Click here to search commentonline

James MacLaren Society

Almost 60 people came to the Molteno Hall, Fortingall on Friday 9 May to hear Simon Green’s beautifully illustrated talk on The Arts and Crafts House in Scotland. 

Simon is an expert on Scottish architectural heritage from the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, and among a host of fascinating details he showed that wee, irregularly spaced windows were not just a James MacLaren invention, but a feature of 16th Century castles; and that Rennie Mackintosh’s clean modernist lines were arguably encouraged by his admiration of MacLaren’s work.  We in Fortingall are lucky in another way: as Simon pointed out, while Sir Donald Currie chose a restrained style for Glenlyon House,  many great houses of that period became plagued with damp when after the World Wars they could not rely on armies of servants to tend the fires, with only Aga preserved kitchens still habitable.  Even in the 30s quite modest houses had accommodation for servants.

The wealth acquired by Scottish industrialists in the late 19th century led to many of them building homes in the fashionable Arts and Crafts style, designed ether by Scottsih architects or some from south of the border.  James MacLaren was an important figure in the early part of the period and his distinctive “MacLaren Chimney” colliding visually with the gable had considerable influence. In addition he revived the use of thatch in the village, having become familiar with the way it was used in the West Country.  The setting was of great importance to an Arts and Crafts house, as was illustrated by PhilipWebb’s first country house at Arisaig although some English architects worked from a distance:  Melsetter House on the island of Hoy in Orkney was enlarged by William Lethaby, who drew his designs in his London office and never visited Hoy, while plaster ceilings were carried out by Ernest Gimson who worked in Gloucestershire. 

Among the other buildings shown was Helensburgh’s White House by Baillie Scott, built three years before Rennie Mackintosh designed Hill House, and Dumfries House which the 3rd Marquis of Bute extended for one of his five children, using some beautiful plasterwork.  There was a great interest in restoring Scottish castles, among them Duart Castle on Mull, reacquired by the MacLeans in 1910 - the Great Hall still leaks!  Eilean Donan Castle, so beloved of photographers, had to be entirely rebuilt.

Robert Lorimer’s buildings included Dundarave on Loch Fyne which belongs to the Noble family for whom Lormier aslo designed Ardkinglas.  Edwardians liked horizontal houses, so although Dundarave was originally a tower house, Lorimaer added low wings.  Earlshall near Leuchars, one of Lorimer’s first commissions, was a simple restoration which included charming designs for garden buildings.  Formakin, also by Lorimer, was for his friend John Holmes who was a great collector.  Because of Holme’s financial problems the building was never completed. Clients often had specific interests which would be displayed in stained glass windows or on decorative plaques.  Woodwork and metalwork were to a very high standard.  Skirling House near Biggar was extended by artist Phoebe Traquair’s sone, who placed wrought iron flowers in the garden in winter.  The period was known for its use of local materials and the importance of a garden. Scotland has a wealth of Arts and Crafts houses.  We were treated to some splendid slides by Simon Green, with explanations often tinged with humour and based on his great knowledge of his subject.

In her report to the AGM, Rosie Hooper, said that the Society is fulfilling its raison d’etre in other ways: giving back-up to the preservation of  the MacLaren heritage at Stirling High School as it moves into its new building; planning with the University of Colorado for the publication of some of its collection of Thomas MacLaren’s drawings and watercolours (see the recently published Journal Vol 5);  spreading the word about James MacLaren in the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland - the Dundee branch is arranging a visit to Fortingall kirk and village in July.

We hope to have another enthralling talk next year.  Look on our new website jmmaclaren.org