20 Small Towns in Scotland

1. Under the
Mi croscope
20 Sm a l l T o wn s i n
Scotland
Architecture+DesignScotland
Ailtearachd is Dealbhadh na h-Alba
ISBN 978-0-947649-69-2

2. Under the Microscope
20 Small Towns in Scotland
by Laura Hart, Joanna Hooi
Dr Ombretta Romice and Prof Sergio Porta
Understanding the form of small towns and identifying common strands in
their development is a foundation on which appropriate political, economic and
social strategies can be developed. We hope that An Comann* and Under the
Microscope, 20 Small Towns in Scotland** can offer such understanding. Their
clarity permits meaningful comparative analysis from which positive aspects of
each town can be identified and used to form the basis of each town’s future
survival. Obviously the issues are a lot more complex than differentiating urban
morphology and as we move out from the gravitational pull of the central belt,
different problems overtake monotheism and lack of diversity as major issues, but
extrapolation of our future is a common purpose. This study is a superb bedrock
on which to build.
* “An Comann”, the Gaelic version of “in society, a collection, group or bringing
together”, is the title of Joanna Hooi and Laura Hart Masters Dissertation in Urban
Design at Urban Design Studies Unit, Department of Architec ture at the University
of Strathclyde.
** Under the Microscope, 20 Small Towns in Scotland is a joint project developed
as part of the University of Strathclyde Research and Development Grant Scheme
in collaboration with Architecture and Design Scotland.
The Research and Development Grant Scheme was led by Dr Ombretta Romice (PI)
and Prof Sergio Porta at UDSU, Urban Design Studies Unit, Department of
Architecture at University of Strathclyde. Joanna Hooi and Laura Hart were the ap-
pointed researchers and took place between February and September 2009.
The copyright of this thesis belongs to the author under the terms of the United Kingdom Copyright
Acts as qualified by University of Strathclyde Regulation 3.49. Due acknowledgement must always be
made of the use of any material contained in, or derived from, this document.
AC2.indd 1 25/11/2009 15:52:09

3. contents
c
m
o
a
n
r
t
k
Introduction 4 - 5 e
n
t
Key 6 - 7
t
Concept 8 - 9 s
Case Studies
3
Market towns
Brechin 11 - 18
Dingwall 19 - 26
Forres 27 - 34
Lanark 35 - 47
Industrial towns
Auchinleck 43 - 51
Dalry 52 - 58
Neilston 59 - 66
Planned towns
Castle Douglas 67 - 74
Darvel 75 - 82
Huntly 82 - 90
Coastal towns
Banff 91 - 98
Girvan 99 - 104
North Berwick 105 - 114
Commuter towns
Haddington 115 - 122
Kilsyth 123 - 130
Queensferry 131 - 138
Tourist towns
Crieff 139 - 146
Fort William 148 - 154
Nairn 155 - 162
Peebles 163 - 170
Graphic summary of results
Town, block + plot scale comparison tables 172 - 181
Stats revealed 182 - 183
Summary + Conclusion 184 -185
Bibliography 186
AC2.indd 2-3 25/11/2009 15:52:11

