Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Culture, today, Tuesday 29th June 2010, formally launched "Scotland's Shops", a new Historic Scotland book examining the architectural history of shops in Scotland.

The book, written by Dr Lindsay Lennie, and funded through a three year Research fellowship with Historic Scotland, will be launched in one of Scotland's most iconic shops, Jenners Department Store, Princes Street, Edinburgh.

The publication celebrates the history of Scotland's retail architecture in a timeline from medieval markets to the post-war period.  It explores, for the first time, how shops in Scotland evolved.  It takes a chronological look at shop development and closely examines different types of shops and their architectural elements and materials.  Shops are featured from all around Scotland from Lerwick to Stranraer.

Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Culture commented, "Traditional shops and shop fronts form the heart of many high streets across Scotland and play an important part in our history.  Many long established family businesses and new owners who have inherited a shop with original tiling, shelving or a cast iron frontage are proud of the significance of these shops and want to ensure their survival for future generations to appreciate.

"Traditional Scottish building materials are also vital to the conservation  and maintenance of our built heritage.  Many towns and cities have their own distinctive and recognisable shop front styles. The fact that so many of them have survived across the country is testament to the quality and durability of the materials used to construct them and the skill with which they were used. 

"Our shops  form the economic and social building blocks of our town centres - they are woven into the social fabric of our towns and communities. Their architecture and conservation are of great importance in order to retain town centres that are individual, appealing and meaningful.

"Dr Lindsay Lennie said:  "I am delighted to see the publication of this book by Historic Scotland.  It is a wonderful celebration of the great variety of shops which exist throughout Scottish towns and cities. I hope that it raises awareness  and encourages the retention and conservation of Scotland's traditional shops."