A lot of Scotland’s historic locations are linked to The Queen. You’re most likely conscious of royal residences, just like the Palace of Holyrood Home and Balmoral Fortress. You might have stepped aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia at its mooring in Leith.
A number of different vital Scottish constructions have been formally opened by the Queen over the course of her 70-year reign. We’ve delved into the Historic Atmosphere Scotland archives to take a better take a look at a few of them.
Nationwide Library of Scotland: A seat of studying
The Nationwide Library of Scotland in Edinburgh was formally opened by the Queen on 4 July 1956.
The placing classical trendy constructing, designed by main interwar architect Reginald Fairlie, is Scotland’s largest library. Development started in 1937, however was halted by WWII. The large metal body stood silently on George IV Bridge till work might resume.
When full, the library was 9 storeys excessive, with two storeys on George IV Bridge, and the remaining seven beneath the bridge on the Cowgate.
The Nationwide Library of Scotland web site because it appeared in August 1950 (© HES, Tom and Sybil Grey Assortment)
The seven massive stone figures which dominate the entrance of the library are by famend sculptor Hew Lorimer, son of Scottish architect Sir Robert Lorimer. They symbolise the humanities of civilisation: Drugs, Science, Historical past, The Poetic Muse, Justice, Theology and Music.
Inside, you’ll discover a formidable major staircase dominated by a stained glass window which incorporates emblems of the Thistle and Scottish Crown. The general public rooms are every fitted with a special type of wooden. The doorway corridor is teak, whereas {the catalogue} corridor is mahogany, the studying room walnut and the previous particular collections rooms pine.
The Nationwide Library in 1955 (picture by way of Canmore)
The principle staircase within the Nationwide Library (picture by way of Canmore)
Ben Crauchan: Energy within the mountains
Cruachan Dam excessive above Loch Awe
Of the numerous buildings opened by the Queen, the Ben Cruachan hydro electrical scheme should be one of many extra distinctive.
Constructed between 1959 and 1964, the pioneering energy station utilises an enormous dam and a turbine corridor constructed inside Ben Cruachan to maneuver water a top of 396 metres between Loch Awe and Cruachan Reservoir. It could actually transfer from a standstill to full output in beneath two minutes, and is able to working continuous for 22 hours.
The huge turbine corridor is 36 metres excessive and 90 metres lengthy, and is accessed by way of a tunnel one kilometre in size. The Turbine Corridor is listed at Class A and the Dam is listed at Class B.
The Queen meets North Scotland Hydro Electrical Board workers on the official opening of Cruachan Energy Station
Hutcheson C: “Ships in full sail”
From hydro electrical energy to excessive rise housing, Hutchesontown C was a part of an city redevelopment mission in Glasgow. The mission consisted of 5 phases: A,B,C,D and E. Every section was assigned to a special architect, with Sir Basil Spence given accountability for ”Hutchie C’ in 1959.
The finished tower blocks in Space C (© Courtesy of HES, Spence, Glover and Ferguson Assortment)
Spence’s high-rise designs, which included loads of balconies, have been impressed by the drying greens of working class tenements. Spence envisaged that “on Tuesdays, when all of the washing’s out, it’ll be like an amazing ship in full sail”.
The flats have been to be positioned in Queen Elizabeth Sq. so, fittingly sufficient, the Queen unveiled a commemorative plaque on the development web site on 30 June 1961.
A perspective drawing from Spence’s plans (© Courtesy of HES, Spence, Glover and Ferguson Assortment)
The commemorative plaque recording the opening of Queen Elizabeth Sq. (© Courtesy of HES Spence, Glover and Ferguson Assortment)
Sadly, the tower blocks proved too windy for Spence’s “ship in full sail”. What’s extra, there have been severe points with damp and upkeep. Regardless of renovation works within the late Nineteen Eighties, town council determined to drag down ‘The Hanging Gardens of the Gorbals’ in 1993.
