Archifringe 2025: If Bricks Could Talk exhibition

We’re proud to contribute to the If Bricks Could Talk exhibition curated by EAA as part of this year’s Architecture Fringe. A sandstone block from the original eaves course of the Category B Listed Tolbooth in West Wemyss, Fife, is now on display at Mote102 gallery, among an incredible collection of objects offering a rare glimpse into the wealth of reuse approaches, conservation practices, and material knowledge in Scotland.

Exposed to centuries of weather at the tower’s highest point, this block carries layered laminations that tell a quiet story of resilience. Recent work to consolidate the external envelope of the building — undertaken by GRAS in collaboration with G Brown Stonemason — balanced structural need with heritage attentiveness. Where possible, original elements were stabilised; where necessary, replaced — using the removed stones as a reference for detail and form.

The Tolbooth is one of Scotland’s few surviving civic buildings of its kind — a reminder of the burgh’s status since the 1700s. This stone’s journey, from weathered façade to exhibition object, speaks to the values at the heart of conservation: precision and care for our shared material legacy.

Exhibition open 6–9 June, 10am–5pm. Mote 102 Gallery, 102 Ferry Road, Edinburgh EH6 4PG