Vernacular Archaeology Group Conference - Stirling 2026

Jun 22
2 min read

The Vernacular Archaeology Group’s (VAG) annual spring conference took place this month, bringing together industry experts and enthusiasts to explore the rich architectural heritage of central Scotland. The conference was largely organised by CFA’s own Jenni Morrison and attended by heritage professionals, including fellow #TeamCFA member Carley.

This was the first time in 45 years that the conference has been held in Scotland – a long-awaited return to the north for the group!

A group of people stand in a stone courtyard looking up at a castle in the near distance. An iron cannon is in the foreground, pointing away.

Across several days of field visits, attendees explored a diverse range of historic buildings and sites. Highlights included special access to normally restricted areas of Stirling Castle, as well as visits to the Church of the Holy Rude, Castle Menzies, Culross Palace, and a number of historic buildings within Stirling itself. Participants also visited a surviving longhouse, a Tin Tabernacle, Scotland’s earliest lending library, Cowane’s Hospital, and Killin Hotel. Discussions at Bannockburn House and Sauchie Tower looked into the challenges and opportunities associated with conserving Scotland’s historic built environment.

The evenings were spent in lectures and discussion, where conference attendees explored the influence of the environment on architecture and construction techniques, the continued use of traditional building methods into the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the development of Scottish vernacular furniture, and the future of vernacular buildings in the context of climate change.

By bringing together a variety of building types, construction methods, and conservation perspectives, the conference highlighted Scotland’s rich cultural history and diverse architectural heritage. It also provided a valuable opportunity for attendees to see behind the scenes, discuss theories of construction and conservation, and learn from one another’s experiences.

Jenni and Carley thoroughly enjoyed the event, and a special congratulations goes to Jenni for her role in organising!