On two separate occasions over the summer SPABiS members and friends enjoyed informed tours of Edinburgh’s monuments led by Paul McAuley, Conservation Officer at City of Edinburgh Council.
The first of our tours in May focused on the city’s literary monuments. The tour began on a glorious sunny morning at the base of the Scott Monument on Princes Street, where we heard of the history of its construction. While climbing the structure we had the opportunity to look at past interventions and discuss philosophy of repair surrounding the controversial Edinburgh landmark before climbing the last of the 287 steps to merit earning our certificates of completion.
Delegates then trekked eastwards in the heat to the temple-like Burns Monument on Calton Hill and relished listening to Paul’s account of the building while standing in the cool, shady and rarely seen inside detail of the monument. The day finished with a lovely picnic lunch in the sun on the grass next to the Burns Monument with views across the Canongate and Craigs to Arthur’s Seat.
In late June, Paul led us once more through the streets of Edinburgh to take a closer look at some of the statues adorning the Royal Mile and the Grassmarket. The tour benefited from Paul’s expert knowledge of the history, conservation and maintenance of Edinburgh's monuments and definitely gave insight into these sometimes overlooked features of our streetscapes and built environment. Our evening ended pleasantly as Paul and most delegates stayed on for nibbles and drinks al fresco at a local pub.
New Lanark was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in December 2001 and is an exceptional example of a purpose-built 18th century mill village, set in a picturesque Scottish landscape near the Falls of Clyde.
New Lanark was founded by David Dale and is where he and Robert Owen inspired a model industrial community based on textile production. Our specialist tour by Lorna Davidson, the Deputy Director of the New Lanark Conservation Trust, lived up to our expectations and more as we were taken way beyond the normal visitor trail!
Every November SPAB is the force behind National Maintenance Week (NMW). The campaign aims to encourage professionals, homeowners and others to be aware of simple, economic and achievable maintenance steps they can take to protect their buildings. In 2010 we held another successful series of lectures which covered a variety of topics such as understanding electrical installations, conservation and maintenance plans, and current maintenance issues faced by local authorities in Scotland. For our 5th anniversary in November 2011 we will host an entire day of lectures given by professionals in the field, highlighting current research in energy efficiency. Now firmly established as a part of promoting NMW in Scotland, we expect the trend will continue for years to come!
The meeting point of our AGM was also the location of our afternoon lecture series and the first day of our tour.
Dr Raymond Lamb kicked off the study tour and the lectures with a most captivating account of the story of Orkney in a nutshell. Dr Lamb outlined the history of Orkney’s Viking landscape and then fittingly focused on William Morris, William Lethaby and Thomas Middlemore's exploration to find ‘wild places beyond the reach of the railways’. Dr Lamb’s introductory talk included a shortened account of Eynhallow which was of great interest as it argues and proves the existence of a fourth Lethaby house in Orkney.
Local boys and Orkney Island Council conservation and heritage planners Stuart West and Jamie Macvie treated delegates to facts and figures on conservation and maintenance in the area. We were privileged to be invited to participate in the re-launch of their conservation maintenance grant scheme, which was welcomed by Stromness councilor James Stockan and Stromness THI Project Manager Michael Broad. The event benefited coverage in the local media, and Mr Broad was snapped by the press clearing out a gutter from a historic building from a cherry picker!
Architect, SPABiS member and Orkney resident Leslie Burgher indulged delegates to walking tours on two separate occasions, guiding us through the historic thoroughfares of Stromness and Kirkwall. Not only was he patient and informed, Leslie had plenty of anecdotes and gave us a taste of Orkney’s poetry and prose several times, adding to the atmosphere and personal feel of the visit.
The highlight of our tour was the visit to Melsetter House on Hoy. Everyone found the opportunity to go to Lethaby’s northern fairy palace to be a wonderful experience. Elsie Seatter, our gracious host, let us into her own home for tea, complete with delicious home baking and local cheeses. She then led us on a personally guided tour through Melsetter House and chapel. We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Elsie once again for so kindly allowing us to visit her home and for giving such an interesting tour!
