Diana Sproat BA MA PGDIPCHE MCIFA
Project Manager
Since joining AOC in November 1999, Diana has been an integral part of the management and undertaking of some 350+ built heritage projects throughout the UK. Diana has managed all built heritage projects at AOC in Scotland and the North of England since 2006 from tender to publication and has also been involved in, and been responsible for, the training of many disciplines for the undertaking of historic building recording and survey. Her recent studies with the College of Estate Management undertaking a PG Diploma in Conservation of the Built Environment have also broadened her experience to include many aspects of historic building conservation, including the implementation of conservation management plans and statements, heritage policy and legislation throughout the UK, practical conservation techniques, development of design in the historic context, heritage and tourism. Diana’s most notable projects from the last few years have included the measured survey and recording of the ruined complex of Kennetpans Distillery in Clackmannanshire, Preston Mill in East Lothian, the Stables at Newhailes House, House of Dun and Crathes Castle for the National Trust for Scotland and Donaldsons College in Edinburgh prior to and during this large renovation project.
Before joining AOC, Diana had a background in archaeology, working for a number of commercial archaeological units as an area supervisor, archaeologist, surveyor and planner both in Britain and overseas. She has a wide variety of experience in both urban and rural excavation including large open area excavation, small evaluations and watching briefs.
Selected Publications
Sproat, D, Toolis R, Hepher, J, & Rankin, D 2004 ‘Town and Factory: An Historic Building Survey of 200 Years of John Paton’s Kilncraigs Woollen Mill in Alloa, Clackmannanshire’, Industrial Archaeology Rev 25.1, 21-36.
Sproat, D 2006 ‘The History of Granton Gas Works’, Industrial Archaeology Rev 28.1, 33 – 46.
Toolis, R & Sproat, D 2007 ‘An enlightenment of the backlands of Canongate: excavation and survey of Waverley Vaults, New Street, Edinburgh’, Post-Medieval Archaeology 41/1 (2007), pp. 155-179.
Toolis, R & Sproat, D 2008 ‘An Archaeological insight into the Transformation of Edinburgh between the 17th and 20th centuries’, History Scotland 8/5 (2008), pp. 16 – 20
Crone, A & Sproat, D 2012 ‘Revealing the history behind the façade: a timber-framed building at 302 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh’, Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland Journal (forthcoming)
Sproat, D 2012 ‘Recording a ruin: A 16th century Border peel tower near Peebles’, IfA Yearbook 12, 19 – 20.
Sproat, D 2013 ‘”Amidst The Ivy Thou Perceiv’st A Ruin” Examining the History and development of St Andrews Kirk, Gullane’, in Transactions of the East Lothian Antiquarian and Field Naturalists’ Society 29, 5 -21.
Sproat, D 2013 ‘A prestigious Edinburgh address’, History Scotland 13.4, 22-3.
