ISBN-13: 9781902771861 / Angielski / Miękka / 2011 / 178 str.
Castles, both ruined and occupied, are amongst the most deeply evocative buildings in the Scottish landscape. This book considers the history of the conservation and restoration of a number of those buildings against the background of what the idea of the castle has meant to Scots over the centuries.
The authors draw on their extensive knowledge of castles across Scotland, as well as on their practical experience in advising on recent conservation and restoration projects. They begin by briefly considering the history of castles and by exploring their role in Scottish society, before moving on to consider the ways in which they were absorbed within later building complexes as domestic requirements and social aspirations changed.
As part of the history of the appreciation of castles, their retention as ruins in the rugged Scottish scenery is considered in relation to the fashion for picturesque and sublime landscapes in the 17th and 18th centuries. Following an account of the vogue for Romantic restoration, there is discussion of how a growing appreciation that such buildings contain important architectural and archaeological evidence has shaped more recent projects.
A series of detailed case studies then examines the issues surrounding the conservation and restoration of castles in modern times, which it is hoped will be of value for everyone with an interest in castles, including those who might be considering undertaking work on one.