We also went to the nearby Lifeboat museum and Martello towers, and before leaving we had lunch and visited the Lyness Interpretation Centre.
On the last day of our tour we had the opportunity to visit Barony Mill and admire the recent repair works done there. Delegates stocked up on beremeal and swapped recipes for the trip back to the mainland. Before heading to Kirkwall for lunch delegates headed to Kirbuster Farm, a central hearth farmstead over 400 years old, now a museum for a taste of the bygone age.
New Floors in Old Buildings Technical Day, Dundee
Dundee University was the windy location of our technical day on new floors in historic buildings on Saturday 3rd October.
The SPABiS presented of technical lectures and demonstrations given by professionals in the field. Experts with years of experience talked about the issues and demonstrated some interesting new and old craft techniques. Topics included: lime ash flooring, rammed earth flooring, lime concrete floor systems and sustainable floor systems.
For those delegates who braved the gales for the afternoon demos, the technical day concluded with a surprise presentation by Jimmy Price (of the Virginia Lime Works Co in Madison Heights in Virginia) who was in Scotland by chance and attended our event!
SPABiS in Campbeltown: Historic Window Repair Technical Day
On a dreich and drookit Friday in Argyll on 14th of August delegates assembled at the Campbeltown Heritage Centre to learn and see first hand historic window repairs.
A short set of morning talks preceded a hearty lunch of sandwiches and hot soup kindly provided by the Centre. A packed afternoon of practical demonstrations followed where craftsmen demonstrated techniques and explained practical and simple tips about maintaining historic windows.
Workshops included the general overhaul, draft stripping and energy efficiency, practical repairs, painting, window fixtures and finding out about how to obtain funding to repair historic windows. This event was sponsored by Argyll & Bute Council THI/CARS for Campbeltown Town Centre Regeneration
Many thanks to all of you who came out to Argyll for what was a most informative day on traditional windows and their sensitive repair.
Walking Tour – Edinburgh’s Dean Village
On the evening of Thursday 9 July a spritely group of SPABiS delegates and local historian David Fleetwood met up for a tour of the Dean Village. Delegates explored the development of the area from its industrial heritage through pioneering social housing schemes to its modern day location at the core of Edinburgh’s UNESCO world heritage site.
As well as considering the historical development of the area, the tour provided the opportunity to discuss the adaptive re-use of a number of former industrial buildings and some early examples of developing themes in mid to late twentieth century conservation architecture. Many thanks to our tour guide who was most informative and knowledgeable, and quite funny with some asides!
The Britannia Panopticon Music Hall , Glasgow
SPABiS members and friends were priviledged visitors to a space time forgot on a chilly Saturday afternoon on 21 February: The Britannia Music Hall, very much a gem in the heart of Glasgow, sits mostly untouched but dearly coveted. Resident historian and Britannia lover Judith Bowers, author of "Stan Laurel and Other Stars of the Panopticon - The Story of the Britannia Music Hall", was on hand to usher us through the colorful past of the oldest surviving music hall in the UK and bring us up to date with the efforts underway to ensure its survival.
Her enthusiasm was electric and contagious, the stories she unraveled left most attendees minds to wander off to days gone by, where life was tough and the play hard. The Britannia was a place where spectators could go to forget all their worries. For the performers, dreams were made and broken in this here. If one closed their eyes listening to Judith's stories, it was possible to imagine the place packed, with the constant noise and mixture of odours.
We will definitely want to return! For more information on the Music Hall please visit
http://www.britanniapanopticon.org/1.html- do join Friends of the Britannia Panopticon - the subscriptions go towards the campaign to bring this music hall back to life!!
ECA Masterclasses – SPABiS sponsored lecture
These ECA lectures form part of the Scottish Centre for Conservation Studies Diploma / MSc in Architectural Conservation, which has been taught at Edinburgh College of Art since 1969. SPABiS is pleased to have sponsored a lecture this series which was held on 26 February at ECA.
