Specialists from Kirkdale Archaeology have today
begun the painstaking work of excavating the remains of the Mackintosh Library
at The Glasgow School of Art. This investigative work is part of the GSA’s
research and documentation of the building after the fire and will help inform
the restoration process. Similar work was undertaken after the major fire at
Windsor Castle in the 1990s and provided invaluable information to the restoration
and archives teams.
begun the painstaking work of excavating the remains of the Mackintosh Library
at The Glasgow School of Art. This investigative work is part of the GSA’s
research and documentation of the building after the fire and will help inform
the restoration process. Similar work was undertaken after the major fire at
Windsor Castle in the 1990s and provided invaluable information to the restoration
and archives teams.
“Immediately
after the fire, with support from Historic Scotland, the GSA was able to remove
substantial amounts of material from the Mackintosh Building,” says Alison
Stevenson Head of Libraries, Archives and Collections at the GSA. “We have recently begun sifting this for
items which could be restored or conserved and added to our Archives and Collections.”
after the fire, with support from Historic Scotland, the GSA was able to remove
substantial amounts of material from the Mackintosh Building,” says Alison
Stevenson Head of Libraries, Archives and Collections at the GSA. “We have recently begun sifting this for
items which could be restored or conserved and added to our Archives and Collections.”
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A conservator with Mackintosh lamps found in material retrieved
from the west wing of The Mackintosh Building after the fire
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One of a
number of enamel broaches found in material retrieved from the west wing and
part of a table from The Library
number of enamel broaches found in material retrieved from the west wing and
part of a table from The Library
“We are also
turning to what is at once the most complex and potentially most revealing
project in terms of conservation. Although the library was destroyed in the
fire there are significant remains which we hope will retain artefacts or
fragments that will prove invaluable both in terms of our archival records and
our restoration plans.”
turning to what is at once the most complex and potentially most revealing
project in terms of conservation. Although the library was destroyed in the
fire there are significant remains which we hope will retain artefacts or
fragments that will prove invaluable both in terms of our archival records and
our restoration plans.”
The work is being led by Gordon Ewart Director of Kirkdale
Archaeology, whose portfolio of high profile projects includes recent archaeological
excavations at Stirling Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Place and Linlithgow
Palace.
Archaeology, whose portfolio of high profile projects includes recent archaeological
excavations at Stirling Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Place and Linlithgow
Palace.
“Over the
next few weeks we will work through the remains of the library excavating layer
by layer though the ash checking carefully for any artefacts that have survived
the fire or fragments that can be conserved.
next few weeks we will work through the remains of the library excavating layer
by layer though the ash checking carefully for any artefacts that have survived
the fire or fragments that can be conserved.
Throughout
the process we will keep a archaeological record which will remain as a
detailed document of where salvageable material was found and we hope will help
inform the GSA’s restoration programme.”
the process we will keep a archaeological record which will remain as a
detailed document of where salvageable material was found and we hope will help
inform the GSA’s restoration programme.”
“Historic
Scotland is pleased that the GSA committed to undertake this detailed forensic
survey,” adds Ranald McInnes, Head of Heritage
Management at Historic Scotland who has worked closely with the GSA on the
conservation of the Mackintosh Building for many years. “This investigation of The Library will be
invaluable both to the current restoration plan and for future generations
studying the Mackintosh Building.”
Scotland is pleased that the GSA committed to undertake this detailed forensic
survey,” adds Ranald McInnes, Head of Heritage
Management at Historic Scotland who has worked closely with the GSA on the
conservation of the Mackintosh Building for many years. “This investigation of The Library will be
invaluable both to the current restoration plan and for future generations
studying the Mackintosh Building.”
The excavation work is expected to take several
weeks.
weeks.
THE PROCESS
·
The forensic archaeologists will work through the library in
1m x 1m columns excavating the layers of ash in c.25cm increments or ‘spits’.
The forensic archaeologists will work through the library in
1m x 1m columns excavating the layers of ash in c.25cm increments or ‘spits’.
·
Each new exposed surface/horizon will be photographed and
recorded in plan @ 1:10 and each of the 2 – 3 exposed full sections will
be photographed and drawn @ 1:10.
Each new exposed surface/horizon will be photographed and
recorded in plan @ 1:10 and each of the 2 – 3 exposed full sections will
be photographed and drawn @ 1:10.
·
Each layer will then be transferred to the Mackintosh Museum
where a team from AOC Archaeology Group Ltd will sift through the remains to identify
salvageable items. Each excavated item and deposit will be logged in terms of
its archaeological context, before removal for either suitable storage and
treatment or disposal.
Each layer will then be transferred to the Mackintosh Museum
where a team from AOC Archaeology Group Ltd will sift through the remains to identify
salvageable items. Each excavated item and deposit will be logged in terms of
its archaeological context, before removal for either suitable storage and
treatment or disposal.
The Glasgow School of Art has meanwhile drawn up a list of
which items should be kept for conservation.
which items should be kept for conservation.
·
All coloured glass will be retained along with
the best examples of exterior window glass, interior window glass, library
office glass and bookcase glass.
All coloured glass will be retained along with
the best examples of exterior window glass, interior window glass, library
office glass and bookcase glass.
·
All modern metal fittings will be disposed of
with only original fittings being retained. The best examples of lead work from
the doors, locks, hinges and one radiator will be retained along with all air
vents.
All modern metal fittings will be disposed of
with only original fittings being retained. The best examples of lead work from
the doors, locks, hinges and one radiator will be retained along with all air
vents.
·
All pieces of wooden furniture and
decorative/coloured wood will be retained along with the best examples of
internal window frames and original boards from the wall lined panels.
All pieces of wooden furniture and
decorative/coloured wood will be retained along with the best examples of
internal window frames and original boards from the wall lined panels.
·
Large-scale identifiable samples of general
books will be retained for assessment along with all fragments of books from
the special collections list.
Large-scale identifiable samples of general
books will be retained for assessment along with all fragments of books from
the special collections list.
·
Plaster casts from the windows and ceramics will be retained
along with some carpet samples.
Plaster casts from the windows and ceramics will be retained
along with some carpet samples.
THE OUTCOME
A series
of measured and photographed plans and sections through the entire deposit will
be produced, which can be combined to illustrate the deposition sequence at a
series of discrete intervals both across and through the debris field. A written report on the quantity and
types of material disposed of as well as detail photographs and written
description of anything retained will be produced by the GSA.
of measured and photographed plans and sections through the entire deposit will
be produced, which can be combined to illustrate the deposition sequence at a
series of discrete intervals both across and through the debris field. A written report on the quantity and
types of material disposed of as well as detail photographs and written
description of anything retained will be produced by the GSA.
The
results of the project in terms of all excavated and evidence, historic
documentation and any other specialist input, will them be combined in a single
project archive and the GSA aims to create an online digital resource that is
capable of integrating a wide variety of multimedia components as they emerge
during each stage of the restoration project. This would then be made available
as a rich resource within the School’s Archives and Collections.
results of the project in terms of all excavated and evidence, historic
documentation and any other specialist input, will them be combined in a single
project archive and the GSA aims to create an online digital resource that is
capable of integrating a wide variety of multimedia components as they emerge
during each stage of the restoration project. This would then be made available
as a rich resource within the School’s Archives and Collections.
Ends 18
November 2014
November 2014
For further information:
Lesley Booth
0779 941 4474