The recording of Catherine Erskine's talk on the Cambo Estate is now available to view.

Meetings, 2019–20

Society meetings are held on Wednesdays and start at 7 p.m.

Please note that the Chapel Royal is up a flight of stairs; moreover you are advised to bring a torch, as you will be entering and exiting the property via the turret door on the lawn.

Our themes for 2019–20:

  • Our first theme focuses as always on aspects of Falkland.
  • Our second theme reaches out beyond Falkland to our surrounding towns and villages.
  • Our third theme is ‘Conservation in Action’.
  • Our fourth theme is to begin to explore the richness and transformation of museums, locally, regionally, nationally.

The meetings in March, April and May were postponed in view of the coronavirus outbreak (we hope to reschedule these talks for a later date) but the meetings for June and July were held online, via Zoom.

11 September

The Chapel Royal, Falkland Palace, KY15 7BY

Dr Peter Burman, Why Orkney matters.

Peter Burman is Chair of the Falkland Society, an art and architectural historian with a passion for traditional craftsmanship. He has been visiting the Orcadian islands regularly for over forty years.

More about Peter's talk (PDF file)

This meeting also included the Society's Annual General Meeting.

see the Minutes of the AGM (PDF file)

9 October

The Chapel Royal, Falkland Palace, KY15 7BY

Scott McIntosh, Steel wheels and iron rails.

Scott McIntosh is a tramway and railway developer and engineer with experience and knowledge of railways at home and abroad. He is a resident of Falkland, a Community Councillor and Secretary of the Community Council.

More about Scott's talk (PDF file)

20 November

The Chapel Royal, Falkland Palace, KY15 7BY

Bryan Dickson,The Hill House – conservation challenges of a modern masterpiece.

Bryan Dickson is Head of Buildings Conservation (Policy) at the National Trust for Scotland. Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s Hill House (1903) has been beset by problems owing to the nature of the materials chosen, and especially a cement-based harling. Currently it is covered by an immense netted ‘cage’ which is enabling the house to ‘dry out’ and provides visitors with a unique perspective on the house.

More about Bryan's talk (PDF file)

11 December

The Chapel Royal, Falkland Palace, KY15 7BY

Joe FitzPatrick, East Lomond Hill – revealing a long-lost archaeological settlement.

Joe Fitzpatrick is a trustee of the Falkland Stewardship Trust and the Board Director of FST who leads on the archaeological programme. He commissioned and directed both the 2019 and the 2017 East Lomond Hill projects.

More about Joe's talk (PDF file)

8 January 2020

The Craig Room, Falkland Parish Church, KY15 7BU

Professor David Munro, The Smith Anderson Story: Five generations of a Fife family firm.

David Munro has been researching and writing a book about the Smith Anderson firm which was for so long part of Falkland’s history. He will be bringing copies of the book for sale.

More about David's talk (PDF file)

12 February

The Chapel Royal, Falkland Palace, KY15 7BY

Dr Nicola Small, Jacobite Clans and their Stories.

A lecture arising from Dr Small’s exhibition at Perth Museum during summer and autumn 2019 on Jacobite Clans. Nicky Small is Local History Officer at Culture Perth and Kinross, the charity responsible for cultural institutions and their activities in Perth and Kinross.

More about Nicola's talk (PDF file)