Please Help us REVIVE THE TRINITY STONES, a precious and fragile part of Edinburgh’s medieval heritage.
Jill and Hetty are looking for support to set up an outreach programme of walks, talks and information sharing to accompany our free exhibition to be held at the Museum of Edinburgh in May and June 2026.
The museum already has a great collection of Trinity stones for visitors to see and here we will be telling the fascinating story of the rise and fall of the Trinity Collegiate Church, Mary of Guelder’s magnificent royal foundation of 1460. Many of the most decorative stones, from grinning gargoyles to delicate traceries, were lost when the church was demolished to make way for Waverley Station in 1848. Thanks to our project, they are being rediscovered in gardens, parks and out of the way places all over the city and they need to be preserved and protected.
Our walks and illustrated talks will bring the history of the church and these stones to life, give a vivid sense of Edinburgh in the fifteenth century and explain the importance of finding a future for the stones which are over 500 years old.
Your donations, of any amount, will allow us to hire lecture space and equipment for our talks and produce comprehensive written and visual information about the church, the stones and the importance of their architectural and historical heritage.
Any funding raised above our target of £1600.00 will go towards the next phase - a REVIVING THE TRINITY STONES digital reconstruction project.
We would be delighted to talk to all donors who visit the exhibition and to invite major donors to special events.
For more information see https://www.revivingthetrinitystones.co.uk/
Jill Harrison: Trinity Network Lead, exhibition curator
Hetty Lancaster: Outreach and Exhibition Support
Jill is a Research Associate at the Open University and an art history lecturer. She leads the Trinity Network, a group of international academics exploring all things related to the Trinity Collegiate Church. She has a Jean Guild Award from the Old Edinburgh Club and is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland.
Hetty became involved in the project through her role as a Trustee of the Old Edinburgh Club and her personal interest in the Trinity Stones, which she first encountered while volunteering for the Museum of Edinburgh during her studies. Now working as a freelancer, Hetty gives guided walks and talks about Edinburgh's social and urban history to individuals, community groups, and local societies through her business, Hetty's History Walks: Edinburgh Uncovered.
Organizer
