, to lower the ceiling and blocking archival research and replanted with panache Hamish Macbeth the Musicians’ Gallery. Sir Basil Montgomery, and flair in a most imaginative way by Alistair All images on this page © Hamish Macbeth
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Two very special Border Houses (and what the butler did!) The fact that this event was quickly over- subscribed was testimony to the attractions offered by our July visit to Monteviot House and Mertoun House in the Borders. Our group consisted of members from the west and east of Scotland, from Largs to Fife, plus one intrepid soul who travelled down from Inverness for an early-morning start from Edinburgh! It was good to have so many Monteviot House. © Kevin Rae licensed for reuse by Creative Commons friends from other AHSS groups joining the outing. Our day started at Monteviot House, home to Lord Lothian. Owned by the family for 300 years, the house overlooks the River Teviot, from which it gets its name. Monteviot has been described as a “somewhat eccentric and tangled mixture of architecture”, which reflects the changing tastes of its owners who included soldiers, diplomats, statesmen, artists and farmers. The square hall has interior work by Schomberg Scott, whose name is now part of the family name. There is a fine collection of Dutch and Monteviot House gardens © Hamish Macbeth Mertoun House façade © Hamish Macbeth Italian Masters – distinguished art being very much a theme for the day. Other notable group through the grounds and gardens and particularly rich in Dutch and Flemish works, rooms include the Library in the eastern yes, the groups did then swap over! and gave an erudite introduction to some of wing of the twin Georgian pavilions, and the The early 18th century house, designed by the artists we viewed, such as Claude Dining Room with its full-length 17th century Sir William Bruce, sits in a 26-acre garden, Lorrain, Gerrit Dou, Aelbert Cuyp, Annibale portraits, originally from Newbattle Abbey. and is the elegant setting for an outstanding Carracci, Francesco Guardi and Sir Edwin We enjoyed a picnic lunch in the sun in the private art collection. From 1945 up to the Landseer. extensive and beautiful gardens. present day a number of works from the We were culturally pretty replete. And the We were warmly welcomed to Mertoun collection has been on long-term loan to the butler? He took care of the inner man and House by the Duke and Duchess of Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh, woman, and served us in the loggia with Sutherland. Whilst the Duke and Michael although the majority of the collection home-made lemonade and cookies, which Clarke, Director of the Scottish National remains at Mertoun. Michael Clarke he had baked. Gallery, conducted half the party round the explained the history of how the collection house, the Duchess walked the rest of the came to be formed, highlighted that it is Hamish McPherson
Cambo House and Kellie Castle, Fife estate back in the 1790s, improving the Our destination was Kellie Castle, owned Our summer outings and study days estate, and commissioned architect Robert by the National Trust for Scotland. Records commenced with a well supported trip in Balfour to remodel the house in 1795. The actually go back to 1150 and the first owner May to Fife. After a rendezvous in Edinburgh old house was destroyed by fire in 1878. The was Robert of London, illegitimate son of to pick up some members, we were on our present house was built on the same site King William the Lion. By 1266 Kellie had way. Problems on the A92 meant an between 1879 and 1884, to designs by passed to the Siward family, who had assisted unplanned circuitous route, but our coach architects Wardrop & Reid and is now the King Malcolm Canmore to overthrow driver took the narrow roads in his stride. home of Sir Peter and Lady Erskine. Macbeth. The estate was signed over to We were welcomed to Cambo House, The tour of the house was followed by a Walter Oliphant, in 1360 and remained in south-east of St Andrews, by Sir Peter leisurely wander around the beautiful their ownership until 1613. It was purchased Erskine who gave us a talk about his home gardens. by Sir Thomas Erskine, who had saved the and his family. The estate was granted to Robert de Newenham by a charter of King William the Lion. His descendants took the name "de Cambhou" and in 1668, Sir Charles Erskine, the Lord Lyon King of Arms and brother of the 3rd Earl of Kellie, purchased the property. The estate passed to the 5th Earl of Kellie, who forfeited his lands after supporting the Jacobite rising of 1745.
