Eglinton etching donated to Council

Published 19 Feb 2010 09:20

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East Ayrshire Council, this week accepted a generous donation from Kyle and Carrick Civic Society - a wonderful etching of Eglinton Castle, recently purchased at auction by the Society.

The society discovered the engraving in a local auction sale. They placed a successful bid and went on to get the artwork re-mounted and the original oak frame cleaned professionally prior to presentation. The engraving measures 61 cm by 40 cm and was published privately by G D Giles, Newmarket, who has signed it in pencil. The Society, which was founded in 1967, funded its latest purchase by holding a social evening locally.

Leader of the Council, Douglas Reid said, 'This really is a fantastic donation and East Ayrshire Council is delighted to accept this work into our collection and thank the Kyle and Carrick Civic Society for the continued support it gives to preserving Ayrshire's rich culture heritage.'

Michael Hitchon, president of the Kyle and Carrick Civic Society said, 'Kyle and Carrick Civic Society, one of Ayrshire's leading conservation group are delighted to be able to present this beautiful engraving of Eglinton Castle to the East Ayrshire Council collection for display at Dean Castle, Kilmarnock.'

Earlier in the year, members of the Society raised £1,000 towards the purchase of the Eglinton Tournament Watercolours and Shields and donated this to The Art Fund. The Watercolours and Shields were recently saved for the nation by East Ayrshire Council through a £92,100 funding package which included The Art Fund, Barcapel Foundation, Heritage Lottery Fund and National Fund for Acquisitions.

The etching, will form part of The Eglinton Tournament exhibition, which features the Eglinton Tournament Watercolours and Shields and will open to the public from 2pm on Saturday 27th March 2010 at Dean Castle. A large scale exhibition which examines the Gothic Revival of the period and features the Eglinton tournament will take place in 2011 and will be supported by a range of events and exciting new publications.

Further details on the Eglinton tournament can be found at www.futuremuseum.co.uk

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