The SPABiS was pleased to have Dr Bruce Induni, leading stone conservation consultant of Induni Conservation Ltd give a most witty lecture on Repair Versus Restoration - Putting Philosophy into Practice to a packed audience. The lecture was an examination of the ongoing repair versus restoration debate, focusing on the practical implications of implementing repair over restoration, one of the key issues in conservation theory.
In its efforts to promote conservation education in Scotland, the SPABiS hope to sponsor more Masterclasses in the future! If your post grad programme is interested, please contact our Administrator at
spabis@spab.org.uk or call 0131 557 1551.
2008 Events
SPAB in Scotland Winter Party
On the evening of Tuesday 9 December, SPAB members and guests from Scotland and the north of England were invited to come celebrate the end of the year and the beginning of the holidays with an informal get together at our offices on Barony Street in Edinburgh. Party goers enjoyed mulled wine, mince pies and good company. We hope to make this a seasonal SPABiS tradition!
2nd Annual Building Maintenance Lectures
Every November SPAB is the force behind National Maintenance Week. The campaign aims to encourage professionals, homeowners and others to be aware of simple, economic and achievable maintenance steps they can take to protect their buildings. On Tuesday 25 November 2008 a further series of lectures was offered by leading professionals, once again in conjunction with RICS and hosted by the Heriot-Watt School of the Built Environment.
The talks included a variety of topics relating to maintenance of traditional buildings, and were presented by an illustrious line-up of speakers. The lectures were well attended, with a good variety of delegates – from students, to professional, and homeowners. All attendees benefited from the knowledge of the speakers and the SPABiS received great feedback.
The speakers present were:
Ingval Maxwell – “The importance of maintaining traditional and historic buildings.”
Former Director of TCRE, Historic Scotland
Harriet Devlin- “European models in preventive maintenance.”
Lecturer in Historic Environment Conservation Ironbridge Institute, Churchill Fellowship award
Alan Gardner- “The need for old buildings to breath.”
Alan Gardner Associates, SPAB Technical Committee, SPAB Lethaby Scholar
Murdo Macleod- “City of Edinburgh Council experience of maintaining privately owned historic buildings.”
Group Leader, Property Conservation, City of Edinburgh Council
Maureen Young– “The use of themography for building maintenance.”
Research Scientist, TCR Historic Scotland
We hope to see everyone next year for the 2009 lectures!
SPAB in Scotland Annual General Meeting
Date: Saturday 18 October, 2008. Time: 12:00hrs. Location: Gauldry Village Hall, Fife.
The AGM was followed by an excellent guided tour of Balmerino Abbey and village, the weather couldn't have been more perfect for a country stroll!
SPAB Technical Day: Scottish Sandstone
The format of the day was a mix of technical lectures and demonstrations. The variety of topics included information on the structure of sandstone, common defects and methods of repair and conservation. Experts with years of experience discussed current issues and demonstrated some of the craft techniques. This was a must attend event for anyone interested ingaining more information about working with sandstone. Date: 16 September 2008, 9:30 - 17:00, Glasgow City Heritage Trust.
Edinburgh’ Historic Old Town, from Queen’s Gallery to the Hub, Edinburgh
Following the success of the SPABiS Glasgow Merchant City Walking tour, Ben Tindall of Benjamin Tindall Architects has agreed to lead a group through the heart of historic Edinburgh from the SPAB perspective.
Date: Saturday 2nd August 2008, 10:00 - 12:30
Masonry Day at King’s College Chapel, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire
A one off chance for members to view and hear in detail of the extensive masonry repairs to the magnificent crown spire of this ancient building; with Laing Traditional Masonry.
Date: Friday 25 July 2008. 11:00-16:00.
Craigievar Castle, nr Alford, Aberdeenshire
A great opportunity to view full reharl and roof repairs of this 17th century Scottish Baronial castle.
Date: Thursday 24 July 2008. 11:00-16:00 Lunch/refreshments provided.