Cambo was sold to the Charteris family. Sir Peter Erskine discusses some of the interesting furniture Thomas Erskine, 9th Earl of Kellie bought the Cambo House from the Gardens © Jeremy Watson with members on the visit © Jeremy Watson
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life of King James VI during the Gowrie Conspiracy by killing Sir Alexander Ruthven. The King stayed at Kellie in 1617 during his only visit to Scotland after the Union of the Crowns, and he appointed Erskine as Earl of Kellie in 1619. The oldest part of the castle dates from 1360 and is said to be haunted. The castle is a fine example of Scots Baronial domestic architecture. It lay abandoned for many years. In 1878 it was rented from the Earl of Mar and Kellie by James Lorimer, father of Sir Robert Lorimer. Robert Lorimer was instrumental in much of the restoration work. Sir Robert's son, the sculptor Hew Lorimer, purchased the castle in 1948 and it remained in his ownership until 1970. Once again, the visit to the building was followed by a wander in the beautiful gardens. Unfortunately the early delays on the road necessitated missing out our intended visit to Crail, but overall the day was most enjoyable. Jeremy Watson
Cambo House © Jeremy Watson Kellie Castle gardens © Jeremy Watson
Tayside and East Fife
hree events were organised for terrace overlooking Elie beach. Trades of Dundee, Jim Shearer and (as we summer 2014. On Sunday 3rd August On Friday 15th August members met in were told described thus) his ‘consort’ Ann, to Tmembers met at Gilston House in the Dundee for a guided walk by Adam Swan see their remarkably well preserved Victorian East Neuk for a tour of the house and representing Dundee Historic Environment drawing room (originally dining room), then gardens, led by owners Edward and Cath Trust (DHET) to the ‘City Braes’ the latest in a picnicked at adjacent 1830s villas in Panmure Baxter. Edward explained how the house was series of heritage walking guide leaflets being Terrace, taking the opportunity to hold our Georgian in origin on an earlier site, but produced for Dundee. First stop was a visit to 20th AGM over coffee in the garden. Those reclad and extended by his Victorian the Dundee Museum of Transport’s temporary that kept going then had a quick visit to forebears, then reduced again in the 1950s by facility in Market Street, where Museum Dundhope Castle and then to the Verdant his parents, with the Georgian elements of chairman Jimmy McDonell gave a tour and an Works textile museum, where curator Louisa the interiors carefully restored as the most update on plans to rescue the former Attaheri explained the Museum’s latest project recent changes. It was fascinating, and we felt Maryfield Tram Depot as their permanent to rescue and reuse the category A listed High our much missed member Charles McKean home, a worthy project supported by DHET. Mill, now on site, and also supported by DHET would have approved of this building The walk itself progressed around the northern at feasibility stage. detective work. After lunch in the much slopes of the city centre, looking at a range of The Group’s will also visit Arbroath on admired gardens we proceeded to Elie, for a buildings: textile mills and their reuse, 19th Friday 12th September for a study day taking most interesting guided walk led by Elie century villa development, Dundee’s Rotten in Patrick Allan Fraser’s Hospitalfield, the Historical Society, then completed the day Row and public wells. Off the formal tour we Mortuary Chapel and the nearby Arbroath with a visit to the 16th to 17th century Elie visited the home of Dundee’s third citizen, Water Tower. Castle and generous refreshments on the Deacon Convenor of the Nine Incorporated Adam Swan
Gilston House, East Neuk © Adam Swan Elie Castle © Peter Davidson Upper Dens Works, Dundee © Adam Swan
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CASEWORK Dumfries & Galloway
e were contacted by Wendi Cuffe, Dumfries and Galloway WCouncil's Economic Development Officer, regarding the Stranraer Townscape Heritage Project (THI), and asking us to support their application for grant funding. Four of the Panel decided to visit Stranraer to look at the proposed new conservation areas and the state of listed buildings. We were pleasantly surprised to see how vibrant Stranraer was. It was a beautiful day and all the restaurants were very busy and outside tables full. The newly landscaped area around the Castle was being enjoyed by many people. All the shops were busy, mostly with newly painted façades. There are, as in many towns, empty shops and dereliction, but in spite of the fears over the loss of the ferry terminal, an air of optimism could be felt. The plans for the harbour area and establishment of a marina are an ongoing project. The THI is exploring ways to restore and enhance the town’s original commercial and Golden Cross Hotel civic heart. There is a discussion on a was on this site before the supermarket number of complimentary elements to the and there was also a sawmill on another project. boundary. All of these noisier than the present situation! The Taj Mahal restaurant is These are: near Ann House and is a very similar style • Upgrade the category B listed George and age. Hotel, a very fine Georgian building in The THI is a very optimistic enterprise the centre of George Street. This being for Stranraer but the local enthusiasm for