Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland

Glasgow’s tenements define the city—but many are crumbling. Join Niall Murphy to explore how we can secure their future. 🏘️ Saving Glasgow, One Tenement at a Time 📅 26 Nov, 7–9pm 📍 Glasgow & online 🎟️ £6 / £2 students buff.ly/unIi9K6

We are thrilled by the news that Scottish Ministers have approved the compulsory purchase of Mavisbank and send good wishes and congratulations to Dr Anna Keay and thank her for her work in Scotland for the Landmark Trust. buff.ly/9vuwQOJ

Members, join us at Fettes College for the AHSS’s 70th Annual General Meeting, plus a tour of the college. 📅 Saturday 31 October 2026, 10.30am 📍 Chapel of Fettes College, Carrington Road, Edinburgh 🎟️ Free registration required buff.ly/WwdlfOb

How well do you know the Glasgow that’s no longer there? Join Peter Drummond to explore the buildings the city has lost over the years. 📅 Thursday 29 October 2026, 7-9pm 📍 7-9pm | St Andrews West Church & Renfield Centre, Glasgow & online 🎟️ £6 | £2 students buff.ly/BOhTgxh

Join Katherine McHale to explore the work of Italian painters and the contribution they made to Robert Adam’s interiors. 📅 Mon 12 Oct, 6.30–8.30pm 📍 Augustine United Church, Edinburgh, or online 🎟️ £6 | Students £2 buff.ly/RHyRcr4

THIS WEEK! Scotland’s tower houses have lived many lives. Discover their stories at our Highlands & Islands Group - Scottish Castle Restoration lecture. 📅 Thursday 8 October 2026 🕖 7pm — doors open at 6.30pm 📍 St Stephen’s Church, Inverness buff.ly/O8sGZ20

If a building could speak, what might it say? Our latest magazine takes us from Mavisbank and the Bernat Klein Studio to Portobello’s George Cinema, exploring the people and partnerships working to protect places that matter. Which story will you turn to first? buff.ly/xuORZEb

Peter Drummond explores the buildings Glasgow has lost over the years — and what their disappearance tells us about the city’s changing built environment. 📅 Thurs 29 October, 7pm 📍 St Andrews West Church & Renfield Centre, Glasgow buff.ly/nn0Zy43

⚡ Hidden among Scotland’s spectacular landscapes are the buildings that helped power a nation. On 15 October, Dr Harriet Richardson Blakeman explores the architecture of Scotland’s hydroelectric stations and the ambitious schemes that transformed the glens. Book: buff.ly/zEAwg4a

🍂 October at the AHSS! A packed month of architectural history, from Scottish castle restoration and Robert Adam’s Italian artists to hydroelectric architecture, David Bryce and our 70th AGM. Five events, lots to discover 👇 buff.ly/nRCCH9h

Join Katherine McHale to discover the Italian artists who enriched Robert Adam’s rooms, and explore their contribution to some of Britain’s finest interiors. 📅 Monday 12 October 2026, 6.30–8.30pm 📍 Augustine United Church, Edinburgh, or online via Zoom 🎟️ £6 | Students £2 buff.ly/7uYo09B

Explore David Bryce’s architectural legacy inside one of his own buildings at a symposium marking 150 years since Bryce’s death. 📅 Friday 30 October 2026 📍 Edinburgh Futures Institute 🎟️ £25 | Students £10 buff.ly/arkqM5J

Step into the story of Scotland’s tower houses. 🏰 Join the AHSS Highlands & Islands Group for Scottish Castle Restoration, with Michael Davis taking us on a tour of the Scottish tower house. 📅 Thursday 8 October 2026, 7pm 📍 St Stephen’s Church, Southside Road, Inverness IV2 4XA buff.ly/4yXTPAD

🍂 Our Autumn/Winter events programme is coming soon! We’re putting together an exciting season of events, with plenty of opportunities to connect, learn and get involved. Watch this space for the full programme and booking details.

