At last - the 1988 show! The dedicated book the Glasgow Garden Festival always deserved is finally here thanks to a huge amount of work from @lexlambwrites.bsky.social Glad to have been a wee part of this through the @glasgowgardenfestival.org team. Get your own copy here: gardenfestivalbook.com

It's fantastic to see that the restoration of the A-listed Burnmouth Bothy is now complete, making it cosy & comfortable for campers, climbers & visitors seeking shelter & accommodation. We're very pleased to have supported at an early stage with a #HESsupported grant. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A reminder that for the first time since 2009, the scaffolding is coming off Alexander 'Greek' Thomson's Egyptian Chambers (fresh scaffolding to go up). Go see it as some of you have never seen it - go see it in this brilliant sunshine!

Well that’s a view I’ve not seen in a long time…

Tonight!* A Special Presentation - For One Night Only! Glasgow’s Cinema Experiment! A @westfest.bsky.social illustrated heritage lecture about the history of cinema buildings including Glasgow’s Wonder Cinema! Kelvin Hall, 7pm, Free & unticketed *if you’re seeing this on Weds 24th

I’m giving a cinemas talk this Weds evening at 7pm at the Kelvin Hall, part of the @westfest.bsky.social heritage lecture strand organised by the indomitable Ann Laird. Free and unticketed as they correctly deduced no one will pay to see me give a similar cinemas talk once again! 🙂

🚨 We have published our June 2026 newsletter! This issue includes: - A round-up of the latest AHF news. - A project focus on The Glebe. - Positive news from 3 other projects awarded #HESsupported grants. - #AHF50 updates. Read it here: ⬇️ mailchi.mp/78866a04445e...

At @archhfund.org.uk we’ve invested over £43m in Scotland with grants & loans, supporting 600+ historic building projects. As our #AHF50 anniversary celebrations move on to Wales, here’s a chance to catch up with all 16 weeks of Scottish Project of the Week highlights: ahfund.org.uk/anniversary/

I want ‘U’ in to hear about Glasgow’s Cinema Experiment in a newly updated, fully illustrated @scottishcinemas.org heritage talk - part of this year’s @westfest.bsky.social Heritage Talks - at the Kelvin Hall Lecture Theatre on Weds 24th June at 7pm. Free & Unticketed! westfest.uk/event/herita...

I want ‘U’ in to hear about Glasgow’s Cinema Experiment in a newly updated, fully illustrated @scottishcinemas.org heritage talk - part of this year’s @westfest.bsky.social Heritage Talks - at the Kelvin Hall Lecture Theatre on Weds 24th June at 7pm. Free & Unticketed! westfest.uk/event/herita...

Great to see AHF has been able to support NESPT which is harbouring major ambitions to unlock the potential of these sea-side buildings in Portsoy…

We're delighted to have been able to help unlock a new future for Thornhill's Cat C listed former police station with some viability funding to help Old School Thornhill investigate the evidence for how best to adapt it for potential housing and childcare uses!

Good to be in Glasgow today to hear from new Scotland Culture Minister, Màiri McAllan. In the wake of last night, big emphasis on the positive role heritage & culture needs to play in communities. Also good to finally meet @murphyniallgla.bsky.social on the economic renewal panel! @archhfund.org.uk

At Scottish Historic Environment Forum #SHEF2026 today in Glasgow: Jo and I were manning a table in Connections Space & making plenty of connections while @memckeague.bsky.social was also on the panel about Economic & Creative renewal - a topic close to the heart of us here at @archhfund.org.uk !

Once a thriving hotel, this building gradually fell into decline & closed in 1990. Today, it has been repurposed to provide affordable homes for local families. “I am very thankful for my tenancy at ‘The Grapes’, it’s a beautiful home.” #AHF50 Learn more: 👇 ahfund.org.uk/anniversary/...

This is Aberdeen’s C-listed @belmontcinema.bsky.social First showing films in 1898, it is now being revived as city’s only community-led independent cinema, education centre & café bar. @archhfund.org.uk helped with an #HESsupported grant in 2024 to help develop sustainable plans for its future.

