SAP

confirmed by creating a sort of inward spiral. The Castle is off the Square and it is, in fact, the ultimate gesture of the town. So we proposed that it be regarded as an urban form of Oozlum bird disappearing into itself by spiral foot-paths. This would mean that the town square, brave but fragile against the elements, would dissolve out into first, the sinuous streets, second the ocean and third into the Oozlum bird.

As we climb up Castle Hill from the Quayside the sloping glacis is getting nearer and nearer to the pavement and at the square it should run into the surface of the square i.e. the floor surface of the square should run up the glacis. At the same time this paving should flow down into the moat and disappear to the right. Once into the grassy moat, strawberries and cream, the pedestrian should then be able to penetrate by a new door through the curtain wall into the Castle proper so that there is a smooth flow from square to Castle. What is somewhat complicated to describe will be quickly apparent from the sketches.

Gordon Cullen 1967

Page Five

THE TOWN DISPLAYS A CLEAR-CUT CHAIN which moves from the bleak hillside to green pasture land, from this to substantial Victorian Suburb and thence to built-up residential street of houses, churches and shops. This moves on to urban square and finally dissolves into the ocean. On either end of the scale there is wildness and the chain climbs slowly from hillside to urbanity but then is released suddenly into the sea. A notable sequence.

ARBORY STREET IS A FRENCH STREET, its interior polished with new glossy paint which, like the surface of the sea reflects the mood of the sky uncannily. Very narrow it is long and sinuous so that no termination is seen from the square and this, together with the exaggerated scale and intensity of the buildings, produces an effect of surrealism which is enchanting. The street, although without focal point, has incident in the succession of fascia brackets and scrolls which are of great variety and they form the invention in an otherwise orthodox pattern of fenestratio. Some of these project into the silhouette of the sinuous street and perform the work of steeple or pediment. The street terminates on Martin's Bank. Malew Street and Hope Street come into this broad category and have great charm.

THE APPROACH TO THE TOWN SQUARE FROM THE WEST

THE APPROACH TO THE TOWN SQUARE FROM THE WEST is via Queen Street, a charming and unspoilt coast road. Fishermen's cottages now in the process of getting the coach-lamp treatment but still very genuine. Springy short turf in gaps overlooking the sea and, fortunately, no sea-wall. The street is closed by the curved west end of St. Mary's Church which contains the eye until the last moment when the sophisticated square is revealed to the left and the open sea to the right. An excellent approach.

THE SEA FRONT AREA

THE SEA FRONT AREA has a quiet and remote character. Ruins and short springy turf inside low walls overlooking the sea. Whitewashed early school stands isolated against the geometry of the back of the Church.

RIVER PENETRATION TO THE CENTRE

RIVER PENETRATION TO THE CENTRE of the town. This sequence of water spaces is of some significance. The Silver Burn flows under Alexandra Road and forms a broad stretch of water terminating in a weir with footbridge, the river flows into a yacht harbour which is separated from the channel to the sea by a swing bridge. Note that this system of water focuses on to the Castle.