Gordon Barr

stumbled on a set of incredible 1970s illustrations in some government reports, so had to spend a day collecting them into a website to share with my friends on the computer: nickseaver.net/paperwork

Another fantastic in depth cinema article from @threadinburgh.scot - this time about the State Supercinema (and later Prize Bing hall) in Leith. threadinburgh.scot/2026/10/19/t...

Introducing my new side web project: PlaceExplorer.org - UK-wide neighbourhood stats & open heritage data in one place. Explore IMD, community need & historic buildings - for funding applications or curiosity. Free for non-commercial use. More info: www.linkedin.com/pulse/introd...

25 years after we started online, have a look at our new look modern website! Now with maps, images, better search & mobile friendly. Still lots of ulpdate & fixes to do, but it’s now a lot easier to for us to update things than before, let us know what’s wrong/missing! scottishcinemas.org

The winners of the 2026 Architects' Journal Retrofit & Reuse Awards have been revealed! 🙌 A massive congratulations to the four successful #AHFsupported projects 🏆: - St Andrew’s Chapel - Millport Town Hall - Horizon Youth Zone - Eagle House www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/winners...

We’ve been running a website about old cinemas since 2001 - so in internet terms that means it’s been online longer than 99% of all sites available today. We may not be the fastest at updating things, but we do have staying power! Check out the newly updated site at scottishcinemas.org !

We’ve been running a website about old cinemas since 2001 - so in internet terms that means it’s been online longer than 99% of all sites available today. We may not be the fastest at updating things, but we do have staying power! Check out the newly updated site at scottishcinemas.org !

A busy day so far at the @dtascotland.bsky.social conference - lots of conversations & learning about projects & organisations. Andrew Hitches-Davies & I are around the rest of today and most of tomorrow so come speak to to find out what @archhfund.org.uk can offer your project! #DTAS26

Come join me & my @archhfund.org.uk colleague Andrew at @dtascotland.bsky.social conference in Glasgow on Tues & Weds this week - we’ll be at Table 3 in the marketplace, happy to talk all things community-led regeneration, grant funding & social investment. Look out for our logo & come say hello…

Having to wear hard hats today while we gave a @ScottishCinemas.org talk was a first for us! Little did we know after our first visit to photograph the Broadway Prestwick in 2005 that we’d be back more than 20 years later to see real film projected on its big screen once again! Go visit!

📢 We’ve been shortlisted with Govan Workspace for Social Investment Deal of the Year at the #SocEnt Awards Scotland 2026! This follows our £300,000 loan to Govan Workspace, which unlocked the completion of a stalled £2.3m redevelopment project at Govan Old. Read more: ahfund.org.uk/what-we-do/i...

Do you remember the La Scala’s shimmery sign above where Waterstones on Sauchiehall St is now? Then this could be the talk for you!

Do you remember the La Scala’s shimmery sign above where Waterstones on Sauchiehall St is now? Then this could be the talk for you!

For Doors Open Days join us taking a virtual stroll up Sauchiehall Street for an updated talk on Glasgow’s cinema building history! Join Gordon Barr & Gary Painter Live (in front of) the big screen GFT, 12 Rose Street, G3 6RB Sat 19 Sept @ 10am
Book free tickets: tinyurl.com/SauchieCinemas

I spotted this rather appropriate warning sign while on a dog walk along the West Highland Way at Rowadennan this morning. It's the work of A Sign of Humour. #glasgow #rowardennan #westhighlandway #sign #scotland #midges @westhighlandway.bsky.social

Camels, Monkeys & Prancing Deer: A talk on Scotland’s Exotic Cinema Building History! Live (in front of) the big screen at The Broadway Cinema, 80 Main St, Prestwick KA9 1PA Sat 29 August @ 12.30pm Tickets £10 All proceeds go towards the Broadway restoration fund. tinyurl.com/PrestwickTalk

