The Last Lintel
12/01/2010With snow lying and permafrost deep into the ground, Joe Smith felt that it was an ideal opportunity to replace the missing lintel above the large south-facing window in the west wing, which has been supported by one of my acro-props since the middle of last year. His reasoning, sound as ever, was that the frost would hold the stones in place above the window, whilst he inserted a couple of concrete lintels. He duly arrived at 10 am in his Land Rover, complete with a trailer load of scaffolding, cement and a bag of sand warmed beside his fire overnight and accompanied by his trusty helper, Norman. By 1115, he was shouting for two 7-foot lintels and I was slipping and sliding down the front road in my Land Rover to collect a pair from Castle Douglas. Back by noon, lintels duly delivered and the job complete, equipment stowed and Joe departed at 4.45 pm! Not a bad days work at all.
Doors Open Day
29/10/2009As part of the European Heritage Days programme, Glenlair House was open to the public on 26 and 27 September. (www.doorsopendays.org.uk) I conducted a series of guided tours of the house and the farm buildings. Some 86 visitors were entertained to a resume of the history of the house, James Clerk Maxwell's time at Glenlair and the Restoration Project, together with details of the other work being carried out around the estate to return it as far as possible to its original form in Maxwell's day. Visitors were given the opportunity to see Maxwell's walled garden, the farmyard designed by Walter Newall for James's father John in 1848 and the duck pond made famous by Jemima Wedderburn's sketch of James in a coracle escaping from his tutor. It is hoped to repeat this event next year.
of the fire of 1929
Restoration Project
the oldest part of the farmyard c.1830
