C O N T E X T 1 3 6 : S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 4 15 And above all this, entered from ground level on one side which is three storeys up on the other, Riddle’s Court, a 16th and 17th century mansion, rescued and reconstructed by Geddes as a University Hall when all around was decaying slum, recently re-rescued by the Scottish Historic Buildings Trust and to become a study centre dedicated to Geddes: Vivendo Discimus (by living we learn) the motto he added over the door. Across the thronging Royal Mile and through the Ramsay Garden which Geddes and his architect Stewart Henbest Capper recast as an audacious arts-and-crafts fantasy. More Henbest Capper further along the Royal Mile, a clear inspiration for Richard Murphy’s Old Fishmarket Close, fitted beautifully into the dense grain in 2002. But what has happened since is distressing. The brash boxy egotism and clumsy mastic-ing of the newest (awards-shortlisted!) interventions, in Advocates Close, suggested that Geddes’ lessons still need to be learned. Gareth Hughes Forth railway bridge Our visit started with an introduction to Mr Wilhelm Westhofen (aka Mark Watson) complete with bowler hat, moustache (that quickly fell off, destroying our faith in his identity) and a German accent of sorts. His impeccable employment credentials from the Channel Tunnel had led him to become a cement expert for Mr Arrol (a steelwork specialist) and he was one of a number of European personnel involved in the project, including a Belgian contractor and Italian workmen. The Forth railway bridge was the first major steel structure built in Britain. It weighed in at just over 50,000 tons and its 521 metre bridge spans were the longest in the world. Designed by Fowler and Baker (both later knighted and presidents of the Institution of Civil Engineers), the Forth railway bridge is part way to becoming a world heritage site. It achieved tentative list status in 2011, and was selected in 2012 to be the UK submission in 2014. Having submitted its statement of outstanding universal value and management plan, it is awaiting a visit and final consideration of its application in mid 2015. One of the areas that will be discussed further in this process is the extent of any buffer zone around the bridge to protect the setting, a factor normally key to UNESCO designation. We were all asked to comment on the plans provided on our visit, as on a clear day the bridge can be seen from points in the centre of Edinburgh. As the structure and the conservation areas at each end with their own listed buildings are already statutorily protected, with a duty to consider setting, we were asked whether the bridge needs a buffer zone. After initial safety briefing and background information from our hosts Network Rail, we walked across from the Albert Hotel in North Queensferry to the base of the northern bridge tower for our journey up the tower in the contractors’ site lift. The lift is driven by rack and pinion driven, as the tower side tapers inward. The 40mph sign in the wire mesh lift cage caused some consternation until it was confirmed this was the maximum wind speed the cage could operate at. On arrival at the top we walked out on to the large open platform. We took in the long-distance Delegates visiting the Forth railway bridge (Photo: Bob Kindred)
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