This is Aberdeen’s C-listed @belmontcinema.bsky.social First showing films in 1898, it is now being revived as city’s only community-led independent cinema, education centre & café bar. @archhfund.org.uk helped with an #HESsupported grant in 2024 to help develop sustainable plans for its future.

Visiting Aberdeen’s Cat B-listed Wallace Tower today. Built c.1600 in city centre, moved to Seaton Park in 1960s, & now restored after nearly 30 years of dereliction by Tillydrone Community Development Trust. @archhfund.org.uk supported project with William Grant Foundation grants in 2023 & 2025.

From a dilapidated kirk to a vibrant focal point for the local community and visitors – Papa Stour Kirk has been redeveloped as a community centre and is inspiring further renewal on this beautiful, remote island. Learn more about this Project of the Week for #AHF50: ahfund.org.uk/anniversary/...

Visiting Aberdeen’s Cat B-listed Wallace Tower today. Built c.1600 in city centre, moved to Seaton Park in 1960s, & now restored after nearly 30 years of dereliction by Tillydrone Community Development Trust. @archhfund.org.uk supported project with William Grant Foundation grants in 2023 & 2025.

Following its transformation into an activity centre, it is fantastic to see that the former Dalbeattie Primary School will soon be buzzing with life again. 🚲 We are pleased to have supported the early stages of this project with a #HESsupported development grant. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Splashing news: Tarlair Lido among this year’s RIAS award winners! @archhfund.org.uk supported Friends of Tarlair with #HESsupported grant for plans to regenerate this remarkable Cat A-listed complex. No swimming yet but café’s scones and sea views well worth the trip! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Congratulations to Little Sparta Trust, which has today announced it has acquired the iconic Temple of Apollo, bringing the whole of Little Sparta into its care for the first time. 🙌 We supported viability work for the Temple of Apollo with a #HESsupported grant. www.scotsman.com/arts-and-cul...

Yesterday’s bank holiday was a great day for a sunny work trip downriver to visit some Inverclyde-based projects @archhfund.org.uk has been supporting. Three projects of very different scales and at different points, but all extremely inspiring!

We’ve been keeping this next Project of the Week for #AHF50 under lock and key, but it’s finally time to release it! After being restored to its former glory, the Old Police Station in Langholm now provides affordable homes for four families. Find out more: 👇 ahfund.org.uk/anniversary/...

Yesterday’s bank holiday was a great day for a sunny work trip downriver to visit some Inverclyde-based projects @archhfund.org.uk has been supporting. Three projects of very different scales and at different points, but all extremely inspiring!

Lovely wander along Bo’ness foreshore yesterday- some excellent bricks spotted! Could this partial circular brick structure be a surviving part of base of chimney from Carriden Colliery visible on OS maps & in Trove pic? Location fits at least! Interesting area to do some industrial archaeology…

I think hanging around with historians online is corrupting me. Just watched an interesting documentary film and about 75% of my reactions were things like "I'm pretty sure that's not how you handle oral sources" and "That looks like a perfectly well-kept archive so WHY DID YOU JUST CALL IT DUSTY?"

Glasgow folks! Come see me giving a brand new (*) heritage lecture on Glasgow’s Cinema Experiment at 7pm on 24th June at the Kelvin Hall - absolutely free and unticketed as part of WestFest 2026. (*) Contains approximately 7% new material compared to previous talks. westfest.uk/event/herita...

Glasgow folks! Come see me giving a brand new (*) heritage lecture on Glasgow’s Cinema Experiment at 7pm on 24th June at the Kelvin Hall - absolutely free and unticketed as part of WestFest 2026. (*) Contains approximately 7% new material compared to previous talks. westfest.uk/event/herita...

From an unused historic watermill into a vibrant heritage visitor attraction and community venue, John O’Groats Mill has been revitalised and continues to serve this rural community ‘who have supported its re-development right from the start.’ Find out more: 👇 ahfund.org.uk/anniversary/... #AHF50

Can't believe it's been exactly 20 years (!) of 'milking it' since the late, great Andy Parkin and I did an exclusive photoshoot for the Times Higher Educational Supplement to promote our 'Chem-moo-stry' cow - part of the Edinburgh CowParade - that helped to promote Scottish Chemistry research!

