Calton Hill Research Project

Article on re-discovering a French cemetery through smartphones

2011-10-10T09:31:00.002+01:00

A great idea and one that could be done throughout any burial ground.....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15216513

Cast Collection Conference

2011-09-01T18:35:00.002+01:00

I will be presenting a paper entitled: The Monument, The Image and The Zeitgeist at the Cast Collection Conference at Edinburgh College of Art on the 10th September. This will discuss the development of the National Monument, from an exploration of the concept of the Parthenon and its association with the origins of the phrase "The Athens of the North," up to the present day.

Further information on the Cast Collection can be found here, and a programme for the whole conference can be found here.

5 Graveyards Project

2011-07-08T19:17:00.000+01:00

I recently completed some research for the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust and the World Monuments Fund on the historical background of 5 of the Burial Grounds found within the Edinburgh World Heritage Site. This was for the 5 Graveyards project - see http://www.wmf.org/project/edinburgh-historic-graveyards.

This included background research on Greyfriars, Canongate and St Cuthbert's Kirkyards and Old and New Calton Burial grounds, using primary and secondary sources. The results of this work is to be published in the Autumn.

The Lincoln Monument in Old Calton Burial Ground

2011-06-16T19:08:00.000+01:00

Ever wondered about this monument and how it came about? A book available on Archive.org published in 1893 - at the time of this monument's unveiling - gives an interesting background to the history and meaning behind one of the few statues of Lincoln to be found outside of the United States.

Old Observatory House refurbishment now completed!

2011-03-06T20:26:00.000Z

www.edinburgh.gov.uk/news/article/402/old_observatory_house_becomes_hillside_holiday_home_with_views_to_die_for

Burns, Bombay and the British Empire

2011-03-05T18:57:00.000Z

I will be presenting a paper on my research from India, and the connections to Calton Hill in a conference entitled the 'Object of Poetry' at the University of Dundee on the 26th March. This is the culmination of the AHRC and Beyond Text project entitled "Robert Burns: Inventing Tradition and Securing Memory, 1796-1909," which was carried out collectively between the University of Glasgow and the University of Dundee. The full programme for the can conference can be found here.

ICOMOS Conference on Buildings Archaeology

2010-10-16T18:29:00.002+01:00

I am presenting at a conference in November, commenting on the processes involved in Buildings Archaeology in the UK. Further information and a programme is available on line here, and the presented paper will be available in a forthcoming ICOMOS publication.

Article on Calton Hill in Edinburgh Life

2010-07-16T17:28:00.003+01:00

I have recently contributed to edition 5 of Edinburgh life magazine - A local magazine celebrating all that is Edinburgh - its history, culture and cityscape. Issues should be available in the shops in the Autumn, and after that will be available online at www.edinburghlifemagazine.com.

Death Commemoration and Memory: An Exploration of Representation, Concept and Change

2010-06-01T15:59:00.011+01:00

A two-day conference is planned in Edinburgh for Thursday 24th and Friday 25th June 2010.

This is to provide a platform for interdisciplinary discussion on the themes of Death, Commemoration and Memory and to create new networks between researchers with similar interests throughout the academic community, from a variety of disciplines and academic institutions.

Further information can be found at:

www.dcm.ace.ed.ac.uk/contact.html

New statue proposed for the political martyrs of 1794

2010-05-05T12:26:00.004+01:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8660626.stm

Royal High School Art Hotel

2010-02-04T12:27:00.001Z

http://news.scotsman.com/news/Edinburgh39s-Royal-High-School-set.6036933.jp

Robert Adam's Bridewell on Calton Hill

2009-11-20T11:50:00.000Z

A great website explaining the proposals and social background to Robert Adam's designs for the Bridewell on Calton Hill, which was demolished to make way for Thomas Tait's Scottish Office in the 1930s.

http://www.scran.ac.uk/ada/documents/castle_style/bridewell/bridewell_home.htm

Interesting research paper on the National Monument

2009-09-01T17:57:00.000+01:00

I had my attention recently drawn to an interesting research paper by a Dr Mark Fehlmann entitled " A building from which Derived"All that is good": Observations on the Intended Reconstuction of the Parthenon on Calton Hill. Its well worth a read if you are interested in the Hill and its monuments.....

India and Calton Hill

2009-08-06T17:42:00.004+01:00

In June, I was lucky enough to be awarded a research grant to India by the INTACH UK Trust. This came about after some extensive research on both the Burns and National Monuments on Calton Hill uncovered that the former had been instigated in Bombay (by such notables as Mountstuart Elphinstone and John Malcolm), while nearly 50% of the funding of the latter came from expatriates in the East India Company residing in Madras. I wrote a (very) small article on what I did out there for the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust newsletter - which included both archival research and research into Indian heritage and conservation work.

