Tag Archives: Architecture

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MacDonald Monument

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Date: 24 August 2022

Location: Dingwall 57.5925309,-4.4289556

"This tower was erected as a national memorial to Major-General Sir Hector Archibald MacDonald KCB DSO ADC AD 1907"

— Inscription above the tower entrance

"Fighting Mac"

"Major General Sir Hector Archibald MacDonald

K.C.B., D.S.O., A.D.C., LLD.

1853 – 1903"

"Hector MacDonald, born 1853, was the son of a crofter from Rootfield in the Black Isle. He left school and served his time in a drapers shop in Dingwall and Inverness. There, at a young age, he joined the Gordon Highlanders, having served first with the local volunteers. He had an outstanding career which took him all over the world from India to Afghanistan, South Africa, Egypt – and the famous battle of Omdurman. During his travels he studied military planning and languages. By the end of his life he could speak over five languages including Arabic, French and Hindustani.

"He rose up through the ranks quickly. He began as a lowly private and became commanding officer of the Highland Brigade during the reign of Queen Victoria. His rise was surprising, as such promotion was granted normally only to those who were from the upper classes."

— Information panel, Dingwall Museum

Further reading:

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Airthrey Castle

Date: 20 August 2022

Location: University of Stirling, Scotland 56.148182, -3.913702

"Airthrey Castle was built around 1792 for Robert Haldane who commissioned the design by Robert Adam.

"Adam’s design was influenced by his knowledge of classical Italian landscapes as was the layout of the estate landscape completed by Thomas White in 1798."

— Information plaque

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University of Stirling

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Date: 20 August 2022

Location: Andrew Miller Building, University of Stirling, Scotland 56.145710, -3.920178

Information: The University of Stirling was founded in 1967 and its campus is located within the estate of the 18th-century Airthrey Castle. It has a student population of 14,000 and in 2017 was ranked as one of the top 50 universities in the world that were under 50 years old. The 2016 International Student Barometer placed Stirling first in the UK for its campus environment.

The Andrew Miller Building is located centrally in the campus, linking the academic buildings and student accommodation. It houses the university library, Macrobert Arts Centre, study spaces, catering outlets and the Students’ Union. One of the original university buildings, it was fully refurbished in 2021.

Further reading:

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May Taylor Morgan’s views of Caernarfon

May Taylor Morgan’s watercolour of the ‘old brickworks’ (Parciau/Parkia) [image courtesy of Anne Irwin] / Present-day view of the scene with the chimneys of the ex-Ferodo plant visible on the skyline
May Taylor Morgan’s rendition of Caernarfon Castle [image courtesy of Anne Irwin] / Present-day view of the scene looking across the Afon Seiont
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Welsh Highland Railway Station, Caernarfon

Date: 5 March 2022

Location: Caernarfon 53.13831469°N, 4.27410806°W

Information

Construction of the £3m new terminus building for the narrow-gauge Welsh Highland Railway started in February 2017 and the facility officially opened in June 2019. The project was part of Caernarfon’s £16m waterfront renewal initiative.

Further Reading

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