|
Welcome to our summer e-news. Since our last issue, we have all had to adjust to a new way of life. Like many other charities, SGLH has been trying its hardest to conduct business as usual. That has brought its challenges, its setbacks and its rewards!
We have been able to welcome several new members, partly through the success of our new website. The Board has held its first virtual meeting, confirming the justification of providing for virtual meetings in our Constitution. Regrettably, we have had to postpone our spring and summer events to 2021. At the same time, the Board has been busy planning an exciting programme of future events and study days, more news of which will follow shortly.
Meanwhile I hope that you will enjoy reading this latest issue of our e-news. We would, of course, very much welcome your feedback and suggestions.
Chloe Bennett, Chair
|
|
|
|
View of Culross Abbey House, as prepared by J. Slezer (1693)
|
|
|
Culross Abbey House and Gardens as shown on Roy's Military Survey (1747-55)
|
|
|
The designed landscape associated with Culross Abbey House is included on Historic Environment Scotland's Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes. SGLH were alerted to a planning application which sought permission to change a disused reservoir structure within the designed landscape into a dwelling house, through external alterations and the addition of a two-storey extension. Upon examining the proposals, we found that, although the current reservoir structure is all but invisible from the house, the proposed dwelling, a further two storeys high, would be a new dominant and intrusive element in the landscape. We submitted an objection letter to the planning application, which you can read in full here.
|
|
|
|
View from Development Site (visible in foreground) towards Culross Abbey House , image taken from Google Streetview.
|
|
|
Valleyfield Under Threat!
|
|
|
Members who attended the Humphry Repton study day in 2018 at Broomhall, followed by a walk around the landscape at Valleyfield to explore what remains of the historic designed landscape, will be dismayed to learn that there has been a damaging incursion into the Valleyfield landscape during the Covid-19 lockdown. It is reported that vandals have broken through one of the gates into what is now known as Valleyfield Woodland Park, armed with a mechanical digger, and have created an off-road bike circuit with much mounding and excavation in the Pleasure Ground, the area of parkland immediately to the south of the site of the old mansion house, comprising the Cow Park, East Park and Flagstaff Park.
|
|
|
|
Extract from Plan of the Valleyfield landscape dating from c. 1810
|
|
|
The Valleyfield landscape is included in Historic Environment Scotland’s Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland, so is regarded as of national significance. Quite apart from breaking the law, this development flies in the face of both national and local development plan policies regarding the protection of Inventory sites. Accordingly, SGLH has written a strongly worded to the leader of Fife Council to express its dismay at this development, and urging the Council to work together with the Police and other interested parties to identify and prosecute the vandals, to level the new earthworks, and to secure the boundaries of the site to as to prevent further incursions. Read the full letter on the news section of our website.
|
|
|
Glorious Gardens To Be Added to New Archive
|
|
|
We are excited to report that SGLH has been invited by the Falkirk Community Trust to contribute to a new website called “Our Stories”. The aim of this exciting new venture is to create an accessible digital archive of all the projects that make Falkirk a great place. Read all about how our Glorious Gardens volunteers will be contributing to this new website here.
|
|
|
|
Regrettably, we have had to postpone our spring and summer events until 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Board has been busy planning exciting future events and study days. Keep an eye on the events page of our website for all the latest updates.
|
|
|
|
Help Raise Funds for SGLH
|
|
|
|
Did you know that you can help raise funds for SGLH whenever you shop online? Simply go to www.easyfundraising.org.uk and search for Scotland's Garden and Landscape Heritage. When you use easyfundraising to shop with any of 4,000 retailers, the retailer makes a small donation to say thank you and sends free funds to SGLH. Find more information about easyfundraising here.
|
|
|
You can also help us raise funds when shopping on Amazon, by using Amazon Smile. Simply go to https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ search for Scotland's Garden and Landscape Heritage and then continue with your shopping as normal!
|
|
|
|
We were pleased to hear of a new prize essay competition launched by the Scottish Records Association. The Tunnock Essay Prize is aimed at postgraduate students and early career researchers kindly sponsored by Thomas Tunnock Ltd. You can read all about this new prize here. The closing date for entries is 1 September 2020.
|
|
|
|
In place of our usual events, and to help keep us all inspired, we have decided to share a series of virtual visits to gardens around the world which our members have previously had a chance to visit. We'd love to share in your visits, please send photographs of gardens you have visited along with a short description (this doesn't need to be more than three or four sentences) to website@sglh.org. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy these virtual visits to Crichton Gardens and to Castle Kennedy and Lochinch.
|
|
The Rock Garden at Crichton Gardens, Dumfries
(From a visit by Marion Shawcross, SGLH Board Member)
|
|
|
Crichton hospital in 1847 by Joseph Watson (1808 – 1878)
Photo credit: NHS Dumfries and Galloway
|
|
|
The Crichton Royal Hospital, which opened in 1839, was a beacon of progressive treatment for people with mental health problems. The first medical superintendent, Dr W A F Browne was a firm believer in the therapeutic value of gardens and gardening and along with Elizabeth Crichton, the hospital’s benefactor, designed and oversaw the extensive gardens, much of which survive today.
|
|
|
The Rock Garden as seen in 2014
Read more of the history of the gardens, and see more photographs here.
|
|
Castle Kennedy and Lochinch, Wigtownshire
(From a visit by Christopher Dingwall, SGLH Trustee & Vice-Chair)
|
|
|
|
View of Castle Kennedy Earthworks, with Black Loch visible beyond
|
|
|
A short distance to the north and east of Stranraer, in the far South-West of Scotland, is Castle Kennedy and Lochinch. Stretching between the ruins of the old castle, burned in 1716, and the imposing Victorian mansion of Lochinch are 75 acres of gardens.
|
|
|
|
View of Castle Kennedy canal
|
|
First laid out for the 2nd Earl of Stair in the 1720s and 1730s with a series of giant earthworks, the gardens are now best known for the rhododendrons and fine trees which flourish in the warm maritime climate.
The gardens occupy a narrow ridge, separating two lochs, from which there are dramatic views to be had of the two castles and surrounding scenery. Among noteworthy features are the Round Pond, and the impressive Araucaria Avenue. Continue your virtual visit, and see more photos here.
|
|
|
|
|
