Loudoun: a film about landscape design in Scotland around 1700

‘Loudoun’ tells the story of two boys, Lord Mar and Lord Loudoun, aged 11 and 15 designing a garden in memory of their dead parents at Loudoun Castle in 1690. Around 1700 landscaping had developed under the influence of French formal gardens and landscapes were planted widely over Scotland. They remain with us now as a great but little-known national heritage.
The film aims to explore non-text based means for communicating primary research material without the intervention or distraction of the usual documentary presenter. Secondly to enhance content rather than reduce it - as is normal in most historical documentaries. About 95% of the film’s script and content is actual primary documentary research material, or based on it. It includes aerial survey, archival maps and plans (fragile architectural drawings not normally on display), animations of drawings, specially recorded contemporary music and references contemporary portraits. Its primary purpose is to demonstrate that authentic history can by communicated satisfactorily to both academic and non-expert audiences.