This sandstone block, measuring 600 x 400 x 150mm, was salvaged from the original eaves course of the Category B Listed Tolbooth in West Wemyss, Fife — one of Scotland’s few surviving civic buildings dating back to the 1700s. Exposed to centuries of weather at the tower’s highest point, this stone reveals delicate layered laminations, quietly telling a story of endurance and heritage. The conservation work, led by GRAS in collaboration with G Brown Stonemason, carefully balanced the building’s structural needs with respect for its material legacy, stabilising original elements wherever possible.
This piece offers a rare opportunity to engage directly with a fragment of Scotland’s architectural past. We’re looking for an artist or craftsperson to upcycle this sandstone into a new form of creative expression. We would love to document the stone’s next chapter — its transformation and ongoing story.
Also available is a timber bresummer beam, measuring 1.2m in length with a cross section of 365 x 190mm. While it shows some wet rot, the beam remains largely intact. Like the sandstone, this beam was exhibited to foreground the identity and potential of reclaimed construction materials. We invite makers interested in transforming this timber through craft or artistic practice to get in touch. Again, we aim to record and share the journey of this material as it moves from architectural relic to renewed creative life.
The Story Behind the Exhibition
If Bricks Could Talk explored the theme of reciprocity through materials recovered from demolition and deconstruction projects. The exhibition showcased a diverse collection of architectural fragments and building materials, each imbued with unique histories and potential for reuse. Held at Mote102 gallery in June 2025, it offered a glimpse into Scotland’s conservation practices and circular economy challenges — highlighting how materials can carry their stories forward through creative reinvention.
Help us give these pieces a second life, continuing their stories in new and imaginative ways. You can share its journey by sharing it to our Stories section!