A bird’s eye view of Glenlair on the 190th anniversary of the birth of James Clerk Maxwell prepared for the Orkney Science Festival 2021.
Jun 27
Visit by Professor Isobel Falconer
On a beautiful summer’s day, Professor Isobel Falconer, accompanied by her daughter Jennifer paid a visit to James Clerk Maxwell’s home at Glenlair. Until recently Isobel was the curator of the Cavendish Museum in Cambridge and as one might expect her knowledge of Maxwell and his life was encyclopaedic! One very interesting outcome of the visit is the possible discovery of where young Maxwell had his small laboratory for carrying out his various experiments. It could well have been in the space above the entrance arch to the yard accessed by a flight of wooden stairs, which are still there to this day.
Isobel and Jennifer
Yard Entrance
Jun 07
Recent Repairs and Maintenance
After a somewhat hectic year in 2016, we have taken the opportunity to carry out essential work on the building to ensure its continued survival.
All windows and gutters were cleaned and painted, and a broken lintel was gingerly replaced.
Damaged Lintel
Old Lintel Removal
Job Done
Aug 28
Visit by a group from Quests and Retreats
On a somewhat overcast and rather driech day, Glenlair was enlivened by the arrival of a group of enthusiasts led by Dr. Jan Hogarth and accompanied by the renowned harpist Wendy Stewart intent on discovering just how the setting, the scenery and the landscape influenced Professor James Clerk Maxwell in his pursuit of those mysterious waves which pervaded the whole electromagnetic spectrum.
In the Woods
By the Lair burn
Jul 09
Visit by Panel for Historic Engineering Works
A party of almost 30 members of the Institute of Civil Engineers (Scotland) led by their Chairman, Prof/Dr. Roland Paxton MBE, FICE,FRSE visited Glenlair primarily to view the bridge designed and built by William Dyce Cay in 1866 for his cousin James Clerk Maxwell. Whilst here they took the opportunity to witness the recent works carried out on Glenlair House.
Institute of Civil Engineers visit to Glenlair
Viewing the William Dyce Cay Bridge at Glenlair
Jul 09
Visit by Professor and Mrs Philip Marston
Professor Marston and his wife Trude fulfilled a life-long ambition to visit the home of James Clerk Maxwell. Prof. Marston, who is in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Washington State University has written extensively about Maxwell including co-authoring a new book entitled James Clerk Maxwell – Perspectives on his Life and Work recently published by the Oxford University Press. They were given a comprehensive tour of Glenlair as well as visiting Corsock Church to view the Memorial window to Maxwell.
Prof Marston outside the Maxwell visitor centre
Prof Marston examines an artefact from the Time Capsule
Jun 15
Glenlair opens its door to celebrate Maxwell’s 150th Anniversary
Glenlair will hold a public open day on Sunday 12th July 2015 to celebrate internationally
renowned physicist James Clerk Maxwell’s 150th anniversary of his great paper on
electromagnetism and light.
Glenlair opens its door to celebrate Maxwell’s 150th Anniversary
As part of the UNESCO International Year of Light, the Glenlair open day is set to attract both local and international visitors who have both an interest in finding more about Maxwell the physicist as well as witnessing the beautiful surroundings of Glenlair, which was Maxwell’s family home for the majority of his life until his death on 5 th Nov 1879.
As part of the special open day activities, guests will have an opportunity to view the
recently renovated Maxwell Visitor Centre at Glenlair House and take part in one of a
number of guided tours around the property. In addition Glenlair’s spectacular gardens
will also be open to the public, thought to have been designed and planted in part by
Maxwell himself.
Musical entertainment from Father and Daughter duet Andy and Flora Munro and a
large tent selling delicious tea and cakes will make Glenlair open day a fun outing for all
the family to enjoy.
The Glenlair open day will run from 2pm to 5pm on Sunday 12 th July 2015. Entry is £5
per adult, children and car parking are free. All proceeds from the day will be given to
the Maxwell at Glenlair Trust, registered Scottish Charity No. SC030868.
Jul 29
Visitor Centre Re-opens
After almost a year, whilst the oldest part of Glenlair House was being rebuilt, the James Clerk Maxwell visitor centre is again open to visitors. For those Maxwell enthusiasts who would like to visit please make an appointment, by email to fergie@glenlair.org.uk
May 23
Tutto Finito
At last and very nearly on schedule, Glenlair House has arisen from the ashes and Angus and Frances can start moving into their new home. As with any project of this scale there are of course minor adjustments still to be made, but to all extents and purposes, the job is done.
Interestingly enough the finshed article is not that dissimilar to the original plan drawn up by Walter Newall in 1826 for John Clerk Maxwell.
Glenlair House 1826
Glenlair House 2014
Apr 03
Quite a transformation
The scaffold is down and the roof is complete affording the opportunity to see just what has been achieved since August 2013. Of course there is still lots to be done, not least in the way of landscaping, but externally at least from the rear view, the building is complete.
Glenlair House August 2013
Glenlair House March 2014
Click to make a donation
to help stabilise Glenlair House and build a visitors centre.
Click Here for a Gift Aid form.
Click Here to pay for fishing online.