New, decrease flats known as Queen Elizabeth Gardens now occupy the positioning, with distinctive balconies as a nod to Spence’s authentic imaginative and prescient.
Washing drying in a backyard slab in Space C (picture from Canmore)
The Burrell Assortment: A gallery among the many greenery
Situated on the fringe of woodland in Pollok Nation Park, the Burrell Gallery was particularly created to accommodate Sir William Burrell’s huge assortment of artwork and antiquities.
Delivery magnate Burrell bequeathed his treasures to the Metropolis of Glasgow in 1944. He instructed that they be housed at the very least 16 miles from town to keep away from being contaminated by air pollution. These situations have been eased when a web site close to Pollok Home (some three miles away) turned accessible within the late Sixties.
242 entries have been submitted in a contest held to resolve on a design for the brand new gallery. The winners, Gasson, Andresen and Meunier, made the many of the parkland setting. The inside and exterior of the constructing get alongside completely with the encircling panorama.
Development started in 1978 and the completed product was opened by the Queen in 1983. The constructing was A-listed in 2013.
Contained in the Burrell Gallery
The Forth Street Bridge: Throughout the Firth
There’s a Queen Elizabeth Bridge in Aberdeen, however probably the most iconic crossing that’s linked to the Queen should be the Forth Street Bridge.
The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh opened the bridge on 4 September 1964. On the time it was the most important of its variety on the earth exterior America.
The Queen will be seen within the backside proper of this photograph taken from the gang on the Forth Street Bridge opening ceremony (© Courtesy of HES, Survey of Personal Collections)
The opening of the bridge marked the tip an 800-year-old ferry service established by one other monarch, Queen Margaret. The route between North and South Queensferry was created within the eleventh century to hold pilgrims to St Andrews Cathedral and Dunfermline Abbey.
In 2002, the Forth Street Bridge carried its 250 millionth car throughout the Firth of Forth. It was awarded Class A listed standing a yr beforehand.
Cables being spun throughout the development of the Forth Street Bridge, 1962 (© Courtesy of HES, Sir William Arrol Assortment)
The commemorative stone marking the Queen’s opening of the Forth Street Bridge (© Courtesy of HES, Eric de Mare Assortment).
Th Scottish Parliament: “Surging out of the rock”
Immediately reverse the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the place the Queen hosted an annual backyard celebration, is the Scottish Parliament Constructing. It was formally opened by the Queen in October 2004.
Constructed on the positioning of a former brewery, the distinctive constructing is the brainchild of Spanish architect Enric Miralles, who died earlier than its completion. seventeenth century Queensberry Home is included throughout the advanced.
The Scottish Parliament and Holyrood Palace from Salisbury Crags
Miralles wished the Parliament to mix in with the encircling volcanic crags of Holyrood Park. It ought to “come up from the sloping base of Arthur’s Seat and arrive into town nearly surging out of the rock.”
The constructing homes some 129 MSPs and over 1,000 workers, together with a variety of sculptures and art work. They embody specially-commissioned items in addition to official presents from different nations and parliaments.
On the outside, a collection of granite and timber “set off panels” catch the attention. Whereas they might be merely summary, it’s thought that they might have been designed to evoke the well-known Scottish portray of Reverend Robert Walker skating on Duddingston Loch.
“Set off panels” on the outside of the Scottish Parliament constructing
What’s in your doorstep?
There are listed buildings of all shapes, sizes and significance throughout Scotland. To see what’s close to you, head to Previous Map! You’ll be able to seek for postcodes or particular areas, and examine them towards our data and databases.
Alternatively, seek for your chosen historic constructing on our Heritage Portal to search out out extra about its listed standing, architectural worth and social significance.
On Canmore, you’ll be able to see a wealth of photos from the Nationwide Document of the Historic Atmosphere together with archive work, images and plans
For extra buildings with royal connections, try our latest blogs on St Giles’ Cathedral and Edinburgh’s Mercat Cross.
