The Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland (AHSS) is a society dedicated to the protection and study of the built heritage of

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

. It has around 1000 members and five regional groups responsible for commenting on planning applications in their area together with educational activities. The Society publishes periodically the academic journal, '' Architectural Heritage'', together with a twice-yearly magazine addressing a wider range of built heritage-related matters.

History

In 1956, a campaign group, the Georgian Group of Edinburgh, was established to oppose the demolition of 18th-century houses around

George Square George Square ( gd, Ceàrnag Sheòrais) is the principal civic square in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. It is one of six squares in the city centre, the others being Cathedral Square, St Andrew's Square, St Enoch Square, Royal Exchange S ...

in Edinburgh. Eleanor Robertson and the architectural historian

Colin McWilliam Colin McWilliam (1928–1989) was a British architecture academic and author. Career Born in London, he graduated from the University of Cambridge and became Director of the Scottish National Buildings Record, then the Assistant Secretary of ...

were instrumental in its founding. In 1957,

George Baillie-Hamilton, 12th Earl of Haddington George Baillie-Hamilton, 12th Earl of Haddington (18 September 1894 – 17 April 1986), was a Scottish peer from 1917 to 1986. Life Haddington was the son of Brigadier-General George Baillie-Hamilton, Lord Binning and Katherine Salting (d.195 ...

, became the first president of the group, which was renamed as the Scottish Georgian Society in 1959. From the 1960s the society began to broaden its interest beyond the

Georgian period The Georgian era was a period in British history from 1714 to , named after the Hanoverian Kings George I, George II, George III and George IV. The definition of the Georgian era is often extended to include the relatively short reign of Will ...

and its geographical locus. In the 1960s, the Scottish Georgian Society formed a West of Scotland Group based in Glasgow under the chairmanship of bookseller Robert Clow, who had earlier formed the influential New Glasgow Society with architect Geoffrey Jarvis and others. In 1984, the present AHSS name was adopted to suit. The Society's logo, a drawing of the Old Town House in

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...

, was adopted in the 1960s. In 2009, the society was reconstituted as a company with the status of a registered charity.

Activities

Since its establishment, the Society has been involved in commenting and advising on development proposals which affect the historic buildings and townscapes of Scotland. The Society also runs regular lecture series on

Scottish architecture The architecture of Scotland includes all human building within the modern borders of Scotland, from the Neolithic era to the present day. The earliest surviving houses go back around 9500 years, and the first villages 6000 years: Skara Brae on ...

, architects, and buildings.

Structure

The Society is organized into five regional groups, each of whom undertake casework and organize educational activities. Management is by a national council comprising representatives of the five regional groups and elected members. As of October 2019 the office bearers were: * President: Simon Green MA FSA FSA Scot * National Chairman: Martin Robertson * Vice-Chairman: Jocelyn Cunliffe * Honorary Treasurer: Caroline Roussot The Society's national office was based at the Glasite Meeting House in Barony Street, Edinburgh, built in 1836 as a chapel for the

Glasite The Glasites or Glassites were a small Christian church founded in about 1730 in Scotland by John Glas.John Glas preached supremacy of God's word (Bible) over allegiance to Church and state to his congregation in Tealing near Dundee in July 172 ...

Christian sect. In October 2012 it was given, with an endowment, to the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust (SHBT) and the Society is now based at 15 Rutland Square, Edinburgh, EH1 2BB.

Publications

Since 1990, the Society has published '' Architectural Heritage'', an annual academic journal dedicated to the study of Scotland's buildings. These comprehensive studies of many of Scotland's most renowned architects – including thematic studies on William Adam, Robert Adam, the contemporaries of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the Gothic Revival in Scotland, and essays on Scottish Architects' Papers – are published alongside a wide range of other architectural topics, creating a comprehensive and essential source for Scotland's architecture. The twice-yearly magazine contains reports on built heritage issues, casework, and group events.

References

External links

Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland website
{{Authority control Architecture organisations based in the United Kingdom British architectural history Historical societies of the United Kingdom Charities based in Edinburgh Organizations established in 1956 1956 establishments in Scotland History organisations based in Scotland