4. introduction
i
m
n
a
t
r
r
o
k
d
u
e
c
t
t
‘An Comann, 5 0 S m a l l T o wn s i n S c o t l a nd , ’ h a s i l l u s t r a t e d t h e f a c t o r s t h a t h a v e i n f l u e n c e d t h e develop - This is why urban morphology is so important, and is the perspective that drives the activity of the i
o
ment of Scot t i s h T o wn s b y p r o v i d i n g a gr a p h i c a l r e s o u r c e o f t h e i r e vo l u t i o n o v e r t h e p a s t 1 5 0 years. Urban Design Studies Unit at the Strathclyde University, one that studies the link between form, life,
Showing com m o n p a t t e r n s a m o n gs t o u r t o wn s i t c o n c l u d e d wi t h t h e p r o m i s e o f a f u r t h e r s t u d y on char - processes and dynamics. n
acter assessm e n t , wh i c h i s t h e f o c u s o f t h i s v o l u m e .
This study is inevitably reminiscent of the two radical reforms that came to the urban morphology field
‘Under the M i c r o s c o p e , 2 0 S m a l l t o w n s i n S c o t l a n d , ’ d e l i v e r s t h i s p r o m i s e b y t e l l i n g a t a l e o f Scottish through the works of M.R.G Conzen in Britain and Saverio Muratori in Italy between the fourth and
5
Small Towns a n d m o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y o f t h e i r f i n e - gr a i n e d u r b a n m o r p h o l o gy . T h i s m e a n s , b y a n d large, the seventh decade of the 20th Century, then enhanced by scientists like Jeremy Whitehand, Peter J.
that of the m a ny – a n d p o s s i b l y i n n u m er a b l e – a s p e c t s o f S c o t t i s h Sm a l l T o wn s t h a t c o u l d b e approached Larkham, Gianfranco Caniggia, Gian Luigi Maffei and many others including the great French tradition,
and investiga t e d wi t h g o o d r e a s o n s i n o r d e r t o u n d e r s t a n d h o w t h e y wo r k a n d h a v e d e ve l o p e d , this best represented by Panerai-Castex-Depaule study on the urban block, probably one of the single most
study focuse s o n j u s t o n e o f t h e m , t h e i r f o r m . T h i s i s t h e f i e l d o f u r b a n m o r p h o l o g y , a s i d e - s tream in important works in the disciplines of the built environment in the whole last Century. As the reader will
the wider are a o f u r b a n s t u d i e s . D e s p i t e t h e f a c t t h a t c i t i e s h a ve a l wa y s b e e n d e s c r i b e d a n d i l lustrated appreciate in this publication, urban morphology allows to understand and explain change through the
in terms of h o w t h e y l o o k l i k e , u r b a n m o r p h o l o gy i s s t i l l s u r p r i s i n gl y m a r gi n a l f o r t h o s e wh o dig into observation of form and its alterations through time. As such, it is a clear, unspoilt insight into the
how cities wo r k a n d t h e i r m u l t i f a c e t e d d y n a m i c s . F o r s o m e r e a s o n s , g e t t i n g i n t o t h e ve r y f o r m of cities past of a place, a natural, straightforward way to understand its in-depth meaning. Simple progression
has long bee n c o n s i d e r e d s o m e h o w t r i v i a l , s u p e r - s t r u c t u r a l , m a r g i n a l , c o m p a r e d t o s t u d i e s o n their so - of figure ground at key time lapses, intertwined with an insight into population changes, major factors
cietal forms, e c o n o m y o r p o l i c i e s . E v e n t h e r e l a t i v e l y r e c e n t e m p h a s i s o n t h e e n v i r o n me n t h a s left urban of transformation, economic events of significance, explain how the life and form of towns developed.
form mostly u n t o u c h e d , a s t h e t e r m “ e n v i r o n m e n t ” i s h e r e i n t e n d e d a s t h e c o m p l e x r e l a t i o n s h ips be - Structures, types – of built or open space- all respond to a special path of events, and they are key to
tween resour c e s a n d wa s t e s i n t h e e c o l o gi c a l n e t w o r k , s o m e t h i n g t h a t d o e s n o t p r i n c i p a l l y i n c lude urban future change.
form in its p o p u l a r m e a n i n g .
While “An Comann, 50 Small Towns in Scotland* presented this narrative through the story of 50 small
As for urban p l a n n i n g a n d d e s i gn , i t i s o n l y i n t h e l a s t c o u p l e o f d e c a d e s t h a t t h e f o r m o f c i t i es has Scottish towns, selected by size and classified by seven type according to their character, “ Under the
re-gained ce n t r e s t a ge , a t l e a s t a t t h e f o r e f r o n t o f r e s e a r c h . F o l l o wi n g t h e c r i s i s o f r a t i o n a l - Microscope, 20 Small towns in Scotland ” offers an in-depth investigation of 20 towns selected as repre -
comprehensi v e m o d e l s i n t h e t o d a y ’ s f r a g m e n t e d s o c i e t y , s c i e n t i s t s a n d p r o f e s s i o n a l s b e ga n t urning sentative of the seven types in An Comann. Each town is located in its landscape and immediate context,
their eyes ba c k t o t h e s i m p l e a n d t a n g i b l e s t r e e t s , s i d e wa l k s , c o r n e r s , b l o c k s , gr o c e r i e s , t r e e s , gardens, described through demographic and social/usage figures, but most of all its structure, form and per -
bridges, ent r a n c e s a n d b u i l d i n g s f a c a d e s , o n l y t o d i s c o ve r t h a t t h e s e we r e n o t a s s i m p l e t h o u ght. formance (accessibility, density and others) are illustrated graphically with legible, telling, unequivocal
Furthermore , b e c a u s e i n U r b a n D e s i gn t h i s r e s u r g e n c e o f i n t e r e s t i n c i t y f o r m c a m e f r o m t h e bottom up, clarity. Then, each town is meticulously presented through character areas, described through time-
as part of th e c o m m u n i t y - b a s e d c o u n t e r - m o v e m e n t s a g a i n s t m o d e r n i s m t h a t e m e r g e d s i n c e t h e early snapshots to explain how overall structure, blocks, plots, frontages, setbacks etc are intrinsically linked
Sixties of th e l a s t C e n t u r y , wh a t i m m e d i a t e l y a p p e a r e d t o b e n o t s o e a s y t o u n d e r s t a n d i s t h e to dynamics such as usage, type, movement and commercial activity.
relationship b e t we e n u r b a n f o r m a n d u r b a n l i f e . T h i s i s a n e c o l o gi c a l r e l a t i o n s h i p , i n t h e s e n s e that it
establishes t h e c o l l e c t i v e a n d e m i n e n t l y c o m p l e x p r a c t i c e s t h r o u gh wh i c h h u ma n b e i n gs u s e a nd shape Form and performance linked together are an unbeatable narrative, full of insight and, if carefully read,
and are shap e d b y t h e i r b u i l t e n v i r o n m e n t . T h i s n e w i n t e r e s t i n t o u r b a n f o r m i n t h e f i e l d o f Urban holding many answers for the future of our towns. What makes fascinating and useful these volumes is
Design resul t s f r o m t h e n e e d f o r a n e w h u m a n i s m i n t h e d i s c i p l i n e s o f t h e b u i l t e n vi r o n m e n t , a radical the clarity and richness that each drawing holds individually, and at the same time the consistency of
and profound p a r a d i g m s h i f t f r o m t h e wo r l d - a s - a - m a c h i n e . I t i n a u gu r a t e s a c o m p l e t e l y d i f f e r e nt way of the overall picture that, when read together, they offer. “An Comann” and “20 Small Towns Under the
understandin g a n d go v e r n i n g c i t i e s . Microscope” are a kaleidoscope of information: they are an historic document, tracing development over
centuries. They are a social and economic barometer, showing life changes as a consequence of key
We should ce l e b r a t e t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f s t u d i e s i n u r b a n m o r p h o l o gy t o d a y , s u c h a s t h e o n e p r esented in events. They are an urban and social atlas of life traced through our beloved settings. And even more,
this publicat i o n . U n d e r i t s s e e m i n g l y d i r e c t a n d c o m m u n i c a t i v e m a s k , u n d e r i t s e a s i n e s s a n d simplicity, they are a clear indication for future development.
it brings the s e e d s f o r a n e n t i r e l y n e w t h i n k i n g , t h a t s p e a k s o f b u i l t e n v i r o n m e n t b y i n t r o d u c i ng life.
Look out of y o ur w i n d o ws , p a y a t t e n t i o n t o wh a t y o u d i d t h i s m o r n i n g o n y o u r wa y t o t h e o f f i ce, think Sergio Porta and Ombretta Ro mice, UDSU, November 2009.
of what othe r p e o p l e t h a t y o u k n o w h a v e t o l d y o u a b o u t t h e m s e l v e s a n d t h e i r d a i l y l i f e i n t h e past two
days or so: t h e wa y s t h e f o r m o f o u r c i t i e s s h a p e s a n d a f f e c t s o u r p e r s o n a l a n d c o l l e c t i v e b e h aviours are
countless an d p e r v a s i v e . T h e s e wa y s , i n t h e i r c o m p l e x i t y , c o n s t i t u t e o u r e c o l o g i c a l e x i s t e n c e on Earth.
AC2.indd 4-5 25/11/2009 15:52:11

