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"New festival to celebrate Scottish history"

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  1. chdot
    Admin

    "Walking tours, debates, exhibitions, lectures, storytelling sessions, film screenings, comedy events and poetry nights are all planned as part of the first event, pencilled in for 17-27 November."

    http://www.scotsman.com/news/New-festival-to-celebrate-Scottish.6819363.jp

    http://www.historyfest.co.uk

    Perhaps someone could organise history cycle tours - or at least (virtual) maps of key locations.

    Edinburgh doesn't have a direct equivalent of the Blue Plaque scheme, though there are many signs marking the places where notable events occurred or people lived.

    There's the Patrick Geddes Heritage Trail and Edinburgh's LGBT History Paths and the Edinburgh Women's Achievement trail - and undoubtedly many more based around a range of themes (including literature and 'World Heritage') or people.

    There could be one for (Sir) James Gowans which would involve a train trip to North Berwick and a visit to parts of West Lothian.

    There is also this - Edinburgh Photo Trail - spots to take the 'best' photos from.

    Posted 12 years ago #

  2. Wilmington's Cow
    Member

    Art Deco buildings of Edinburgh!

    Great City Bricks!

    Auld Reekie's Surfaced ASLs! (that's quite a short tour)

    The Great Castle to Shore Cycle Roll...

    Posted 12 years ago #

  3. kaputnik
    Moderator

    Basil Spence by Bike?

    (Turns out he did the Newington art deco garage that Anth photographed)

    Posted 12 years ago #

  4. chdot
    Admin

    "Born in Bombay in 1907, the young Spence was educated until the age of 12 in India before being sent to George Watson's College in Edinburgh. He studied architecture at the Edinburgh College of Art, and spent a year at the London office of Edwin Lutyens who was a clear influence on Spence's work. During the 1930s Spence undertook his first architectural commissions with the Edinburgh firm of Rowand Anderson, Paul and Partners, including the country house Broughton Place (1935-37), executed in Scottish-Renaissance style. After Army service during the war, Spence set up his first practice; he combined his home and office, first in Edinburgh and then at two successive addresses in London."

    http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/about/news/blue-plaque-for-sir-basil-spence

    That's Broughton in the Borders not BP off B St!

    "Spence came to be closely associated with a Modernist/Brutalist style of architecture that has since become highly controversial."

    http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/usbiography/s/basilspence.html

    Posted 12 years ago #

  5. chdot
    Admin

    "(Turns out he did the Newington art deco garage that Anth photographed)"

    I knew that! Went in (private flat upstairs) as part of Edinburgh Doors Open Day a few years ago.

    Last year's brochure (wasn't open then).

    Posted 12 years ago #

  6. chdot
    Admin

    "
    The Festival of History (Scotland) was established as a Social Enterprise in November 2010.

    The Festival of History exists to promote and widen the gateways to Scotland’s history. In year one, the festival will run in Edinburgh from 17th –27th November 2011.

    The festival will present high-quality events to challenge commonly held ideas and beliefs about local and national history, encourage community participation, and stimulate national debate and discussion.

    Working with multiple partner organisations and venues our aim is to inspire Scotland’s people to rediscover their personal, family, community and national history, and to stimulate interest in places of historic interest, institutions, and organisations, involved in the academic study, archive, preservation, promotion and advancement of Scotland’s history
    "

    http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/ian-harrower/16/7a2/695

    Posted 12 years ago #

  7. chdot
    Admin

    "
    We now have a deadline of 3rd October for our programme to be published and I wondered if you had any more thoughts about organising a historical bike tour?

    I would love to include it in the programme and think it could work across one of our weekends.

    Kind Regards

    Ian Harrower

    "

    Well...

    Seems like there should be something in the programme for the first "The Festival of History" involving a cycle tour.

    The WoL has been mentioned - certainly there is a lot of History - all sorts of mills - mostly unmarked, Arrol (even Wikipedia doesn't know about his involvement with the Balerno line) etc.

    Similarly a tour to places relating to Gowans (some photos).

    Maybe just a tour around the NEPN noting where the stations used to be.

    Not forgetting the possibility of Art Deco (a 'favourite' on this forum!)

    I think a sensible format would be two 'leaders' and 6-10 other participants who would be introduced to various 'historic' places in Edinburgh by bike and have a discussion about various stopping places in an informative - rather than 'expert' - fashion.

    Posted 12 years ago #

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