CHARLES CAMERON ARCHITECT

 

In May of last year we visited St Petersburg for the second time. The first time was about 10 years ago. When you first encounter St Petersburg, you are overwhelmed by the scale and magnificence of the buildings both external and internal.

We visited the Winter Palace and were reminded once again of the tremendous influence on the interior that Scotsman Charles Cameron made. He was the main architect to Catherine the Great of Russia who reigned from 1762 until she died in 1796. She acquired all the best painting, had the most lavish interiors and gold leaf was used extensively in creating some of the most striking interiors you would find anywhere. 

The picture shown is of a pavilion created by Charles Cameron. You can read about him at the following link:

http://eng.tzar.ru/museums/history/architects/cameron

WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?

I suppose the answer to that question is that I have been doing many other things. In June of 2014, I stood down as editor of the Clan Cameron Magazine - a task which I enjoyed for 10 years and produced a biennial Newsletter. I hope to contribute more regularly to this blog but am at the moment involved in writing a social history of rural Scotland over the last hundred years. I would value any photographs of any aspect of life together with stories and anecdotes. I am currently working on the chapter on agriculture so would appreciate particularly any information on the Kerr Rick-lifter. This particular gadget was made of three long poles attached at the top and forming a pyramidal shape. This was pulled over to the rick by horse and a rope with large hooks on the end was lowered down and the hooks fixed under the rick. The other end of the rope passed over a pulley at the top of the pyramid and was attached to a horse. The horse moved forward lifting the rick. Another horse attached to a cart manoeuvered the cart under the rick and the rick was lowered intact onto the cart. A neat device which was used up to the 1950s in Argyllshire.