at one time the premier hotel in the the improvement will help to carry this centre. forward. • To traditionally render and repaint the Thank you to Wendi Cuffe for supplying category A listed Old Town Hall, now a so much information. museum, also in George Street. Patricia Woodley • Refurbishment of the category C listed Harbour Office with the weighbridge forming the entrance to the West pier. • External repairs and repainting of the category C listed Golden Cross Hotel. • Implementation of a Façade Shop front in Stranraer Improvement Programme for the entire Stranraer Conservation Area with priority for George Street, King Street and Queen Street. There is also a private initiative to restore the Old Mill Building, near the Castle, and create a public entertainment venue. This derelict building will be quite a challenge to restore and adapt to a usable space. Alas there are no plans for Ann House which lies empty and deteriorating as it lies, unfortunately, outside the proposed new conservation area. Perhaps the presence of Morrisons supermarket behind is detrimental. However the old Cattle Market The Taj Mahal restaurant, near Ann House The Old Mill
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CASEWORK Forth & Borders
shall first start with a quick review of the statistics. At the half-way School of Law, University of Edinburgh © LDN Architects point through the year, the Forth and Borders list for Edinburgh was Isitting at around 400 cases reviewed, with over 60 letters of comment written. In other words, we’re a bit up on application numbers compared to the same point in 2013, but still down on 2012. The 60 letters halfway through the year compares to 66 for the whole of 2012, which remains a concern. Applications affecting listed buildings and conservation areas in the Scottish Borders seem to be soaring ahead and we have already been consulted on more than 70 cases in the first 26 weeks, compared to a total of 88 for the whole of 2013 and 104 for 2012. We’re still in the low single digits for letters of comment in the Scottish Borders. We’re still seeing what can only be described as poor quality, ill- informed, and wholly inappropriate applications in Edinburgh. Aside from conservation area. They might ‘only’ have been windows, but if we can’t being disappointed by the attitude that this doesn’t seem to matter get this right in Edinburgh, what hope have we for applications in other much, we’re disappointed that even the likes of the Scottish Government areas? managed to submit a rather poor application for the category A listed St Edinburgh is perhaps slightly unusual in that planning applications Andrew's House on Regent Road. The proposal was to remove three affecting listed buildings and conservation areas are processed by a sets of doorways to the first floor staff lounge. No conservation report department that has combined the role of planning – there to promote of any kind accompanied the application which was still to be decided development – with the professional duty to protect our historic built upon at the time of writing. No photographs, nor even any justification environment. Whilst these are far from being mutually exclusive concepts, for the removal of what might be rather smart, original features, were and indeed I spend much of my day job arguing the two can be provided. The staff lounge is clearly an important space on the central successfully combined, it is more usual to find conservation officers who axis of the building, and given the skirtings and architraves were marble, are standalone advocates for heritage, there to inform and guide planning we assumed the features to be removed were of a high quality. We didn’t officers who then process the application. It is a separate argument that even get an elevation of the doors and walls to be removed – this from we’ve lost too many conservation officers from other local authorities. In the same government that is loudly promoting their Historic Edinburgh, archaeology has an excellent advocate in the form of the Environment Strategy. If they can’t submit clear, informed and single city archaeologist. Perhaps we need to return to such a distinct appropriately justified applications for their own important listed approach for our upstanding built heritage? It often feels like Edinburgh buildings, why should any one else? does not have any advocates for the built environment other than those Our occasional frustrations with the listed buildings team at the City of of us in the voluntary sector. Edinburgh Council continue. The astonishing decision to permit the I am increasingly concerned about boasts from planners and their flattening of the Scottish Provident building on St Andrew Square has professional organisations about the proportion of applications they grant been followed up with a proposal of application notice (PAN) to further permission for, determinedly spreading the message that saying yes to modify the elevation – apparently the compromise of re-erecting a fake development is the default outcome. Heads of Planning Scotland have replica of the listed building is being jettisoned, as many predicted. But it also been boasting about the speed with which applications across the doesn’t really matter – the listed building has now gone. country are processed, despite there being obvious ways of manipulating Whilst we’ve come to accept that the council doesn’t