9 September 2009

Media Releases

Historic Scotland is to visit the Wandel and Lamington Parish to identify the area’s important buildings and to review the existing listings in the parish. This will ensure that these areas have the appropriate statutory protection, and all information is current and up to date; the parish has not been comprehensively resurveyed since 1971. Historic Scotland is reviewing the historic and picturesque village of Lamington in order to identify the buildings that meet the criteria for listing, whilst reassessing and updating any existing listings to provide more comprehensive and accurate descriptions.

8 September 2009

Media Releases

As part of the Scottish Archaeology Month programme, there’s a rare opportunity this weekend to take a guided tour of two of the most fascinating and ancient historic sites in Angus. The Brown and White Caterthuns near Brechin are two spectacularly large hill forts which are among the most impressive in Scotland

4 September 2009

Media Releases

The gracious and commanding presence of St Andrew’s House has now distinguished Edinburgh’s skyline for 70 years – but for three decades it was the most contentious new build in Scotland. Designed by Thomas S Tait of Paisley, St Andrew’s House is now recognised as a work of art, adorned with fine carving by Sir W Reid Dick, Alexander Carrick and Phyllis Bone and with outstanding bronze doors by Walter Gilbert. Internally the Art Deco refinement continues in the streamlined interiors, not least in the fine stairs, the tailored conference rooms and the walnut-panelled ‘Secretary of State’s’ room.

2 September 2009

Media Releases

A series of archaeological surprises has led Historic Scotland to extend this year’s excavation at a Neolithic site on Orkney. The Links of Noltland attracted international attention with the discovery of Scotland’s earliest human figurine – dating back around 5,000 years.

27 August 2009

Media Releases

What may be the oldest surviving ‘written’ Scottish instrumental music has been identified on a 16th-century carving from Stirling Castle’s royal palace. The border of one of the Stirling Heads – which used to decorate palace ceilings – has a series of cryptic markings which could be a Renaissance musical composition. If this is the case, as experts believe, the music could have been played on instruments such as harps, viols, fiddles and lutes. However, evidence from Wales from later in the century, suggests that the composition may have part of the home-grown harp tradition.