Context 158 - March 2019

C O N T E X T 1 5 8 : M A R C H 2 0 1 9 17 Highlands and Islands heritage and historic environment. Given the isolation, climate and limited job prospects across much of the region, this heritage is gener- ally one of the main reasons for people to decide to live there, and it helps to define the various communities living in the large open landscapes. This means that, in general, the work you do as a historic environment professional is respected and valued, and people are usually very happy to help you with research. Some of the most rewarding moments in my time in Orkney came from my work with com- munity groups, and they would often revive me at the end of a long day with a cheery cup of tea and a blether. Heritage is also a high priority for economic development and regeneration. This is partly due to its links to tourism, and partly because there is not the same range of develop- ment opportunities as in urban areas. The role of the Heritage Lottery Fund and other institu- tional funders here can not be underestimated: for example, the support of the Stromness and Kirkwall Townscape Heritage Initiatives was instrumental in funding a training programme for local builders at Orkney College, which has greatly reduced the cost and difficulty of restor- ing traditional buildings in the long term. The Highlands and Islands are not generally a wealthy region, and difficulties in obtaining finance loom large in the practice of building conservation. Poverty is a major problem in many communities, due to the lack of well-paid employment, and the high costs of transport and heating. Advising on building maintenance took me to many poorly-insulated and leaking homes in Orkney; this was at times a sobering experience. As with the rest of the UK, finding public funding for heritage is increasingly diffi- cult. It can be a challenge to successfully defend historic environment interests in planning deci- sions where job creation is promised, however sympathetic the other parties are. On a personal level, working in the Highlands and Islands can be a great opportunity for personal development as a historic environment professional. The fact that most people working in the sector operate individually, geographi- cally isolated from each other, is undoubtedly a challenge, but it is also an opportunity to gain very broad experience. For example, as a fresh graduate I would almost certainly have never been given the opportunity to work largely unsu- pervised with such a broad remit had I worked in Glasgow or Edinburgh. Not only are there many types of historic site you can find yourself working with, ranging from military remains and shipwrecks to industrial heritage and prehistoric remains, but it is easier to connect to different related agendas and organisations, such as those within the historic environment, like archaeol- ogy, or those beyond it, such as tourism, housing and harbour management. For me it was an invaluable experience in developing my interests as a professional and gaining the confidence to push myself further in my career. The Highlands and Islands are without a doubt one of Britain’s most vivid landscapes. It is often challenging to work there as a historic buildings professional, but always rewarding, and if you ever get the chance to make the move I would strongly recommend taking it: it may not be for the faint-hearted, but it really is a front line of conservation in which you can be fully immersed, charmed and inspired. Tom Hunter, the historic environment officer at Orkney Islands Council from 2013–17, is completing his architectural training at Eindhoven University of Technology. Aldourie Castle, on the shore of Loch Ness near Inverness, dating from the 17th century, was remodelled in the 1860s by the architects Mackenzie and Matthews and extended in 1902–4 by Sir Robert Lorimer (Photo: Dave Conner, Wikimedia)