fully understand these statistics. The quality of assessment, or even if the correct decision our 20th century built heritage, the notion that earlier buildings might be has been reached, and for the right reasons, do not seem to be boxes to consistently protected was rather blown away when the department be ticked on the appraisal checklist. The combination of this role with justified the erroneous installation of six-over-six windows (complete with heritage management in Edinburgh must surely be questioned. Sadly, I historically-illiterate horns) in a listed Victorian villa dating to 1869, clearly have my doubts that the Historic Environment Strategy will change designed with one-over-one windows set within an elevation that was anything, despite the constantly growing number of forums, committees quite clearly detailed to distinguish itself from its 1820s neighbours with and consultations that seem to repeatedly give the same message that bracketed cills, no rustication etc. ‘the built environment is important’. Aye, we quite agree. So why at I have to declare an interest in the case up front, as Simpson & Brown grassroots level does it often feel like we are going backwards? wrote a conservation statement supporting an objection to the But let us end on a positive note. The panel recently had a application. Over 30 objections were placed, including from the cases presentation from LDN Architects about their proposals for the School panel (handled by another cases panel member), and the local amenity of Law at the University of Edinburgh – effectively the whole of the society. According to the City of Edinburgh Council, the date of the north range of Old College. At the time of writing we’re still to see the building was ‘inconclusive’, despite clear design, map, and title deed final application, but we were delighted by the willingness to engage in evidence. Objectors sadly lacked the ‘conclusive’ time machine that meaningful pre-application discussion (rare in Edinburgh) and the Historic Scotland uses to confirm the date of buildings in their other remarkable and, in parts, very clever proposals for the building. The listed building reports! The onus was placed on those objecting to the architects clearly understood the historical development of the building, application to prove that the windows were originally one-over-one, and highlighted the current issues in a balanced and fair approach. There when quite obviously, the onus should have been on the applicant to may well be some issues to further consider, but we were pleased to prove that the six-over-six were historically appropriate. Sadly, our elected have been able to tentatively suggest that we would welcome the overall representatives chose to ignore the evidence provided, and readily application. Rather than finding ways to push through and justify poor accepted the planners’ line that the inaccurate and misleading quality applications, this is the sort of approach that should be intervention did not affect either the character of the listed building nor encouraged. the understanding of the historical development of the wider Tom Parnell
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CASEWORK North East Fife
he most significant development has been publication of detailed plans for Ta new Madras College at Pipeland Farm, south of St Andrews. Controversy has centred on its location in the green belt, rather than its appearance, with the opponents' preference being the North Haugh which the AHSS also considers a better site. However, the planning process has ground its way from committee stage to full Council. The Scottish Government declined to call in the application allowing the project to move a step farther. A number of committed individuals have still to be won over and legal challenges could delay construction for years. Hugh Lyon Playfair, the great 19th century Provost of St Andrews, would surely have completed building years ago. Mr Bryson, the lead architect, was responsible for Queen Anne High School in Dunfermline which appears to be the Queen Anne High School © Peter Davison model for the college. Great effort has been made to nestle the complex structure into with an array of mock heraldic shields and reasons for moving the cross. I remember the hillside to conceal its bulk and reduce its outsized signage. Thankfully, the plans have Hew Lorimer remarking that its impact on such a prominent position. been withdrawn, let’s hope for good. replacement had been made “by a hewer St Andrews is changing and growing. The newly resited mercat cross of Cupar of stone rather than a sculptor!” Anyhow, There seems to be new buildings on every now bears a marble plaque recording the the cross looks happily placed on the street. We opposed the make-over of Frank move. We commented on the use of pavement close to its last stance and you Sprosson’s 1970s Students Union. The style English proposed for the inscription and can now study the inscription in safety. of Chicago’s Wacker Drive seemed were amazed to discover that our advice Over the six month period till the end of unsympathetic within a conservation area. was actually heeded. Thirty years ago a July 244 planning applications were received Construction went ahead anyway and it passing lorry decapitated the 17th century and 67 checked in detail. must be admitted that a stylish and inviting unicorn atop its shaft which was one