I do enjoy being quoted with a good pun in a press release:🔥 "Like the historic boilers, I’m all fired up to see these exciting plans coming together … different spaces creating new usable & sustainable spaces for both visitors & local community” @archhfund.org.uk www.linkedin.com/pulse/new-co...

The former Inverness Royal Academy was the first purpose-built large secondary school in the Highlands. Today, thanks to @waspsstudios.bsky.social, the former school buildings have been beautifully restored as Inverness Creative Academy - a major creative hub. ahfund.org.uk/anniversary/... #AHF50

It's not often I get to be a pin-up for a construction news focussed website, but Project Scotland have a nice feature on the Scotland leg of our travelling @archhfund.org.uk 50th Anniversary exhibition- on now at the Briggait until May 16th, so do pop in for a look! projectscot.com/2026/05/glas...

Who wants a longish read about the colliery waggonways of Southside, illustrated with far too many maps? Nobody? Bah. You shall have one anyway. new-cleckit.dominie.scot/the-govan-wa...

I still love the theory a Year 6 child proposed to me that David Attenborough is actually God and he got fed up with people not noticing the amazing things he'd created, so he made documentaries to show off.

It's not often I get to be a pin-up for a construction news focussed website, but Project Scotland have a nice feature on the Scotland leg of our travelling @archhfund.org.uk 50th Anniversary exhibition- on now at the Briggait until May 16th, so do pop in for a look! projectscot.com/2026/05/glas...

🔎🏚 #HeritageDevelopmentTrusts (HDT) Spotlight – North East Scotland Preservation Trust (NESPT). NESPT brings derelict, disused & redundant buildings back to life in the Aberdeenshire area & beyond. As a HDT, its focus is the historic harbour town of Portsoy. 👇 ahfund.org.uk/projects/nor...

Great to attend the opening of Creative Dunblane Community Co:working Hub and Digital Makerspace, with a wonderful poetry reading by Jackie Kay, Scotland’s third National Poet. We supported this project with a #HESsupported grant and are pleased to see the old Burgh Chambers come alive again.

Oar you ready for this next #AHF50 Project of the Week? 🛶 West Boathouse is considered to be one of the grandest buildings of its kind in Britain. Following sensitive restoration, it remains home to multiple rowing clubs & is a fully shared & accessible facility. 👇 ahfund.org.uk/anniversary/...

Our 50 Years of Reimagining Heritage exhibition is off to a flying start at The Briggait in Glasgow after a fantastic launch event last week. The exhibition is open Mon-Sat until 16 May. If you’re in the city, come down & see how we’re supporting heritage across the UK! #AHF50 #Heritage #Glasgow

It’s a lovely day - if you’re in Glasgow why not pop in to see our @archhfund.org.uk 50th Exhibition at the Briggait. I can testify that the kids activity sheets work well to distract them while you get a chance to read up on a huge variety of fantastic projects from all over!

It’s a lovely day - if you’re in Glasgow why not pop in to see our @archhfund.org.uk 50th Exhibition at the Briggait. I can testify that the kids activity sheets work well to distract them while you get a chance to read up on a huge variety of fantastic projects from all over!

While setting up shop for their 50th anniversary exhibition in Glasgow's Briggait Studios, the team from the AHF spoke to me about both the past, and the future of heritage preservation in Scotland

Pleased to report that I was able to fit this into today's training session on "How to give a good technical talk".

The sun shone in Glasgow this week for launch of @archhfund.org.uk's 50 Years of Reimagining Heritage exhibition in the glorious Briggait, formerly a fishmarket & today home to artist studios thanks to @waspsstudios.bsky.social. The exhibition is on until 16 May, Mon-Sat - swing by if you're nearby!

It's a terrible thing having a face for radio when the radio starts recording pictures! 🙂 Anyway, if you’re in Glasgow in the next 2 weeks go see our snazzy new exhibition at the Briggait, celebrating 50 years of @archhfund.org.uk ! www.instagram.com/reel/DXy0Vp1...

If you want to learn more about @archhfund.org.uk and our work in Scotland, join me and my colleague Andrew on Tuesday as we talk advice, grants and loans for community led, historic building catalysed local regeneration projects at this free upcoming online Meet the Funder event, hosted by SCVO.