Research trip to India

2009-08-01T18:40:00.001+01:00

During the month of June, I spent four weeks in India carrying out work with three specific goals:

1: To locate and record information that helps to understand the impetus behind of ex-patriot Brits in India organising and contributing to monuments in Great Britain during the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century.

2. To undertake a wider exploration of the question of nationality and the perception of being a Scot in the British Empire, by looking at what it meant to be a Scot in India during the time of the British Raj.

3. To continue on from the work carried out by the INTACH Trust awarded grant last year that surveyed the Scots Cemetery in Kolkata in forging further links between conservation and heritage professionals in the UK and India.

The first two objectives were achieved by viewing a wide and varied range of archival material in the National Library in Kolkata, the Asiatic Societies in Kolkata and Mumbai, the Mountstuart Elphinstone College in Mumbai, the libraries of the University of Mumbai and the Madras Literary Society in Chennai.

The results of this trip provided both archival and physical data from the remains of structures and monuments that can still be found within the Indian landscape. This data assisted in the understanding of monument commemoration and its use in developing propaganda to foster emulation and admiration in those responsible for the expansion of the British colonies, encouraging a sense of duty in expatriates based overseas for the benefit of the British Empire.

However, as monuments were also erected within the British Isles, by considering the purpose for monuments identified in India in a comparative study with the purpose of commemorative monuments in Scotland, and considering these two places within the context of part of the British Empire with their own separate cultural definitions to London, I was able to formulate theories on the overall purpose and importance of these structures during the nineteenth century. By preparing a case study on a monument instigated in India, yet built in Scotland, the psyche of the people behind the building and fundraising for these structures could be further explored in a more general sense regarding the importance of commemoration, not only in Scotland or India, but worldwide. The results of these ideas will form the basis for future research on these themes and much of the research has been integrated into my PhD work, which now has a whole chapter devoted to memorials and commemoration as a result of my Indian trip.

Further work is also in the process of being proposed for the future which will consider the role that India played in funding and influencing urban development in the UK in both the 19th and 20th centuries, and this is planned as post-doctoral research which is specified further below and will be refined throughout the course of the next eighteen months.

The remains of the British Imperial monuments and structures studied during my visit to India were not only important in the interpretation of their historic use, but also their use in the present day, where many of these structures and statues are now redundant. To consider how the conservation of these structures can be carried out, not only in a physical sense, but also theoretically, was an extremely educational and humbling experience. Many structures contain negative associations for Indians in the 21st century and this raised questions over the challenges found worldwide in conservation regarding the appropriateness of use, interpretation and protection.

To fulfil the third objective of my trip, I met with a number of architectural professionals and heritage bodies as I travelled through the country. This included institutions such as the West Bengal Heritage Society, Sir JJ School Of Architecture, Mountstuart Elphinstone College, Archaeological Survey of India, the University of Mumbai, The Indian Museum in Kolkata, and local INTACH departments. I also met with a number of conservation architects in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Kolkata to view and discuss recently completed and current conservation projects in action.

Since my return to the UK, this research and experience has inspired and motivated me to become further involved in cross-cultural collaborations regarding the architectural history of buildings in India and also their conservation and re-development in their current environment.

This has included projects such as:

Working with the World Monuments Fund by carrying out research on the Osmania Women’s College in Hyderabad, which the WMF are currently restoring.

Archival work on the Scottish Church College (AKA Duff College) in Kolkata, which has assisted in the preparation of potential conservation proposals for the building.

Setting up talks in Edinburgh by eminent Indian conservation professionals during their visits to the UK. Numerous conservation professionals and academics in Scotland have attended these and have began to set up their own contacts between the UK and India, for the pursuit of further academic and professional discourse.

Inspired by this last outcome, I have also recently set up an academic forum on Scots in India (http://scotsinindia.wordpress.com/). This is the start of a potential post-doctoral project, for which proposals for funding are already being considered. However, at present this forum aims to integrate work from academics and professionals, not only based in the UK or even in India, but worldwide, in order to bring together the work being carried out on the legacies found from Scots in India through art, architecture and society both in India and Scotland.

Book on the Buildings of Burford

2009-07-21T17:39:00.006+01:00

A review of a book for a town in Oxfordshire I was asked to read recently - would be great if this type of detailed historical and architectural information could be extended to be carried out in all parts of the UK.

SPP Consultative draft

2009-05-22T13:12:00.000+01:00

The Scottish government are inviting comments on Scottish Planning Policy, which affects everything to do with the planning process in Scotland, including Cultural Heritage. The draft policy documents and where to send comments to can be found here.