5. m
k
r a
town s c a l e s k o
f
o
i nd i c a t e s
e
r
y
k
e e k ey buildings u r
previous
s c ho o l s p ha s e k
t y hospitals t m boundary
density: churches e
[people t e
halls t
per hectare] b fire/police stations +
i u
leisure facilities
s
business park
population n i c o mm u n i t y c e nt r e t s
museum
g l library r t
c o un c i l o f f i c e s u r
d hotel perceived width + key perceived green space 7
c u
[1:30000] i [1:20000]
rail station
t
[1:50000]
town length routes blocks + water
c
n u primary route boundary
key road town centre t [not to scale]
g origin r secondary route u
rail
s boundary e r
tertiary route
e
mode of transport for p e o p l e
gro wt h a g e d 1 6 - 7 4 to e m p l o ym e n t o r s t u d y [%]
walkable
e
average
train distance distance
h o u s in g t y p o l o gy [ % ] tenure [%]
travelled to work
O P R
[owns outright, [council [private
bus by p e o p l e a g e d
with a mortgage
or loan, shared
[local
authority]
landlord
or letting 1 6 - 7 4 to
ownership] scottish
homes]
agency]
car e m p l o ym e n t o r
detached semi terraced purpose- part of a in commercial o w ne r public private s t u d ying [%]
detached (including
end-
built block
of flats or
converted
or shared
building occupied h o us i n g rented walk
terraced) tenement house 300m
(including
bed-sits) cycle
% households with 500m
work/study mainly
[ r e ma i nd e r o f 1 0 0 % r e s i d e i n c a r a va n o r o t h e r [remainder of 100% includes employer of a household mem ber and 1+ car
m o b i l e o r t e m p o r a r y s t r uc t ur e ] relative or friend of a household member and living rent free] at home 800m
[remainder of 100% travel to work study using underground,
light rail, motorbik e, moped, taxi or other]
blo c k +
y
plo t s c a l e primary route
indicates
location of secondary route
plot scale
diagram
hard landscape set back s soft landscape frontage
indicates block cut
off as larger than
overal l 1 6 0 0 0 0 m 2 a r e a
no. blocks % built form % of total
vehicle/pedestrian
160000m2 possible access through
f r o n t a ge block
1:2000 no. of buildings no. of plots
1:10000
NB. scales indicated refer to the scale of the diagrams on the individual pages, they are not to scale here.
AC2.indd 6-7 25/11/2009 15:52:15