Read the AHSS's statement on the future of Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s Glasgow School of Art: buff.ly/CoTCW3Q

The open letter to Jenny Gilruth MSP calling for urgent action to halt demolition plans for Hillhead Baptist Church has now been published in The Herald: buff.ly/ieYI6tb You can also read more from SAVE Britain’s Heritage here: buff.ly/CbJ1lLQ

📸 A few highlights from our recent AHSS tour of Kelvinside. Take a look at our upcoming events and join us on our next adventure: 🔗 buff.ly/rd83Pqb

🏰 Join the AHSS on 19 July for a guided day exploring historic Stirling. From medieval streets to Stirling Castle, we’ll discover the architecture and stories that have shaped one of Scotland’s most remarkable cities. Details & booking: buff.ly/jOUp5ud

The AHSS has asked the Scottish Ministers to call in the decision to approve the demolition of Glasgow’s B-listed Hillhead Baptist Church. Read our statement: buff.ly/gPhEohY

Today’s fire on Princes Street is deeply concerning. Our thoughts are with everyone affected and with the emergency services responding. As the situation develops, we urge the City of Edinburgh Council to seek specialist advice before any decisions are taken about demolition.

🏛️ A record 208 buildings have been added to SAVE Britain’s Heritage’s Buildings at Risk register—including some of Scotland’s most distinctive historic buildings. These places matter. Take a look at the register: buff.ly/QyDou2m

Looking for a good lunchtime read? The latest AHSS Magazine is now available in the members’ area, alongside decades of back issues covering Scotland’s architecture, heritage and conservation. One of the many benefits of AHSS membership. buff.ly/wz3vnXH Magazine is edited by Ruskin Lane

We’re counting down to our Scottish Borders Summer Study Day this August! From the elegant Adam interiors of Mellerstain House to the fantastical turrets of Floors Castle, it’s a chance to explore two extraordinary buildings that showcase the best of Scottish architecture & design buff.ly/GgJkb0v

We’re looking forward to an evening on Edinburgh’s Union Canal for this year’s Forth & Borders Group Summer Party. A cruise aboard the Lochrin Belle, great company, and the chance to enjoy one of Scotland’s most significant historic waterways from a new perspective. buff.ly/HXQStJd 📸 Re-Union

🏙️ A Rich Slice of Victorian Glasgow Explore Glasgow’s nineteenth-century architecture and urban history on Sat 4 July with the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland Strathclyde Group Summer Study Days programme. More info: buff.ly/rm5RS4s

🏛️ Great Houses of West Lothian Join the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland Strathclyde Group for visits to House of the Binns and Hopetoun House. 📅 6 June 🎟️ £30 More info: buff.ly/WQeecoD

🏛️ Ruins, restoration and historic gardens in Ellon. Join the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland North East Group for a visit to Leask House and Ellon Castle Gardens. 📅 23 May 🎟️ £14 incl tea Book: amandajbooth71@icloud.com

☀️ Explore Scotland’s built heritage this summer with the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland Strathclyde Group Summer Study Days. Historic houses, Victorian Glasgow and Scottish Borders architecture all feature in this year’s programme. Find upcoming events 👇 buff.ly/xR4RtQ4

🌳 Happening tonight in Aberdeen A talk on the history of Union Terrace Gardens with local historian David Oswald, hosted by the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland North East Group. 📅 Tonight, 7pm 📍 New King’s, University of Aberdeen, Room NK3 More info: buff.ly/TW5Nsix

🏛️ Great Houses of West Lothian Join the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland Strathclyde Group for a summer study day visiting House of the Binns and Hopetoun House. 📅 6 June 🕙 10am–2.30pm 🎟️ £30 buff.ly/oloUkbF

🏛️ Explore Leask House, Ellon & Ellon Castle Gardens with AHSS North East Group. 📅 23 May 🎟️ £14 incl tea Book: amandajbooth71@icloud.com buff.ly/FRcebiV

🌳 Aberdeen’s Union Terrace Gardens: a Historical Perspective on Aberdeen’s Second Public Park. Talk by David Oswald. 📅 12 May, 7pm 📍 New King’s, University of Aberdeen Book: claire.wallace@abdn.ac.uk buff.ly/BMUgtGq

☀️ Summer means study tours, walks, visits and special events with the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland. Our regional groups host events across Scotland, offering chances to explore historic buildings and places first-hand. Find upcoming events in your area on our website buff.ly/H1hIktV

Aberdeen City Council has confirmed it is prepared to step in and carry out urgent repairs to the B-listed building at 28–32 Marischal Street if needed, with costs recovered from the owner. A welcome step — now the priority is swift action to prevent further damage. 📸 Kenny Elrick/DC Thomson

Reminder: The last event in the AHSS Forth & Borders Group Lecture Series is coming up this Monday, 13th April. We'll be joined by architect Thomas Hamilton and engineer Dominic Echlin, who will discuss building challenges behind the new Scottish Galleries at the National Gallery: buff.ly/Pr3CLaY