Article for EWHT Journal

2009-05-15T18:35:00.000+01:00

I was recently asked to write an article for the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust's first ever journal. It turned out to be a nice little publication and one that is great for reading over a coffee - if you can get your hands on a copy. Go to www.ewht.org for further details.

Repairs to the Robert Burns Monument

2009-05-10T15:01:00.001+01:00

I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Burns Monument while repairs were being carried out to the structure. In having the opportunity to climb up the scaffolding and view the structure up close, it was fantastic to be able to see the detail of Thomas Hamilton's designs for this structure.

Detail of the cupola roof covered in imitation laurel leaves, which is taken from Stuart and Revett's Choragic Monument of Lysicrates - This can also be found on the Alloway Burns Monument.

Detail of the sejant, winged lions (not griffins, as they are described in Edinburgh's Buildings of Scotland guide) which support the finial. According to Joe Rock, in his publication on Thomas Hamilton's work, these are based on Charles H. Tatham's "Etchings of Ancient Ornamental Architecture", dating to 1806.

Detail of a lion water spout, situated at the wallhead guttering

Detail of the scrolled copings.

Many thanks to the City of Edinburgh Council and Ediburgh World Heritage Trust for allowing me to carry out this fascinating visit.

Cambridge Conference

2009-04-21T18:12:00.001+01:00

I was asked to present a paper on Calton Hill at the 10th Annual Cambridge Heritage Seminar at Cambridge University. The weekend was interesting, with many different speakers coming from all over the world, but unfortunately highlighted the same problems in heritage conservation appear to be recurring again and again, whichever part of the world you hail from. You can find both my paper here and along with the other speakers papers on the website - just follow the links provided.

Research Conference

2008-12-03T11:44:00.007Z

I recently gave a conference paper at a student research conference at the University of Edinburgh and I thought that I might stick it up here for all those that were unable to attend at the time.

The paper, entitled "Whats the use? Fighting an 'uphill' battle within a World Heritage Site" was my first attempt at combining some of the archival research that I have been busy with over the past few months together with a selection of many of the 'real issues' that currently affect the site. It was interesting to see the reaction of many of the people who attended the talk, as both those who were familiar with the site and those who were not were fascinated by the complexities of the Hill's development and its history, as well as the problems that the site currently faces.

Repair work to the National Monument

2008-12-01T17:27:00.001Z

I have been having a busy couple of weeks since setting up this page, so as a result, I have not had much time to update this site on all that I've been up to!

Last week, I had the opportunity to go up The Hill to watch the some of the ongoing repair work being carried out to the National Monument and it was fascinating to watch the builders in action. A condition survey carried out by the conservation architects for the structure had noted that a lintel on the northern side of the monument had moved slightly and a huge machine was required to lift this piece of stonework back into place.

The National Monument was constructed of a material called Craigleith sandstone - this was the same material used to construct much of the New Town - which came from Craigleith Quarry, approximately 2 miles from the City Centre. This quarry is no longer in use, so it is vital to preserve as much of the stonework as possible as although substitutes can be found they are not as durable or as beautiful as the Craigleith Stone.

Conservation Plan for Calton Hill

2008-11-22T13:58:00.001Z

A conservation plan for Calton Hill was produced by LDN Architects in 1999. It is an in-depth and comprehensive piece of work that includes amongst other things, archaeological, geological and architectural appendices that are a fascinating read in their own right and give you a bit of an idea how much there is going on with this hill, and where the knowledge gaps still lie. The plan can be downloaded from the City of Edinburgh council website, or can also be found in hard copy in the Main Edinburgh library of George IV Bridge.

Some general info

2008-11-17T10:21:00.000Z

A bit of background on Calton Hill

http://www.ewht.org.uk/GetFile.aspx?ItemId=478

For starters...

2008-11-17T09:48:00.001Z

Welcome to the Calton Hill Research Project!

This is a blog to record my PhD research on the cultural and intellectual scope of The Hill, as well as looking at the practical conservation work being carried out there at present.

In addition to updates and information I come across - or that occurs during my ongoing research - there will be some historical allusion in this blog, and references on where to look for the history of the hill, but it will not be a fully comprehensive history of the site. I will aim to only publish information that is accurate and will reference any research papers and academic analysis within this site. In addition, I will amend any errors as soon as I am aware of them but please note that this blog records research in progress. As such, my viewpoints, perspectives and conclusions may change during the course of my work.

This project is in collaboration with a leading academic institution and a local heritage body, but all opinions on this site are solely that of the author.

Admin bit done! - I hope you find this site interesting and informative and an enjoyable read. Please feel free to email me any comments or pieces of information that you feel may be useful to my research, or if you wish any further information on any of the posts that I have supplied.

Kirsten