Dr Basil Chisholm Skinner OBE (7 November 1923 - 5 April 1995) was Scottish historian and architectural conservation campaigner. He was founder of the Dean Village Association.[1] In 1974 he co-founded the Hopetoun Trust which brought about the saving of Hopetoun House.
Deanbrae House, EdinburghThe grave of Basil Skinner, Dean Cemetery
He was born in Edinburgh on 7 November 1923, and educated at Harecroft Hall near Westwater, Cumberland. He then completed his education at Edinburgh Academy, winning the Aitken Prize in Classics, before studying history at the University of Edinburgh.[2]
His studies were interrupted by the Second World War during which he served first with the East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry before transferring to the Intelligence Corps. He returned to the University of Edinburgh after the war and completed his degree in history also winning the Cousin Prize in Fine Art.[2]
In 1951 he became Librarian at the Glasgow School of Art.[3] In 1954 returned to Edinburgh as Assistant Curator of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery aged only 31. From 1966 to 1979 he was Director of Extra-Mural Studies at the University of Edinburgh.[2]
In the 1960s he campaigned against a proposal by StirlingshireCounty Council to infill a large section of the Union Canal. He could not prevent its formal closure as a public route in 1965. He was one of the founders of the Edinburgh New Town Conservation Committee (ENTCC), the Dean Village Association, and the Edinburgh Schools Holiday Club. He was a committee member on the Cockburn Association, the SDA Conservation Committee, the National Trust for Scotland and the Old Edinburgh Club.[4]
From 1955 to 1983 he lived in Deanbrae (aka Kirkbrae) House, a distinctive former toll-house, partly of 17th century origin, but mainly by James Graham Fairley in 1892.[5] It stands at the east end of Dean Bridge, high above Dean Village. The house is now addressed as 10 Randolph Cliff.[1]
He died on 5 April 1995, and is buried in Dean Cemetery. His grave lies on the south-west spur backing onto the Dean Gallery.
Familyedit
He was married to Lydia Mary (1927-2017), and together they had two sons.
basil, skinner, basil, chisholm, skinner, november, 1923, april, 1995, scottish, historian, architectural, conservation, campaigner, founder, dean, village, association, 1974, founded, hopetoun, trust, which, brought, about, saving, hopetoun, house, contents, . Dr Basil Chisholm Skinner OBE 7 November 1923 5 April 1995 was Scottish historian and architectural conservation campaigner He was founder of the Dean Village Association 1 In 1974 he co founded the Hopetoun Trust which brought about the saving of Hopetoun House Contents 1 Life 2 Family 3 Exhibitions at SNPG by Skinner 4 Publications 5 ReferencesLife edit nbsp Deanbrae House Edinburgh nbsp The grave of Basil Skinner Dean CemeteryHe was born in Edinburgh on 7 November 1923 and educated at Harecroft Hall near Westwater Cumberland He then completed his education at Edinburgh Academy winning the Aitken Prize in Classics before studying history at the University of Edinburgh 2 His studies were interrupted by the Second World War during which he served first with the East Riding of Yorkshire Yeomanry before transferring to the Intelligence Corps He returned to the University of Edinburgh after the war and completed his degree in history also winning the Cousin Prize in Fine Art 2 In 1951 he became Librarian at the Glasgow School of Art 3 In 1954 returned to Edinburgh as Assistant Curator of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery aged only 31 From 1966 to 1979 he was Director of Extra Mural Studies at the University of Edinburgh 2 In the 1960s he campaigned against a proposal by Stirlingshire County Council to infill a large section of the Union Canal He could not prevent its formal closure as a public route in 1965 He was one of the founders of the Edinburgh New Town Conservation Committee ENTCC the Dean Village Association and the Edinburgh Schools Holiday Club He was a committee member on the Cockburn Association the SDA Conservation Committee the National Trust for Scotland and the Old Edinburgh Club 4 From 1955 to 1983 he lived in Deanbrae aka Kirkbrae House a distinctive former toll house partly of 17th century origin but mainly by James Graham Fairley in 1892 5 It stands at the east end of Dean Bridge high above Dean Village The house is now addressed as 10 Randolph Cliff 1 He died on 5 April 1995 and is buried in Dean Cemetery His grave lies on the south west spur backing onto the Dean Gallery Family editHe was married to Lydia Mary 1927 2017 and together they had two sons Exhibitions at SNPG by Skinner editScots in Italy in the 18th Century 1963 Shakespeare in Scottish Art 1964 Sir Walter Scott Bicentenary Exhibition 1971 King James the Sixth and First at Royal Scottish Museum Publications editBurns the Authentic Likenesses 1959 Scottish History in Perspective 1964 Scots in Italy in the 18th Century 1966 The Cramond Ironworks 1968 The Lime Industry in Lothian 1969 The Indefatigable Mr Allan 1973 King James the VI and I 1975 References edit a b Dean Village News a b c Dalyell Tam 9 April 1995 Obituary Basil Skinner The Independent Special Collections The History of Our Collections Glasgow School of Art Learning Resources Archived from the original on 23 March 2019 Retrieved 23 March 2019 About Basil Skinner CEC listed building records Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Basil Skinner amp oldid 1192034473, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
