Steven Robb
@stevenrobb.bsky.social
Heritage watchdog. Interests in architecture, Edinburgh, inter-war social housing and obscure late Jacobite and nonjuring history. All views my own.
A little blog a while ago on the history - and more recent reuse - of doocots.... blog.historicenvironment.scot/2025/02/the-...
The History & Reuse of Doocots - Historic Environment Scotland Blog
Doocots have a fascinating history from medieval pigeon homes to noted architectural gems. Explore the evolution, cultural significance and innovative reuse and restorations of the Scottish “dovecots”...
blog.historicenvironment.scot
Knitted pigeons in the restored doocot at Newhailes - including (speckled?) Jim.
"End of VAT-relief on repairs for churches causing ‘catastrophic’ burden, committee hears" The Churches’ Legislation Advisory Service provided evidence to UK Parliament's Culture, Media and Sport Committee about impacts of the cancellation of this scheme 👇 www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/202...
End of VAT-relief on repairs for churches causing ‘catastrophic’ burden, committee hears
New Places of Worship Renewal Fund should be ‘at least as generous’ as scheme it replaced
churchtimes.co.uk
Just published in the Georgian Group Journal (2026) - Mylne's Land - Scotland's first modern tenement ? The story of a stone tenement in Leith designed by Robert Mylne (1633-1710), Master Mason to the Crown of Scotland, in 1678. It survived until 1955.
Yeah - just google ‘English medieval castle’ for an image - what could possibly go wrong?
And the proper stuff is amazing. This great refurb on John Cowan in Stirling really brought this home to me. 2018 vs 2021:
Kate North@curatorkate.bsky.social · 6mo agoThis fantastic C17th monument to Sir Marmaduke & Mary Wyvil is a great illustration of how the application of polychromy makes a huge difference to sculpture - he still looks animated and characterful, whereas unfortunately the loss of her paint has made her look the opposite! 😬 St. Mary’s, Masham…
This is exciting news for us. Our new YouTube channel is now live, and we've just posted our talks from the 2024/2025 session. Thanks to all the speakers for their permission to make their talks live for everyone to view. Check the talks out at buff.ly/DOLKg0h #edinburghhistorytalks #histoystories
Good news from Edinburgh City Council Archives: The Archives search room reopened on 20th January by appointment only, from Tuesday to Thursday, 10am - 4:30 pm. More info on their website buff.ly/mgz7Xl6 #edinburgharchives #edinburghhistory
Doorway into St Helen's Bishopsgate, #London, although the church itself wasn't open to visitors, as it was busy with some kind of meeting or course. This door clearly dates from 1633 ... and is where they stash the bins! #AdoorableThursday #NoContextDoors
This has been such a fun project: Somerset house of c.1780-5, before and after the restoration of its Georgian windows.
From The Planner magazine. Hawick in Killin, Dublin in Limerick, (London)Derry in Louge Neagh and Barry in Builith Wells !!
Edinburgh has been very lucky to retain five of its six beautiful Victorian public swimming baths in usable condition, so it's very encouraging that there's investment forthcoming to keep Portobello. If they are looked after, they will continue to serve the city for another century
Cockburn Association@thecockburn.bsky.social · 7mo agoThe sadly redundant St Helen's at Kilnsea, East Yorkshire, designed by the renowned Victorian architect William Burges in 1864.
Inside Cromarty East Church in Cromarty on the Black Isle, painstakingly restored to its original state to serve as a nationally important example of the changes that swept across Scotland's churches after the Reformation of 1560. More pics and info: www.undiscoveredscot... #Scotland #Cromarty
Granton Waterfront – next part of regeneration project to begin with government funding The Granton Waterfront is a brownfield site where the £1.3 billion regeneration project has already started with the restoration of the Gas Holder, the creation of a new park and the renovation of Granton…
Granton Waterfront – next part of regeneration project to begin with government funding
The Granton Waterfront is a brownfield site where the £1.3 billion regeneration project has already started with the restoration of the Gas Holder, the creation of a new park and the renovation of Granton Station. The next part of the regeneration project will begin in 2026 with funding of £42 million from The Scottish Government to support housing on the site.
theedinburghreporter.co.uk
I found this the other day. The Corstorphine Doocot, all that remains of the Corstorphine Castle estate. #Edinburgh
Just seen that the first five minutes of the never re-broadcast BBC Scottish Independence thriller 'Scotch on the Rocks' (1973) is on youtube. Great to see my gt-uncle George Robb chairing a SNP meeting ! www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmY3...
Scotch On The Rocks Phase 1 first 5 mins
YouTube video by Lee G Crime
youtube.com
#31DaysOfGraves Day 30 is #Colour It has to be this fabulous cast iron monument by the Sun Foundry to commemorate the Mackenzie family in the Upsilon compartment of the #Glasgow #Necropolis It has been restored recently, and I think it looks great! #Gothic #DarkTourist #Cemetery #Taphophile
The decline and fall of suburbia. A play in three acts.
From a few years ago - a blog on Craigentinny House in Edinburgh - with a spooky halloween tale crowbarred in.... blog.historicenvironment.scot/2023/10/the-...
The intriguing history of Craigentinny House - Historic Environment Scotland Blog
Steven Robb takes a look at the story of Craigentinny House. Could it offer inspiration to today's developers?
blog.historicenvironment.scot
Join us for this special collaborative event with the Seaside Heritage Network, that brings together four speakers with distinctive insights into preservation, design, and place.
The BBC's "Who Do You Think You Are" Magazine new November 2025 issue's "Gem from the Archive" features the Signet Library's @oldedinburghclub.bsky.social funded project on the records of John Watson's Institution, research undertaken by @kgbaston.bsky.social @johockey.bsky.social
#OTD in 1774, Edinburgh poet Robert Fergusson died in the city’s asylum for pauper lunatics at 24. Despite the tragedy, his works are full of life, laughter and satire. My new edition of his works is out next year, but for now enjoy some treats from Project Fergusson robert-fergusson.glasgow.ac.uk
Huge news for Cathkin Park! One of football's most treasured heritage assets has been designated a Scheduled Monument by Historic Environment Scotland. For a location as iconic as Cathkin Park to be recognised in this way is significant for preserving our football heritage.
Read the story of the founding of the Old Edinburgh Club in ' Our Town Stories'. And today, our new President, Steven Robb, who wrote the article, will welcome members to our first talk of the winter lecture series. #oldedinburghhistory #oldedinburghclubs #oldedinburghsocieties #talesofonecity
The story of the Old Edinburgh Club
In 1908, a group of Edinburgh citizens got together to form a society to make the city’s incredible history accessible to all: the Old Edinburgh Club. In our latest collaboration on Our Town Storie…
talesofonecity.wordpress.com