Visit to Barry Mill, nr. Carnoustie, Angus
Our Miller put the Spring back into our steps with this guided tour of Barry Mill. This 3-storey red sandstone building dating from the 19th century is water powered meal mill, which last worked commercially in 1982. It was the last of its kind to work in Angus and is now a National Trust for Scotland property. Delegates had the opportunity to view a milling demonstration performed by the caretaker using the original working machinery, grinding animal feed! Refreshments provided.
Date: Saturday, 19 April 2008.
Time: 10:00am for 10:30 start.
Walking Tour of Glasgow Merchant City
The SPAB in Scotland invite you to come and explore the sites of one of Glasgow’s oldest districts. Delegates will be led on a specialist walking tour by Liz Davidson, Project Director of the Merchant City Townscape Heritage Initiative, a multi-agency urban regeneration programme in Glasgow. The tour will inform on challenges of regeneration in the area, and highlight the rich history and architecture made famous by wealthy of tobacco lairds and traders. Not to be missed!
Date/Time: Saturday, 16 February 2008, 14:00-16:00.
Location: Meet outside Merchant Square entrance, off Candlerigg. Look for the SPAB Flag!
2007 Events
Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in Scotland
Annual General Meeting
Saturday 27 October 2007 12:00 pm
The picturesque village of Dunkeld is an ideal setting for the SPAB in Scotland AGM. Once the ancient center of the Christian church in Scotland and a Royal seat, Dunkeld suffered during the Reformation and was destroyed in a 1689 Jacobite battle. Dunkeld enjoyed a brief period of re-gained prosperity when it was rebuilt in the 18th C as a market town and centre of commerce. However, by the mid 20th C, most of the buildings were abandoned and ruinous.
Today's Dunkeld is a tranquil rural village with whitewashed shops, cottages and hotels. A great deal of work was undertaken in the 1950s and 1960s by the National Trust for Scotland and the Local Authority to restore many of the older buildings on Cathedral Street and adjacent to the Mercat Cross. Under their direction and aid from initiatives such as the Little Houses Improvement Scheme, Dunkeld survives as one of the most complete 18th C towns in Scotland.
As a compliment to the AGM, a walking tour of the surroundings, including the 18th C ‘Little Houses’, will begin at 1:00 pm at the Cross in the village centre (or in the Taybank Hotel pub if it’s raining!). Post tour, delegates will have the opportunity to visit recently restored Ossian’s Hall, in the grounds surrounding the Hermitage near Dunkeld, and hear a brief of the recent work completed there by Benjamin Tindall Architects.
*AGM is FREE, venue is The Taybank Hotel, Tay Terrace, Dunkeld, 12:00 pm.
**Dunkeld Walking Tour is FREE for SPAB Members
SPAB in Scotland - Visit to Callart house, Scottish Highlands
Saturday, 1 September 2007, 11:00 - Late afternoon
Callart House is an elegant B-listed Georgian mansion built on the northern shores of Loch Leven. Designed by architects William Fraser and William Cameron for Sir Duncan Cameron of Fassifern c.1835-1837, the house also has several early twentieth century additions and alterations in the Arts and Crafts style, and is one of only two houses by Fraser and Cameron left in Locharber region of the Highlands.
The Callart policies include a small steading and a Locharber bank barn, one of the finest examples of its type - built to make use of the slope of the land with a raised threshing area above and separately accessed stable accommodation below. The whole composition is set in mature woodland with a ha-ha, now sadly overgrown, once providing a commanding view across Loch Leven to the hills of Glencoe.
Callart House has been unoccupied since the 1940's and though neglected, much of its original detailing survives intact. Of all the country houses in Locharber, Callart is one of the most opulent, with its apricot silk wall hangings, gilded cornice-work and finely grained paneling.
The visit will include a guided tour of Callart House and surrounding buildings. Currently undergoing major roof works, this is a unique opportunity for the curious to visit a building in need of significant repair, and prior to restorative works on the interiors commence. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. Please bring suitable clothing for the terrain and weather.
