Ruskin Lane Consulting Autumn 2013 | Page 51

MEMBERS AREA

ACTIVITIES
these Ayrshire towns that one usually just
rushes through. His pottery is unique in the
way he uses wooden moulds which create
distinctive patterns and is sold around the
country.
This was followed by a visit to Knockroon
on the outskirts of Cumnock, inspired and
promoted by Prince Charles. It is almost as
if a sparkling village from another time and
place has mysteriously materialised on the
through road alongside contrasting sombre
existing houses. It generally raises some
eyebrows, and perhaps some critical
questions, but the members generally left
very impressed.
At Dumfries House, Mike handed over to
the curator Charlotte Rostek, who gave us
a most thorough introduction to the wide
range of restoration work and Prince's Trust
initiatives. These include an impressive
hospitality school with a restaurant and a
traditional building skills training centre. We
were shown a unique timber and thatch
gazebo next to a Japanese style garden built
by the training centre. There are also new
facilities for budding artists in the newly
restored Dumfries House Laundry, originally
designed by John Adam in 1760. It has been
named the Prince’s Drawing School
Dimplex Studio (with reference to a
sponsor and heating system). Even the
small, but newly restored, doocot was
fascinating. It is dated 1671 above the door,
but seems to have had mixed origins. Other
work under way includes gardens and an
arboretum. This was followed by a quick
tour of the impressive Dumfries House
itself.
September: Perthshire
Drummond Castle and keep: We are
looking forward to this visit on the 26th
September and thank, in advance, Lady
Willoughby de Eresby and the Grimsthorpe
& Drummond Castle Trust. The castle
comprises a tower house built in the late
18th century and a 17th century mansion,
both of which were rebuilt in Victorian
times.
Winter programme
As ever, a great and varied lecture
programme awaits our members. Details
can be found at the back of this magazine.
As noted elsewhere, we have joined forces
with the Victorian Society which is hosting
an exhibition entitled “Saving a Century” in
the Mitchell Library in Glasgow throughout
October. We have added a public lecture by
Dr James Macaulay to this and will hopefully
attract both members and prospective
members. As with the winter lectures,
further details are to be found at the end.

Low Parks Museum in Hamilton, venue for the Strathclyde Group AGM
Image © Jeremy Watson

Dumfries House (this image) and restored doocot (below)
Images © Jeremy Watson

Overall, it has been an eventful year. The
George Square saga with the drastic
competition proposals, including the
removal or moving of the statues, was
abandoned under public pressure giving
way to a basic sprucing up. We still had a
lot to say about this as the greatly reduced
scheme, termed “temporary” by Glasgow
City Council, still present concerns. Efforts
to save the B listed London Street School
have been lost. We remain uncomfortable
about the delegation of powers in respect
for B l