Above: James Brown making a presentation on Crossraguel Abbey to La Fédération des Sites Clunisien in Much Wenlock, Shropshire, England in May, 2008. The conference was convened to discuss ways of celebrating the 1,100th anniversary of the founding of the abbey of Cluny. Operating the computer is Christian Père, Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Métiers, Cluny, Burgundy, France.
More information on Cluny 2010 celebrations, click here.
James Brown FSA Scot
Historical researcher, tour guide, public speaker
Over the ten years I have presented the Baltersan Castle website I have been asked on many occasions what motivated me to pursue the saving of this wonderful historic building. My answer has been simple, "Because I can see what it could become." The background to the answer of course, is more complex. How I created a vision of Baltersan Restored from my boyhood dream is in many ways, a tale of who I am and who I have become.
Although I have been unable to turn my vision into reality, I am now very keen to explore new ways to add to our knowledge of Baltersan's time and place, as well as share my enthusiasm and learning with others through being a writer, tour guide and public speaker. In doing so, I aim to promote the sustainable economic development of Ayrshire and the West of Scotland.
This 1822 picture is one of the earliest known images of Helensburgh, which was formerly a fishing village called Millig or Malig. Helensburgh is the location of Charles Rennie Mackintosh's finest domestic commission, the Hill House, which was strongly influenced by tower-house architecture.
More on Helensburgh: http://www.helensburgh-heritage.co.uk/
More on the Hill House: http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/58/
Current research subjects
- Helensburgh in the early 19th century
- History of the Kennedies - transcribing a 16th century account of the dominant clan in the lands between Ayr and the Solway Firth.
- Crossraguel Abbey - church orientation in relation to significant dates and patronal saints
- Duncan Kennedy, Gaelic poet from Kilmelford, Argyll (also his son Duncan, and his grandson John, who was a book-keeper on a Jamaican slave plantation)
Current Ayrshire tourism initiatives
- Charles Rennie Mackintosh in Ayrshire Trail
- Pilgrimage Trail (Whithorn-Crossraguel-Paisley-Iona, also Amiens and Rome)
- Literary Trail (Keats, Stevenson, Dorothy L. Sayers, etc - and Burns of course)
- Cluny 2010 - Crossraguel, Paisley & Dundonald Castle's part in the celebrations of the 1,100th anniversary of the founding of the Abbey of Cluny, Burgundy, France.
- Bid for 3-D digital reconstruction of Crossraguel Abbey by Arts & Metiers, Paris as part of the Cluny 2010 celebrations.
- Concept planning to encourage greater community involvement with Crossraguel Abbey.
Public speaking topics
- "Baltersan Castle - a stately fine house" (Full historical and architectural account)
- "Crossraguel Abbey - a Hidden History" (A revealing tour with hints of neolithic tombs, Picts, Knights Templar and a Rosslyn Chapel connection)
- "The Cluniac Order in Scotland" (Origin and history of Paisley and Crossraguel Abbeys)
- "Timothy Pont - one drew over the Cuckoo's Nest" (16th century maps of Ayrshire)
- "Charles Rennie Mackintosh - the Roaring Camp" (CRM, Keppie, etc at Dunure)
I am a confident, fluent public speaker and can claim not to have been consumed by fire-breathers on BBC TV's Dragons' Den! My well-received, first-time TV appearance was broadcast to millions in the UK and New Zealand - baptism of fire indeed! Having travelled far in life (both socially and geographically) I can achieve an easy empathy with audiences from all backgrounds and of all age groups.
Each richly-illustrated talk uses PowerPoint and lasts about 40 minutes followed by a question time, although the duration and subject matter can be adjusted as required. If you would like me to talk to your organisation, contact me by the usual form of e-mail which would be read aloud as ... james at baltersan dot com and I will be pleased to quote terms. Alternatively, click here.
Tour guide qualifications
My relaxed, informative and entertaining tours are a brand-new venture. They are the product of a lifetime of being fascinated by my surroundings (born and raised in Glasgow, living in Ayrshire for the last ten years), foreign travel (I have visited four continents) and an unquenchable thirst for learning.
- Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland
- Chairman of the Culture & heritage Group of Ayrshire Chamber Tourism Committee
- Council member of the Scottish Castles Association
- Member of the Charles Rennie Mackintosh Society
- Published writer of articles on Mackintosh, Baltersan and Crossraguel
- Speak (basic) French and German
- Attended Glasgow University Summer School, 2006 - "Mackintosh & The Glasgow Style"
- Attended "Mackintosh in Roussillon" Study Tour, 2006
- Devised and led the inaugural "Mackintosh in Ayrshire" coach tour, June, 2008
- Comnceived and created a week-end opf celebrations in Paisley, Glasgow and Ayrshire for Cluny 2010 More information, click here
If you would like me as your guide, or to organise a tour for your organisation, contact me by the usual form of e-mail which would be read aloud as ... james at scottishhomecoming dot com and I will be pleased to quote terms. Alternatively, click here.
Richard Bridge of Top Banana making a promotional video film for Baltersan. James Brown is kneeling beside an early 17th c. tombstone to Moreis Makmorrie (Morris MacMurray) and Agnes McIlven (MacIlvain) of Cultizeoun (pronounced Kull-tay-yow-an) a farm which marches with Baltersan.
Detail of the above tombstone, dated 1618, showing lettering typical of the period. Note the small "c" above the "M" of Agnes McIlven's name.