History of the Trust

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During the immediate post-war period, things were different.  Certainly, this is the period that gave us the National Health Service and the town and country planning system.  It was a period of new thought, and new ideals.  It was also a time when the concept of a "brave new world" was at the fore, and existing environments were seen as a headache of the past.  It was a time of the comprehensive redevelopment scheme.  It was the time of "streets in the sky" and of the tower block.  It was a time of immense and often poorly controlled change, particularly in those areas of high population suffering from over-comprehensive urban redevelopment and ambitious traffic plans which badly needed the criticism and frequently, the vehement opposition of an alert and well-informed public.

<!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso]--> <!--[endif]--> Invite to the inauguration of the Scottish Civic Trust, 1967 <!--[if !mso]--> <!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso & !vml]--><!--[endif]--> <!--[if !vml]-->

<!--[endif]--> <!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->The Trust was a response to the destruction of the innumerable historic buildings and areas of townscape that had evolved over the centuries, and to the loss of the communities that valued these places.  Certainly there were problems, but the solutions could be very drastic indeed.  It was also a response to the need for a coordinator of action for individuals and groups across Scotland; a focus for debate and criticism.

 

Some ten years earlier, the Civic Trust for the UK had been formed, and remains to this day, based in London.  Despite this, there was an early recognition that a separate Scottish affair was required, and it fell to Lord Muirsheil to act as its first Chairman, together with Dr Maurice Lindsay, a broadcaster, as its first Director to drive the agenda forward.

The initial focus had been the establishment of local civic societies up and down the country.  Some had already existed, like The Cockburn Association in Edinburgh which was established in 1875 or the New Glasgow Society. Today, there are over 100 groups registered with the Trust, spanning the length and breadth of Scotland.

However, upon opening the doors, its services were required to assist others in better local environments, or preventing them from being unnecessarily compromised.

<!--[if !vml]--> <!--[endif]-->In 1969, the Trust was invited by Glasgow Corporation to run a pilot campaign to brighten up the appearance and image of the city.  'Facelift Glasgow' became responsible for the first concerted attempts to remove the century-old layers of grime from its sandstone frontages and monuments, beginning symbolically with the statue to Sir Walter Scott in the centre of George Square. During the same period, environmental improvement schemes for Biggar and Lesmahagow were developed and implemented, in conjunction with local groups and Councils, furthering earlier work in Haddington.

Images from SCT's Facelift Glasgow campaign 1971-1976, clockwise from top left: shopfront advertising, tree planting and poster designed by GSA students.

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The plight of individual buildings was brought to the Trust's attention.  For example, Papdale House in Orkney, former home of Samuel Laing, was under threat.  The Trust assisted the newly formed Orkney Heritage Society to resist its demolition and find a new use.

The Trust is perhaps best known for this championing role for Scotland's architectural heritage.  The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act of 1969 gave formal protection for individual historic buildings (listed buildings).  Furthermore, at the stroke of a civil servants pen, planning departments were required under statute to consult with the Scottish Civic Trust on every plan proposing the demolition of any of the country's then listed buildings, approximately 20,000 strong at the time.  This was the impetus for a constant stream of consultations from local planning authorities, which soon expanded into wide expectations to comment on other matters affecting the historic environment.  Although this requirement was abolished in the 1975 Acts that heralded Regional Government in Scotland, the expectation, and expertise, remained.  Today, the Trust is recognised in government guidance and policy as an expert in this field.

<!--[if !vml]--> <!--[endif]-->Throughout its history, a major function of the Trust has been to act as a catalyst for change.  In the 1970s and 80s, a number of interests and activities were developed, or expanded. These included the rescue and re-use of redundant railway viaducts, via the Scottish Viaducts Committee; environmental education (via the now-defunct Scottish Environmental Education Council which originated as an approach to the Trust by teachers in the Strathclyde Region); even island management became part of the Trust's activities, when we were asked to assist in the establishment, and chair, the Iona Liaison Group.

An early SCT publication by Maurice Lindsay, SCT's first Director.

<!--[if !vml]--> <!--[endif]-->In the early 1980s, the Trust authored two seminal publications.  The first, in 1981 for the Scottish Development Department, was titled "New uses for Older Buildings in Scotland" (with the romantic sub-title of "A manual of Practical Encouragement").  Two years later, the Trust wrote "Historic Buildings at Work: A Guide to the Historic Buildings of Scotland used by Central Government".

<!--[if !vml]--> <!--[endif]-->The early 1990s brought forth two projects, which remain essential parts of the historic environment sector today.  Firstly, the Trust encouraged the organisers of Glasgow's City of Culture event in 1990 to try out an idea currently found in France, namely the opening up of buildings not usually open to the public for free.  The result is the enormously popular Doors Open Days in Scotland, which the Trust continues to coordinate nationally as part of the Council of Europe's European Heritage Days.

Leaflet for the first Doors Open Day event in 1990.

<!--[if !vml]--> <!--[endif]-->The second major initiative was the establishment of the Buildings at Risk Service.  Historic Scotland's predecessor (the Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings Division of the Scottish Development Department), increasingly concerned with the number of derelict listed buildings, asked the Trust to begin cataloguing these with a view of publishing their plight, and encouraging their active re-use and refurbishment.  The Service continues to this day, with an on-line searchable database that won a Commendation in the Awards for Quality in Planning scheme in 2005.

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Today, the Trust runs an office from the Tobacco Merchant's House in Glasgow's Merchant City, which it purchased in 1997.  It remains engaged with local civic groups across Scotland. It regularly comments and campaigns for the betterment of Scotland's individual buildings and areas of distinction.  It advises government on policy development and formulation.  It seeks to encourage active and stimulating interest in all aspects of the built and historic environment.  It liaises with many, many bodies and individuals in the pursuit of its objectives.  It remains an important champion of Scotland's places.

<!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso]--> <!--[endif]--> The Tobacco Merchant's House <!--[if !mso]--> <!--[endif]--><!--[if !mso & !vml]--><!--[endif]--> <!--[if !vml]-->

As we look forward to the future, our vision might best be summarised in a quote taken from a publication written by its first Director, Dr Maurice Lindsay.  In it, he wrote, "At this stage of our evolution towards "the good life", the imagination satisfied thought the arts and an environment that both stimulates and refreshes should be regarded not as luxurious fripperies but as a basic human right."