Jenni Morrison

Background

About Jenni Morrison

I graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1996 with an honours degree in archaeology. Following graduation I worked with Wessex Archaeology based in Salisbury, first as a site assistant then as a project supervisor. I worked on large infra-structure projects including the A30 in Devon, the Channel Tunnel Rail Link and Terminal 5 at Heathrow. At Wessex I was first introduced to buildings archaeology, and was immediately hooked. In I moved to Edinburgh to work with AOC Archaeology then Headland Archaeology as buildings archaeology supervisor. I was involved in a wide range of projects from excavations and building recording at Kisimul Castle, on Barra to a WWII radar station in East Lothian. Excavations included medieval settlements on the Archerfield Estate, East Lothian and at Nether Gogar, City of Edinburgh both of which led to publications. I joined Addyman Archaeology in 2010 where I was able to focus on buildings archaeology and have been able to develop both my drawing and analytical skills and apply these to a wide range of buildings. Large projects have included complete records of Penicuik House, Midlothian, and Fyvie Castle, Aberdeenshire as well as work at Abbotsford House Gardens and Stables, in the Scottish Borders and Forth Banks Good Station, and Clothmarket in Newcastle. I have a particular interest in vernacular buildings and have surveyed a large number of buildings including farm steadings, mills, and smithy’s. I am also experienced in landscape survey, particularly in upland areas and in looking at how the buildings relate to their wider landscape. In recent years I have been keen to develop the use of new techniques such as photogrammetry and laser scanning in the recording of buildings. I feel particularly strongly about using these in combination with traditional skills of hand drawing and detailed on site analysis in order to full understand and not just record a building. This level of detailed understanding has often been used by architects to support proposals to restore and alter buildings in the most appropriate way. Outwith Addyman Archaeology I am Chair of the Scottish Vernacular Buildings Working group and a member of the Vernacular Architecture Group. I am keen to encourage public appreciation and understanding of vernacular buildings and have worked with a number of community groups giving talks and training on how to record and better understand them.