of the Peter Davidson structure has resulted. Compare the new façade with the view shown in magazine 34 last autumn. The only concession to our St Andrews Student Union © Peter Davison criticism was to omit brightly coloured laminate panels which would have cheapened the design. Historic Scotland has been exceptionally busy behind the scenes securing radical changes to the design of the façade of the old St Andrews Police Station. Instead of the intended battery of bay windows, the existing vernacular frontage is to remain with some imaginative adjustments including a steeper roofline with dormer windows. As a result it seems likely that the planned 17 flats will be allowed. We play our part in countless smaller causes. In Anstruther the tarred walls were once a prominent feature of the fishing burgh where nets were dried. Now barely half a dozen are left. A proposal for a double garage with a studio above looks set to make these intriguing features even rarer. Still in Anstruther, the attractive frontage of the 17th century Dreel Inn was threatened
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CASEWORK Strathclyde
till navigating our way through re-organisations, varying priorities, made no comment and SHEP had offered an opportunity for associated appraisals, and consultative drafts means looking at development, granting the appeal was pure expediency. Another Severy document that is likely to become law, including local unnecessary loss to the irreplaceable heritage leaving only a development plans and government bills. Often it is only at this stage mandatory record in the archives, and because architecture is a that these policies can be challenged or commented upon. three dimensional art no archive can be a substitute for the direct The rhetoric sounds the same but the outcome could be different experience of a building. with the Historic Environment Scotland Bill at present going through Witness to this was the unique response of the many individuals our parliament. It is shaping a new approach to heritage that will who mourned the loss to fire of the Glasgow School of Art. The loss accommodate the amalgamation of Historic Scotland (HS) with the was almost tangible. A part of the living experience that is the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments for Mackintosh building. I was part of that experience myself both as Scotland (RCAHMS). student and teacher for many years and recognised that sense of In the early years HS worked in partnership with the AHSS on loss. Such a building is of course exceptional and only a supreme case work, then a change of policy meant more support for genius like Charles Rennie Mackintosh could have created a design development and the delegation of some of their case work to local so inspirational to so many people over so many years. authorities. At present HS supports conservation through funding I am glad the eastern half survived and relieved that the damaged rescue projects and also through repairs, for example to the water half will be rebuilt. I was appalled to hear that some time-locked damaged stonework of the columns and clock tower of Glasgow's Modernists could have blocked this solution. There is a good case for Gallery of Modern Art. Funding for the AHSS gives support to our claiming that nothing essential will be lost because a different education projects. How the new joint body, Historic Environment generation of master craftsmen and builders will follow Mackintosh's Scotland (HES), will support us is still to be discovered. drawings and instructions. I see the architect rather like a conductor Our first encounter with this new legislation came through a of an orchestra whether or not he writes the music. reference in an Appeal Report and the case related to the Scottish Balancing the input of old and new is enshrined in the traditions Historic Environment Policy (SHEP). Unfortunately the Reporter of good practice for the historic environment. But what of the new found in favour of the demolition of a listed building. 'Historic Environment' being promoted like popular theatre where everyone is a participant? How will it function? As need dictates change, the effect on architecture can be more complex than on the other arts. For this reason I think there is a role for the professional advisor out front and not back stage. Improvisation will not be enough and new ventures need good direction and a clear script. A proposal for Craig House Estate struck a nostalgic note and recalled our early campaign to 'Save the Craig'. This fine country house was being systematically demolished by vandals until we highlighted the situation with leaflets and publicity. There followed in 1996 a successful application for 14 houses in the grounds as enabling development which secured its survival and refurbishment. Now unfortunately, an application for a further 12 houses has been submitted and must be refused. An important part of the Craig is its setting of ancient woodland which is an important part of its listing. More houses would destroy too much of that special setting. My final case is a curious example of a nearly successful and ingenious extension. Ingenious because, according to the presentation, the potential of the site would render the alterations invisible. Only nearly successful because if the proposal created a precedent it could raise issues of adaptability on another site.