6. m
c
a
o
r
n
k
Selection of Analysis c
e
phase 1 phase 2 phase 3 e
1959 - 2008 t
1856 -1900 1900- 1958 p
Generic Patterns of Development Over Time t
traditional urban suburbanisation with suburbanisation with
‘An Comann’ revealed episodic periods of growth and expansion that could be related to histori- form traditional block pattern loss of traditional 9
cal purpose, role of the settlements and policy relating to building and construction relevant to block pattern
each period of time. This volume of research goes further and investigates the physical personal-
ity of the major phases of development for twenty small towns.
Research takes place at town, block and plot scale to reveal the morphological patterns that have
attributed to the shapes and form of small towns over time. The case studies remain separated
by town type. Each town is then analysed in three chronological time frames.
The following three phases of development were identified; 19 ha 175ha 491ha
population - 4116 population - 5927 population - 8640
Phase 1 - 19th Century industrialisation
Phase 2 - Pre war to mid 20th Century
Phase 3 - Mid 20th to Early 21st Century
Digimap was utilised for auto cad and historical maps, google earth further aided the production
of clear and accurate graphics showing the structure of these small towns. The graphics broadly
demonstrate scale, growth, density and character. Finer detail is achieved in plot scale.
In the 19th C towns were compact Gradual move to suburban form. Expansion and suburbanisation
units with tight street patterns The core of the towns remains the continues. The private house
Outward sprawl is consistently prevalent and is not proportionate to a rise in population. Within leading out of or around a main same. New development takes the builder is primarily responsible for
each developmental phase identical street patterns and building types can be seen across the street. Towns expand from small form of large urban blocks with new development. These take the
selected case studies. It reveals a ‘one size fits all’ approach to building that fails to recognise compact origins with the arrival of dethatched, semi-detached and form of estates on Greenfield
industry and railways. Develop- terraced housing. Housing estates estates. Core of towns remains
any element of local history, topography or character supplemented by a lack of clear planning ment is in a traditional urban form appear with introduction of unchanged and new development
and urban design guidelines to support more sustainable development. and vernacular in style. council estates and public housing is primarily housing. The urban
block is replaced by cul-de-sacs
and internally orientated estates
with little or no meaningful
relationship with the town.
AC2.indd 8-9 25/11/2009 15:52:18