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings in Scotland
&
RICS Scotland Building Surveying Faculty
Invite you to a series of lectures/ CPD* on
Historic Building Maintenance
Tuesday, 1 May 2007
Heriot-Watt University
As a part of our ongoing commitment to historic building maintenance, the SPABiS, with funding support from the RICS, is organizing a series of lectures on the evening of Tuesday, 1 May 2007, hosted by Heriot-Watt University, School of the Built Environment.
The talks will include a variety of topics relating to maintenance of traditional buildings, presented by an illustrious line-up of speakers. The event will commence at 5:00 p.m. in Room 3.07 of the Edwin Chadwick building and is expected to finish at 8 p.m., snacks and refreshments will be provided at the interval. To cover the cost of the evening, we request a payment of £20 per person. This event is not to be passed up, for homeowners and professionals alike!
Itinerary
5:00 Martin J. Hadlington- Introduction
SPABiS Convenor, RIAS Conservation Architect, SPAB Scholar 1989
5:05 Harriet Devlin- “European models in preventive maintenance.”
Lecturer in Historic Environment Conservation Ironbridge Institute, Churchill Fellowship award
5:35 James Douglas- “Maintenance Theory.”
Lecturer & Course Leader in Building Surveying Heriot-Watt University
5:55 Dr Graeme Bowles- “Life Cycle Costing.”
Senior Lecturer & Course Leader MSc Construction Management Heriot-Watt University
6:15 Break
6:45 Alan Gardner- “The need for old buildings to breath.”
Alan Gardner Associates, SPAB Technical Committee, SPAB Lethaby Scholar
7:15 Bill Revie- “Specialist surveys for building maintenance: Infrared Thermography & Radar.”
Construction Materials Consultants Ltd
7:50-8:00 Open Discussion
*This event is intended to assist those with Continuous Professional Development requirements. Responsibility for judging relevance lies with the individual.
RUINS DAY, LOCHBUIE HOUSE AND MOY CASTLE, ISLE OF MULL, 31 MARCH 2007
The climate on Mull is changeable and rarely predictable, but Saturday 30th March saw beautiful cloudless blue sky as SPAB in Scotland paid a visit to Lochbuie House to meet the owners Jim and Patience Corbett. We were there to see both the house and its policies but principally to view the current consolidation works being undertaken to Moy Castle, the ancient home of the McLane’s which stands nearby.
Moy Castle dates principally to the 14th century and is a magnificent and intriguing example of the Scottish defensive tower house. It has thrown up a series of interesting and bewildering finds since the works began. Internally there are two large barrel vaults, one and above the other and set at right angles, in addition there are two subsidiary vaults adjacent to each of these, but set at different levels. There is also a good compliment of narrow twisting stairs, dark nooks and crannies, and a bottle dungeon!
The condition of the tower had become a matter of concern and Jim Corbett decided to instigate a programme of works to secure the monument for the future, whilst ensuring that only the minimum necessary would be done. Under the expert care of Duncan Strachan, master mason, and his team, together with conservation architect and former SPAB scholar Martin Hadlington, the most urgent works to stabilise the structure and prevent the collapse of stacks and gableheads at the top are now nearing completion.
We were therefore treated to a rare opportunity to climb up to the wallhead to see at first hand the consolidation work which has been undertaken, not least the breathtaking reconstruction of a chimneystack from the inside, whilst the stones above may have fallen at any moment. The works are clearly expertly done and very much in the SPAB philosophy with traditional materials and methods and discernible difference between old and new. The experience was made all the better by having Martin and Duncan on hand to discuss and explain the issues and challenges which have arisen during the project, which led to an impromptu discussion regarding the differences between restoration and conservation.
The second part of the day was a tour of the policies of Lochbuie House by Jim Corbett, who took us to see the prehistoric stone circle near to the house, the only one on the island, as well as a 19th century Episcopal estate chapel and the McLane Mausoleum, where the breathtaking tranquillity and beauty of the setting were more apparent than ever. The tour also gave the opportunity to see the challenges and rewards of running an estate in the modern world.
The day was further enhanced by a delicious lunch provided by Patience and served in the dining room of Lochbuie House. On that note we can only therefore express again our warmest thanks to Jim and Patience for their magnificent hospitality.