Southhook Potteries, Kilmarnock. Courtesy of RCAHMS. SC01233861 The one and a half storey cottage concerned is situated at the end of a row of similar dwellings in the outstanding conservation The listed building in question is Southhook Potteries in village of Eaglesham. The original 18th century plan had become L Kilmarnock and represents a fine example of the Art Deco style. It shaped with an extension and there was a small conservatory in the qualified in all requirements for continued marketing including jamb. The proposal will, in effect, divide the house along the roof design quality, rarity with special interest, and crucially, although in ridge and advance the rear portion over the foot print of the poor condition, was still capable of repair. On this basis demolition extensions. The resulting space would be bridged with a flat roof. was refused by East Ayrshire Council, supported by the AHSS and a There is only one free-standing gable affected and it is well screened local history group. However, the outcome was based on a with foliage. But it is a listed building and it would double in size. marketing issue. Because no interest had been shown since 2011 Considering that the application also included a free standing and its siting excluded it from conservation area funding the extension we thought that the scale of intervention to the cottage Reporter concluded that according to SHEP lack of interest could could be modified. It will be interesting to see what East justify demolition. This was in spite of the fact that the selling price Renfrewshire Council makes of it. was still coming down. So it seemed to us that because HS had Audrey R. Gardner
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MY FAVOURITE BUILDING
Writer’s Shed, Wellington, New Zealand A Room of One’s Own
Writer and owner Jenny Bornholdt with her ‘shed’ © Mike White
ecently I visited Sissinghurst, in Kent. I this was the first modern high-rise – eight well as writing – literally, too, as there’s room wanted to see the famous gardens storeys – in the city. (You have to remember for a daybed. It feels both sealed off from R created by Vita Sackville-West, of that living in an earthquake zone made domestic life and interruption, yet open onto course, but also her study. It is as romantic a people cautious about high buildings.) He the world. setting as one could imagine for a poet and designed the shop and its fittings with I love the way that Jenny has described novelist, in an Elizabethan tower with thick elegance and élan, but the shop closed down the process of the shed’s being built in her walls and a high ceiling, and almost certainly this year, and a long chapter of the city’s poem ‘The Rocky Shore’ – her father’s death, inadequate heating. These days you peer intellectual history with it. her son’s illness, the way she had to through a grille to see the books lying on her Jenny’s shed is sturdily elegant, with curves reorganise the garden; the way she typed desk, and dimly discern her spectacles. where Parsons bookshop was angular. It was the poem and painted the shed; the Such luxury, for a woman writer, to have a designed by the conservation architect Chris foundations going down and the rose-bush room of her own – yet as her friend Virginia Cochran. His wife found the front bow dug up; the arrival of the bow window and Woolf declared, ‘a woman must have money window in a building recyclers’ yard. When the seller’s remark – they’re all there, in the and a room of her own if she is to write told the window was for a shed to be used building of the poem. Like the shed, which fiction’. How many women have made do by a poet, the owner said that was all very was a sketch first, and then constructed out with the corner of a kitchen table, or some fine, ‘but the only writing of hers I’m of a sheet and tried out in various places, the other space where they couldn’t leave interested in seeing is on a cheque’. (Actually, poem gradually finds its own shape and size. papers and books strewn about? I was so there are some poems of Jenny’s he might The architect says ‘you know if you choose pleased when my friend the New Zealand have warmed to, given the chance.) The six- these windows / you’ll be building a window, poet Jenny Bornholdt told me that she was paned window gives amplitude to the view. not a shed.’ The poet relishes the names of using some prize money to build a ‘shed’ in Both the English tower and the New the paints she applies: ‘Jungle Mist walls on her back garden. Zealand shed are set in gardens, but the the inside. / After trying Rivendell, Laurel, New Zealand architects, a poet explained latter invites the garden in, is hardly Bush, English Holly and Heather.’ to my husband on his first visit, feel at liberty separated from the flowering cherry and the to do anything they like because ‘no one is grass, and gives on to the neighbour’s fence Pioneer Red walls go all around and looking over their shoulders’. As another (no fences that aren’t their own at then the roof is on. New Zealand poet, Bill Manhire, wrote: we Sissinghurst), and the valley beyond; the hills I buy beer to celebrate. Just whatever’s ‘live at the edge of the universe’, and this are visible too. It allows that ‘indoor/outdoor cheapest, says Bill. brings a freedom to experiment. Still, there’s flow’ so prized in New Zealand domestic a complicated relationship in New Zealand, architecture – so unlike the Glasgow We raise a branch above the roof to as elsewhere, between tradition and tenement where I live. mark the days when trees modernity. I was tempted to choose as my That curve is echoed in the built-in desk, were the highest things on the land, favourite building the Wellington bookshop made of reclaimed timber from the then raise our glasses to the shed. founded by Roy Parsons. It was on the chemistry lab at Victoria University. Again ground-floor of Massey House, designed by there’s an expansive sweep, the luxury of Robyn Marsack the Austrian émigré Ernst Plischke in 1951: space. It’s a space that allows dreaming as Director, Scottish Poetry Library
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Events Programme 2014/15
NATIONAL EVENTS Saturday 11th October, 2.00pm Visit to new library at Robert Gordon University, At A Glance... Saturday 25th October, 12.15 Garthdee, Aberdeen National AGM: Crichton Memorial Church, £12.00 including tea. Dumfries (£10 for lunch) OCTOBER Thursday 27th November, 12.30pm Official business followed by lunch and tours. Members' Lunch and talk, 'The Invention of 06 F&B Robert Lorimer lecture Saturday 7th March 2015 Landscape Design in the Eighteenth Century' 11 NE Robert Gordon University library visit AHSS Cases Panel Conference Advocates' Library, Aberdeenshire 23 ST Robert Lorimer lecture An event for cases panel volunteers to review guidelines and Talk by Dr Bill Brogden. £25.00 including lunch. share best practice. Full details to follow. 25 NAT AGM, Dumfries Friday 1st to Monday 4th May 2015 28 TAY Dundee Conservation STRATHCLYDE Lecture Spring Study Tour (£490) West Coast Houses and Gardens Winter Lecture Series, tea & coffee at 7.00pm, Register your interest with the national office lectures start 7.30pm NOVEMBER [email protected] or 0131 557 0019. Adelaides, 209 Bath Street, Glasgow 10 F&B Studley Royal lecture Admission: £4.00, students go free, season ticket £16.00 For more information contact Audrey Gardner on 11 TAY Dundee Conservation FORTH & BORDERS 0141 339 1205. Lecture 20 ST Stained glass lecture Thursday 11th December, 7.00-9.00pm Thursday 23rd October, 7.00pm 25 TAY Dundee Conservation Christmas Party, 7 St. Bernard's Crescent, Lorimer and His Craftsmen Edinburgh (£15.00) Lecture Robin Lorimer (architect and former lecturer at the Mackintosh 27 NE Members' Lunch and talk Guests of members welcome. Use form enclosed with School of Architecture), will focus on Sir Robert