Cultural Heritage at University of Aberdeen

😂

Breaking News!

Plans have just been unveiled overnight for a major redevelopment of Dunnottar Castle near Stonehaven.

The historic cliff-top landmark is set to undergo a multi-million-pound transformation… including the installation of a full glass roof over the entire structure.

Tune in to hear more on our breaking news bulletin at the top of the hour.

𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒌 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒖𝒔...

As The Belmont Cinema enters the next phase of its development, supported by funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, we are seeking to appoint an experienced 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐫 to help deliver this exciting stage of the project.

🟠 Full-time position
🟠 12-month contract (with the possibility of extension)
🟠 £47,500 per annum
🟠 Based in Aberdeen

For more information, please visit: https://belmontcinema.co.uk/latest/were-hiring-heritage-project-manager

To apply, please send your CV and a cover letter to [email protected]

Closing date 10th April 2026. Interviews will take place in-person, week commencing 20th April 2026.

We also had a great seminar this month with Alex Hale from HES, exploring the question: can graffiti be heritage - and should it? We easily value ancient graffiti, like inscriptions on Hadrian’s Wall or the scribbles in Pompeii, as important personal messages from the past, yet rarely see contemporary graffiti as messages from the present. Huge thanks to Alex for helping us challenge how we define heritage value and authenticity.

Great day on our Cultural Heritage MSc visit to Dunnottar Castle! Huge thanks to the warden, Joseph Sellors, for taking the time to talk with us about the challenges of managing such an iconic site. We enjoyed exploring the ruins, thinking about conservation, significance and interpretation—and of course finishing with fish and chips in Stonehaven! 🏰

Our MSc Cultural Heritage students were caught in the act… of learning! This week’s theme was heritage interpretation, and where better to explore that than at Peterhead Prison Museum — a site for punishment and control that held some of the UK’s most serious offenders. Opened in 1888, it was a working prison until 2013. David, a former prison guard, told us firsthand stories about daily life, riots, escape attempts, and everything in between. No one escaped the lesson today.

It’s been a brilliant start to the semester! The new MSc students have already been out and about three times: 🏘️ A heritage walk around the historic fishing village of Fittie (Footdee) in Aberdeen. 🏞️ Two fantastic field days: one day exploring archaeological sites across Forvie, from the Bronze Age to historic times. Another day at Newburgh seal beach where students practiced recording and surveying World War II remains. And there’s more to come!

Huge congratulations to Peter Stewart, who successfully passed his PhD viva today! Originally from Belfast, Peter worked at the National Trust for Scotland before joining us at the University of Aberdeen to take up a funded PhD in heritage studies. His research explores how heritage practitioners navigate institutional principles of political neutrality in an increasingly polarised world. Focusing on Historic Environment Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland, his detailed study reveals how heritage organisations respond to pressures and moments of tension, particularly around issues like nationalism and decolonisation. He shows that neutrality is a reactive and strategic process shaped by the legacies of the institutions, formal politics, and shifting public expectations. An outstanding achievement and a much-needed perspective in today's heritage landscape. Well done, Dr Peter! 👏🎓

Places to visit during summer break: Crovie is an 18th-century fishing village in Aberdeenshire. It was established by families who were displaced from their inland farms during the Highland Clearances, and with little else to choose from they took up fishing. The village was severely impacted by a storm in 1953, which led to its decline and now many homes are holiday lets.

Katie Kingham (Class of 2024 🎓) now works with heritage interpretation at Black Creek Village in Toronto, a living history museum where she helps bring the 19th century to life for modern audiences. During her time in Aberdeen, Katie did a work placement at Dunnottar Castle and wrote her dissertation on interpretation strategies there. It’s exciting to see her putting research into practice—working with the public to make heritage meaningful, accessible, and engaging. Katie was featured this week on Breakfast Television 📺 https://www.breakfasttelevision.ca/videos/take-a-trip-back-in-time-to-the-wondrous-world-of-the-pioneers/