Wednesday 9th November, 6pm
Room PG20, Pemberton Building, Palace Green Library, Durham
Susan Bain (Western Isles Manager, National Trust for Scotland) – “St Kilda – Mice and Missiles: Managing a Remote World Heritage Site”
St Kilda is a remote archipelago off the Western Isles of Scotland, a World Heritage site since 1986 and the only mixed World Heritage Site in the UK. This lecture will look at just what makes St Kilda so special and the unique challenges of balancing natural and cultural heritage whilst sharing the site with the Ministry of Defence and coping with the North Atlantic weather.
Susan Bain is the Western Isles Manager for the National Trust for Scotland, with responsibility for St Kilda as well as Mingulay, Pabbay and Berneray. After studying at Glasgow University she worked as an archaeologist in Scotland and also in the USA, Europe and the Middle East. She began working for the Trust at Mar Lodge Estate, before moving to St Kilda, first as the archaeologist and then as manager. Her interest in traditional buildings took her to the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Norway on a Churchill Fellowship to investigate the use of turf as a traditional roofing material.
The lecture is free of charge and will be followed by a drinks reception at the World Heritage Site Visitor Centre. Please reserve your place by writing to the organiser at raffaella.aliprandi@durham.ac.uk
Cultural Significance of Place 