The entrance to the rather wonderful Govanhill Picture House. One of the city's Art Deco gems, this Egyptian-themed cinema was designed by Eric Sutherland and opened in 1926. Cont./ #glasgow #govanhill #oldcinema #artdeco #architecture #architecturephotography

Happy 80th birthday to Glasgow-born screenwriter/film director, Bill Forsyth. Here he is, making a hand impression in wet cement, outside the city's Grosvenor Cinema. Pic: Daily Record

The Art Deco former Odeon Cinema on Renfield Street in Glasgow. Designed by Verity and Beverley, it opened in 1934 as the Paramount with a seating capacity of 2,800. #glasgow #architecture #architecturephotography #cinema #artdeco

A great opportunity for aspiring building professionals. Here's a chance to visit the #AHFsupported Ballogie Souter’s Workshop, where you'll be able to experience a working site and hear more about the conservation of an A-listed building. Register: ⬇️ www.ticketebo.co.uk/bct/ballogie...

Plus I did manage to visit a couple of interesting old cinemas too - with the lovingly restored Plaza Stockport also being an AHF-supported project! Major contrast to the Longford Essoldo in Stretford which is sadly still long-term empty.

At last - the 1988 show! The dedicated book the Glasgow Garden Festival always deserved is finally here thanks to a huge amount of work from @lexlambwrites.bsky.social Glad to have been a wee part of this through the @glasgowgardenfestival.org team. Get your own copy here: gardenfestivalbook.com

A great couple of days down in Manchester with @archhfund.org.uk colleagues - useful meetings, inspiring projects and stunning historic buildings of a wide variety of styles and ages!

Everyone's getting all excited about Binface in Clacton, but if he's there, WHAT'S OOR WULLIE GOING TO SIT ON? EH? DIDN'T THINK OF THAT, DID YOU?

The La Scala and the Classic were different guises of the same cinema. A remarkable survivor, a recent planning application for this long-vacant building… https://threadinburgh.scot/2026/07/06/the-sally-army-the-scabby-lala-and-x-rated-in-the-city-the-thread-about-the-la-scala-electric-theatre/

At last - the 1988 show! The dedicated book the Glasgow Garden Festival always deserved is finally here thanks to a huge amount of work from @lexlambwrites.bsky.social Glad to have been a wee part of this through the @glasgowgardenfestival.org team. Get your own copy here: gardenfestivalbook.com

It's fantastic to see that the restoration of the A-listed Burnmouth Bothy is now complete, making it cosy & comfortable for campers, climbers & visitors seeking shelter & accommodation. We're very pleased to have supported at an early stage with a #HESsupported grant. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A reminder that for the first time since 2009, the scaffolding is coming off Alexander 'Greek' Thomson's Egyptian Chambers (fresh scaffolding to go up). Go see it as some of you have never seen it - go see it in this brilliant sunshine!

Well that’s a view I’ve not seen in a long time…

Tonight!* A Special Presentation - For One Night Only! Glasgow’s Cinema Experiment! A @westfest.bsky.social illustrated heritage lecture about the history of cinema buildings including Glasgow’s Wonder Cinema! Kelvin Hall, 7pm, Free & unticketed *if you’re seeing this on Weds 24th

I’m giving a cinemas talk this Weds evening at 7pm at the Kelvin Hall, part of the @westfest.bsky.social heritage lecture strand organised by the indomitable Ann Laird. Free and unticketed as they correctly deduced no one will pay to see me give a similar cinemas talk once again! 🙂

🚨 We have published our June 2026 newsletter! This issue includes: - A round-up of the latest AHF news. - A project focus on The Glebe. - Positive news from 3 other projects awarded #HESsupported grants. - #AHF50 updates. Read it here: ⬇️ mailchi.mp/78866a04445e...

