End of An Era?

Two items of news which hit me hard today.

First up was an article in the 'Herald' announcing that the University of Glasgow has threatened to cut funding to Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division (aka 'GUARD),  the commercial archaeological unit attached to the Department of Archaeology.

Times are hard for commercial units just now, and while things seem to be getting better, it sounds like my dear alma mater has lost patience with GUARD and is now threatening to pull the plug.  GUARD have been around for more than twenty years; their attachment to the univeristy meant they were able to provide a valuable training ground for recently graduates to gain experience before they ventured out into the Big Bad World of commercial archaeology.  My first commercial work as an archaeologist was with Archaeology Projects Glasgow, GUARD's predeccessor, and they've helped me out several times over the years when I was down on my uppers and looking for work. 

It's sent a shock wave through Scottish Archaeology and we're now all waiting and watching to see what happens next...

The second bit of bad news was about a local historic monument close to my own heart.  Long-time followers of this blog may remember a post I made about the town of Johnstone and its industrial heritage.  I introduced the Patons Old End Mill, and remarked that I had fears for its future.

Well, the worst has now happened.  As I write this post, fire is rampaging through it. Its future, which has long been in the balance, now looks extremely precarious. 

I'm not surprised things have turned out this way, but I'm still deeply saddened.  First Barbush, now the Old End Mill. 

Poor old Johnstone doesn't really have much of its historic fabric left now...

End of An Era?

Two items of news which hit me hard today.

First up was an article in the 'Herald' announcing that the University of Glasgow has threatened to cut funding to Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division (aka 'GUARD),  the commercial archaeological unit attached to the Department of Archaeology.

Times are hard for commercial units just now, and while things seem to be getting better, it sounds like my dear alma mater has lost patience with GUARD and is now threatening to pull the plug.  GUARD have been around for more than twenty years; their attachment to the univeristy meant they were able to provide a valuable training ground for recently graduates to gain experience before they ventured out into the Big Bad World of commercial archaeology.  My first commercial work as an archaeologist was with Archaeology Projects Glasgow, GUARD's predeccessor, and they've helped me out several times over the years when I was down on my uppers and looking for work. 

It's sent a shock wave through Scottish Archaeology and we're now all waiting and watching to see what happens next...

The second bit of bad news was about a local historic monument close to my own heart.  Long-time followers of this blog may remember a post I made about the town of Johnstone and its industrial heritage.  I introduced the Patons Old End Mill, and remarked that I had fears for its future.

Well, the worst has now happened.  As I write this post, fire is rampaging through it. Its future, which has long been in the balance, now looks extremely precarious. 

I'm not surprised things have turned out this way, but I'm still deeply saddened.  First Barbush, now the Old End Mill. 

Poor old Johnstone doesn't really have much of its historic fabric left now...