Speaker Spotlight: Joining Dominic Echlin as speaker at our next lecture is Thomas Hamilton. Thomas is Director at Hamilton Hay Von Jonker and has designed and directed several high-profile developments across all sectors including museums, galleries, and visitor facilities: buff.ly/Pr3CLaY

Speaker Spotlight: Dominic Echlin is a Chartered Structural Engineer and Director at Narro – Consulting Structural and Civil Engineers. His professional focus lies in architectural engineering, complex building pathology, and conservation engineering. 🎟️ buff.ly/Pr3CLaY

New opinion piece by our Chair, Jocelyn Cunliffe, calling on @edinburghwh.bsky.social to rethink support for a capsule hostel in Edinburgh’s New Town. 🔗 buff.ly/bcVoVdh

AHSS has raised urgent concerns about the condition of the B-listed 28–32 Marischal Street in Aberdeen. A partial roof collapse is allowing water and birds into the building, accelerating damage. buff.ly/gsJWEHA

Our next and final event is coming up soon! Dominic Echlin, structural engineer, and Thomas Hamilton, architect, will share some of the challenges associated with the construction of the new Scottish Galleries at the National Gallery of Scotland: buff.ly/tRkklyx

AHSS has objected to plans to demolish the former Police Scotland HQ in Aberdeen. They highlight a lack of evidence for claims the building has “no merit”, question opaque “soft marketing”, and raise concerns about embodied carbon and policy compliance. Read our letter: buff.ly/NAF6yh4

The last lecture in the AHSS Forth & Borders Group Winter Lecture Series is coming up! Extending the National Gallery of Scotland with Dominic Echlin & Thomas Hamilton 🗓️ 13 April 2026 ⏰️ 6.30- 8.30pm 📍 Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EL 🎟️ buff.ly/tRkklyx

🚨 Reminder: Heritage with Purpose: Adaptive Reuse and Community-Centred Design Sarah Jane Storrie will share insights gained from over twenty years of experience in the adaptive reuse of historic structures. 🗓️ Thurs, 19 Mar 📍 St Andrews West Church & Renfield Centre and online 🎟️ buff.ly/ajiDsDJ

🌟 Speaker Spotlight: Sarah Jane Storrie 🌟 Sarah Jane co-founded Studio SJM Architects to elevate people's experience of space, with a goal to create buildings and reimagine spaces to be beneficial, purposeful and a joy to use. Book now for Sarah Jane's upcoming lecture: buff.ly/WarntVh

Following the devastating fire at Union St / Gordon St in Glasgow, AHSS has written to GCC urging them to seek specialist engineering advice and assess whether the remaining street facades can be retained. More on our advocacy for Scotland’s historic buildings: www.ahss.org.uk/news-events/...

Tomorrow! Last chance to book: Architecture and Urbanism in late Georgian Edinburgh with speaker John Lowrey 🗓️ Monday 9 March 2026 📍 Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EL and online via Zoom 🎟️ £6 online/in-person | £2 students 🔗 Book now: buff.ly/M3zifhR

🚨 Reminder: Coming up next week! 🏛️ Architecture and Urbanism in late Georgian Edinburgh with speaker John Lowrey 🗓️ Monday 9 March 2026 📍 Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, EH1 1EL and online via Zoom 🎟️ £6 online/in-person | £2 students 🔗 Book here: buff.ly/M3zifhR

🌟 Speaker Spotlight 🌟 John Lowrey is a senior lecturer in architectural history. He joins us on 9th March to discuss Architecture and Urbanism in late Georgian Edinburgh: buff.ly/B2tZQZ6 📸 The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh College of Art

Next up in the AHSS Strathclyde Group Winter Lecture Series: Heritage with Purpose: Adaptive Reuse and Community-Centred Design, with Sarah Jane Storrie 🗓️ 19 March 2026 📍 St Andrews West Church & Renfield Centre, Glasgow ⏰️ 7:30 – 9:30pm 🎟️ £6 online/in-person | £2 students: buff.ly/va5EmB8

Coming up next in the AHSS Forth & Borders Group Winter Lecture Series: Architecture and Urbanism in late Georgian Edinburgh with speaker John Lowrey 🗓️ Mon 9 Mar 2026 📍 Augustine United Church, Edinburgh and via Zoom 🎟️ £6 | £2 students 🔗 Book your tickets here: buff.ly/B2tZQZ6