At @archhfund.org.uk we’ve invested over £43m in Scotland with grants & loans, supporting 600+ historic building projects. As our #AHF50 anniversary celebrations move on to Wales, here’s a chance to catch up with all 16 weeks of Scottish Project of the Week highlights: ahfund.org.uk/anniversary/

I want ‘U’ in to hear about Glasgow’s Cinema Experiment in a newly updated, fully illustrated @scottishcinemas.org heritage talk - part of this year’s @westfest.bsky.social Heritage Talks - at the Kelvin Hall Lecture Theatre on Weds 24th June at 7pm. Free & Unticketed! westfest.uk/event/herita...

I want ‘U’ in to hear about Glasgow’s Cinema Experiment in a newly updated, fully illustrated @scottishcinemas.org heritage talk - part of this year’s @westfest.bsky.social Heritage Talks - at the Kelvin Hall Lecture Theatre on Weds 24th June at 7pm. Free & Unticketed! westfest.uk/event/herita...

Great to see AHF has been able to support NESPT which is harbouring major ambitions to unlock the potential of these sea-side buildings in Portsoy…

We're delighted to have been able to help unlock a new future for Thornhill's Cat C listed former police station with some viability funding to help Old School Thornhill investigate the evidence for how best to adapt it for potential housing and childcare uses!

Good to be in Glasgow today to hear from new Scotland Culture Minister, Màiri McAllan. In the wake of last night, big emphasis on the positive role heritage & culture needs to play in communities. Also good to finally meet @murphyniallgla.bsky.social on the economic renewal panel! @archhfund.org.uk

At Scottish Historic Environment Forum #SHEF2026 today in Glasgow: Jo and I were manning a table in Connections Space & making plenty of connections while @memckeague.bsky.social was also on the panel about Economic & Creative renewal - a topic close to the heart of us here at @archhfund.org.uk !

Once a thriving hotel, this building gradually fell into decline & closed in 1990. Today, it has been repurposed to provide affordable homes for local families. “I am very thankful for my tenancy at ‘The Grapes’, it’s a beautiful home.” #AHF50 Learn more: 👇 ahfund.org.uk/anniversary/...

This is Aberdeen’s C-listed @belmontcinema.bsky.social First showing films in 1898, it is now being revived as city’s only community-led independent cinema, education centre & café bar. @archhfund.org.uk helped with an #HESsupported grant in 2024 to help develop sustainable plans for its future.

This is Aberdeen’s C-listed @belmontcinema.bsky.social First showing films in 1898, it is now being revived as city’s only community-led independent cinema, education centre & café bar. @archhfund.org.uk helped with an #HESsupported grant in 2024 to help develop sustainable plans for its future.

Visiting Aberdeen’s Cat B-listed Wallace Tower today. Built c.1600 in city centre, moved to Seaton Park in 1960s, & now restored after nearly 30 years of dereliction by Tillydrone Community Development Trust. @archhfund.org.uk supported project with William Grant Foundation grants in 2023 & 2025.

From a dilapidated kirk to a vibrant focal point for the local community and visitors – Papa Stour Kirk has been redeveloped as a community centre and is inspiring further renewal on this beautiful, remote island. Learn more about this Project of the Week for #AHF50: ahfund.org.uk/anniversary/...

Visiting Aberdeen’s Cat B-listed Wallace Tower today. Built c.1600 in city centre, moved to Seaton Park in 1960s, & now restored after nearly 30 years of dereliction by Tillydrone Community Development Trust. @archhfund.org.uk supported project with William Grant Foundation grants in 2023 & 2025.

Following its transformation into an activity centre, it is fantastic to see that the former Dalbeattie Primary School will soon be buzzing with life again. 🚲 We are pleased to have supported the early stages of this project with a #HESsupported development grant. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Splashing news: Tarlair Lido among this year’s RIAS award winners! @archhfund.org.uk supported Friends of Tarlair with #HESsupported grant for plans to regenerate this remarkable Cat A-listed complex. No swimming yet but café’s scones and sea views well worth the trip! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Congratulations to Little Sparta Trust, which has today announced it has acquired the iconic Temple of Apollo, bringing the whole of Little Sparta into its care for the first time. 🙌 We supported viability work for the Temple of Apollo with a #HESsupported grant. www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...