Lorimer's magazine to book tickets or contact unique collaborative relationship with craftsmen. Mrs Caroline McFarlane, 10 St. Bernard's Crescent, Edinburgh EH4 1NP ([email protected]) Thursday 20th November, 7.00pm DECEMBER The Stained Glass of Mount Stuart, F&B Lord Mar lecture Please note that this season's Winter Lecture Series will be 08 held at St. Andrew's and St. George’s West Church, 13 George Abbotsford and Rosslyn Chapel 09 TAY Dundee Conservation Street, Edinburgh. Admission £5.00 (students £2.50). Non- Mark Banborough (conservator), will reveal personal insights Lecture members warmly welcomed. into the stained glass of these important buildings. 11 F&B Christmas Party Monday 6th October, 6.30pm Thursday 22nd January, 7.00pm Robert Lorimer's work in England and further Conservation Theory and Practice, with examples JANUARY from the United Kingdom and India afield 22 ST Conservation lecture Simon Green marks the 150th anniversary of Lorimer's birth. James Simpson (Simpson and Brown Architects), co-founded one of the UK's leading conservation practices and has been Monday 10th November, 6.30pm active in India for the past 10 years. FEBRUARY Studley Royal: past, present and future Thursday 19th February, 7.00pm 02 F&B Craigievar lecture Michael Ridsdale (National Trust) explores the site's management in this joint lecture with the Garden History A Future for our Industrial Past 10 TAY Dundee Conservation Society in Scotland. John Hume (industrial archaeologist and formerly of Historic Lecture Scotland), will explore how specialised buildings can find new 19 ST Industrial buildings lecture Monday 8th December, 6.30pm uses through conservation, preservation and adaptation. 24 TAY Dundee Conservation City Vistas: Lord Mar's plans for London, Paris and Thursday 19th March, 7.00pm Lecture Edinburgh in the 1720s Buffet and lecture, 'Heritage Abroad' Margaret Stewart (University of Edinburgh) introduces these Three lecturers will present personal perspectives on fascinating plans. MARCH architectural conservation from their home countries: Catrina Monday 2nd February, 6.30pm Gonzalez-Longo (Spain), Shabnam Komai-Koma (Iran) and Anna 02 F&B Mackintosh lecture Craigievar: 50 years in National Trust for Scotland Serafini (Italy). The final lecture will be preceded by a buffet. 07 NAT Cases panel conference care 10 TAY Dundee Conservation Ian Gow (NTS) discusses this fine example of Scottish baronial TAYSIDE Lecture architecture. 19 ST Heritage Abroad lecture Dundee Conservation Lectures (free) 24 TAY Dundee Conservation Monday 2nd March, 6.30pm D’Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre, Tower Building, Lecture Mackintosh Architecture: context, making and University of Dundee, Nethergate, meaning Dundee DD1 4HN APRIL Prof. Pamela Robertson (University of Glasgow) addresses The series will continue with eight free lectures organised in recent research. conjunction with our partners, Dundee Historic Environment 13 F&B Planning legislation Monday 13th April, 6.30pm Trust and Dundee University. Lectures are held fortnightly on discussion Who's looking out for our historic buildings? Tuesday evenings at 6.00pm beginning 28th October and ending 9th December 2014 and restarting 10th February and Round-table debate on the challenges faced under new ending 24th March 2015. Once finalised, the programme will MAY planning legislation. be available at: www.dundee.ac.uk/planning/ 01 NAT Spring Study Tour, West newsandevents/conservationlectures Coast houses and gardens NORTH EAST Please could members pay for events in advance, whenever possible. If we do not already have your email address, or phone number, please give this to Amanda Booth, in order that we can update you about any extra events, and any other matters of interest. Contact Amanda Booth (Events Convenor) 57 Gladstone Place, Queen's Cross, Aberdeen AB10 6UX – 01224 325 764 / [email protected] AHSSSAut14_Layout 1 15/09/2014 10:11 Page 68