Falkland Craft Symposium: Day Two

Event details

Wednesday 19th August, 14.00-16.00  Free Online Lectures, donations encouraged

Falkland Craft Symposium, Day Two

A window into the world of Craftsmanship as expressed through a rural Estate in Fife committed to sustainability, and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, founded by William Morris in 1877 with the strong support of John Ruskin. This is the fifth Craft Symposium hosted by the Falkland Centre for Stewardship and the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, and supported by Ruskin’s Guild of St George (founded in 1871), the Art Workers’ Guild (founded in 1884) and the Building Limes Forum.

Due to the restrictions in place as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, the annual Falkland Craft Symposium will be held online. The programme will run from Tuesday 18th-Friday 21st August, with lectures everyday at 14.00-16.00. Please sign up individually for each day. Tickets are free, but donations are encouraged and gratefully received. 

Day Two Programme:

14.00-14.10: Opening remarks from Convener Craig Frew, trustee of Falkland Stewardship Trust, historic buildings consultant, Frew Conservation

14.10-14.40: Marietta Crichton Stuart, historian, archivist, Trustee of Falkland Stewardship Trust: The role of outstanding craftspeople in achieving the vision of John Patrick Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute, with reference to the stone, wood, glass and lead work and the painted decoration at Falkland Palace and the House of Falkland.

14.40:  Q&A

14.50-15.20:  Darren McLean, conservation joiner, with many complementary craft skills, will describe how he has applied skills and principles to the challenges of repairing the joinery, an outstanding example of craftsmanship of the early 1840s, at the House of Falkland.

15.20-15.30: Q&A

15.30-15.45: Opportunity for general discussion.

About the Symposium:

Beginning in 2016, the Falkland Centre for Stewardship has initiated a series of Craft Symposia, in August, of which this is the fifth. The Symposia have from the beginning been supported by the SPAB and have included the participation of the Society’s William Morris Craft Fellows and the SPAB Scholars who are generally architects, building surveyors or engineers. They have also been generously supported by Historic Environment Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland.

Previous Symposia have included a mix of serious intellectual discourse with practical craft activities covering different fields every year. The traditional buildings materials of Britain (stone, earth, brick, plaster, timber, thatch, glass) and the skills associated with them such as how to produce and use lime for the all-important purposes of pointing, plastering or harling, and decoration.

This year the Crafts Symposium is perforce a virtual event but we hope that it will have some of the flavour of previous symposia in combining thoughtful reflections across the materials and skills with contributions from craftspeople working in various fields as well as from conservation professionals and historians.

All donations will be divided equally between the Falkland Centre for Stewardship and SPAB Scotland and are gratefully received. 

Booking Terms & Conditions

IT requirements: Please note that this is an online lecture and will be held via a webinar platform. You will be sent instructions on how to join the session the day before the lecture. To participate, all you need is an internet connection, and a laptop, computer or phone with the ability to play video and audio. 

If you'd like to test your internet speed meets requirements before booking, please use this page on the CrowdCast website.

Accessibility: please contact the SPAB before booking to discuss any special access requirements.