7. inchbare
brechin
newtonmill
belliehill
little brechin muirton of
ballochy
west muir
brechin
dun
netherton
middle drums barnhead dundee 26.4 miles
farnell
carcary
forfar 12.5 miles
west muir 2.3 miles
brechin
AC2.indd 10-11 25/11/2009 15:52:18

8. origin: 1856 transition: 1959
t
o m
w a
r
n k
e
t
s
c
13
a
l 1:50000 1:50000
e
1:30000 3000m 1:30000 3000m
8210 8203
1:20000 1:20000
154 p/ha 41 p/ha
8m
53ha 3m
84
131
1m
196ha 38
1 2
44
9 m
AC2.indd 12-13 25/11/2009 15:52:25

9. current:2008 phase 3
t g 1959 - 2008
o r m
w o a
r
n w k
e
t phase 2 t
1856 - 1959
s h
c
15
a
l 1:50000 phase 1
e 0 - 1856
800m
area
0 500ha
population
0 10000
1:30000 3000m
6950
1:20000
1:20000
26 p/ha
h tenure [%] a 15.85km 68.22%
O P R
o w 0% 100%
m a
1398m e 56.9 33.7 5.6 y
267ha
22
housing typology [%]
85
m
17.71 24.2 14.8 35.1 5.3 2.2
AC2.indd 14-15 25/11/2009 15:52:36

10. 19th century character area 20th century character area
b m
a
l r
k
o e
c t
k
1:10000 400m 1:10000 400m
13 37% 70% 7 20% 41% 17
p )
x(m
l y(m
)
o
y(
m
a ( m2 )
)
2
a(m )
t
x(m
)
s block size block size
x = 83m x= 151m
c y = 254m
a = 22112m
2
y= 110m
a= 11663m2
a
l
e
a v e r a ge p l o t average plot
si z e size
a = 478m 2 a= 275m2
1:20 0 0 200m 1:2000 200m
1 block = 13 + 28 1 block = 14 + 35
AC2.indd 16-17 25/11/2009 15:52:46

11. 21st century character area
b
l
o drummond
dingwall
to alness
c heights of brae
mount
gerald
dingwall
k
bottacks
urquhart
strathpeffer alcaig
maryburgh
duncanston
1:10000 400m jamestown
ryefield
1 15% 74% canon carntown easter
kinkell
inverness 14.4 miles
bridge
leanaig
urray
to muir to munlochy
of ord tore
balyaird
alness 9.4 miles
p
fodderty 3 miles
l m)
x(
o a ( m2 )
y(m)
t
s block size
x = 244m
c y = 196m
a = 45921m2
a
l
e
a v e r a ge p l o t
si z e
a = 340m 2
1:20 0 0 200m
1 block = 37 + 47
AC2.indd 18-19 25/11/2009 15:52:50

12. origin: 1876 transition: 1959
t
o m
w 36ha
a
r
n k
e
t
s
c 1402m
21
a
83
l
3m
1:50000 1:50000
e
1:30000 3000m 1:30000 3000m
2364 66 p/ha 3604
1:20000 1:20000
28 p/ha
1720
127ha
m
1800
m
1:50000 1:20000
AC2.indd 20-21 25/11/2009 15:52:54

