Castles, both ruined and occupied, are amongst the most deeply evocative
buildings in the Scottish landscape. This book considers the history of
the conservation and restoration of a number of those buildings against
the background of what the idea of the castle has meant to Scots over
the centuries. The authors draw on their extensive knowledge of castles
across Scotland, as well as on their practical experience in advising on
recent conservation and restoration projects. They begin by briefly
considering the history of castles and by exploring their role in
Scottish society, before moving on to consider the ways in which they
were absorbed within later building complexes as domestic requirements
and social aspirations changed. A series of detailed case studies then
examines the issues surrounding the conservation and restoration of
castles in modern times, which it is hoped will be of value for everyone
with an interest in castles, including those who might be considering
undertaking work on one.