13. current:2008
t g
o r phase 3
1959 - 2008 m
w o a
r
n w k
e
t t
phase 2
s h 1876 - 1959
c
23
a
l 1:50000
phase 1
e 0 - 1876
800m
area
0 500ha
population
1:30000 3000m 0 10000
5080
1:20000
16 p/ha 1:20000
h tenure [%] a 15.06km 69.6%
O P R
o w 0% 100%
m a
29 23 m
25 e 61.8 28.5 5.0 y
326 h a 08
m
housing typology [%]
28.9 23.6 26.2 17.9 1.49 1.71
AC2.indd 22-23 25/11/2009 15:53:03

14. 19th century character area 20th century character area
b m
a
l r
k
o e
c t
k
1:10000 400m 1:10000 400m
7 31% 61% 5 18% 54% 25
p
l x(m)
x(m
)
o a (m )
2
t
y(m)
2
a(m )
y(m)
s block size block size
x = 68m x= 138m
c y = 109m
a = 5791m
2
y= 143m
a= 26832m2
a
l
e
a v e r a ge p l o t average plot
si z e size
a = 348m a= 123m2
1:20 0 0 200m 1:2000 200m
1 block = 24 + 10 1 block = 30 + 95
AC2.indd 24-25 25/11/2009 15:53:07

15. 21st century character area
b
l
o
c
k
forres
findhorn
1:10000 400m
4 20% 55%
kinloss
to elgin
kintessack grange
moy house hall
dyke
forres
p blinkbonny
to nairn
rafford inverness 27 miles
l
whitemire
conicavel
to grantown-
on-spey
nairn 10.7miles
x(m
o
phorp
)
2
a(m )
t )
dyke 4.4 miles
y(m
s block size
x = 62m
c y = 249m
a = 16038m 2
a
l
e
a v e r a ge p l o t
si z e
a = 402m2
1:20 0 0 200m
1 block = 21 + 31
AC2.indd 26-27 25/11/2009 15:53:09

16. origin: 1873 transition: 1959
t
o m
w 3 8 ha
a
r
n k
e
t
s
c 89
0m
29
a 7m
3
l 10
1:50000 1:50000
e
1:30000 3000m 1:30000 3000m
4069 107 p/ha 5231
1:20000 1:20000
73 p/ha
74ha m
07
16
1156m
1:50000 1:20000
AC2.indd 28-29 25/11/2009 15:53:12

17. current:2008
t g
o r m
w o a
r
n w k
e
t 800m
t
s h
phase 1
c 0 - 1873
31
a
l 1:50000
phase 2
e 1873 - 1959
phase 3
1959 - 2008
population area
0 10000 0 500ha
1:30000 3000m
8990
1:20000
24 p/ha 1:20000
h tenure [%] a 22.66km 72.1%
O P R
o w 0% 100%
m a
e 63.0 26.6 5.16 y
m
0
5
2686m
8
381ha
2
housing typology [%]
21.3 26.3 25.8 13.8 1.42 1.35
AC2.indd 30-31 25/11/2009 15:53:27

18. 19th century character area 20th century character area
b m
a
l r
k
o e
c t
k
1:10000 400m 1:10000 400m
15 34% 50% 7 12% 38% 33
p
l x(
m
)
o 2
a (m )
t
2
a(m )
)
y(m
)
m
y(
x(m
)
s block size block size
x = 137m x= 107m
c y = 135m
a = 20490m2
y= 185m
a= 21229m2
a
l
e
a v e r a ge p l o t average plot
si z e size
a = 319m a= 831m2
1:20 0 0 200m 1:2000 200m
1 block = 29 + 34 1 block = 18 + 20
AC2.indd 32-33 25/11/2009 15:53:32

19. 21st century character area
b
l
o
c
k
lanark
roadmeetings
harelaw
kilncadzow
1:10000 400m braidwood
3 13% 42% crossford cartland carstairs
hazelbank cleghorn
nemphlar
lanark
kirkfieldbank
new lanark
p brocketsbrae
hawksland
hynford bridge glasgow 27.7 miles
l carluke 5.5 miles
o a(m )
2
t kirkfieldbank 1.1 miles
x(m
)
)
y(m
s block size
x = 139m
c y = 192m
a = 20727m2
a
l
e
a v e r a ge p l o t
si z e
a = 140m2
1:20 0 0 200m
1 block = 16 + 66
AC2.indd 34-35 25/11/2009 15:53:35