Raising the roof

Inside the impressive Gothic walls of the McManus Galleries, another, slightly more humble, homespun building is taking shape. The estate agents of South Chelsea might call it a bijou single-storey residence with commanding views of the Highlands. I like to think of it as the but an' ben, rendered (almost) entirely out of DC Thomson newspapers.

Paw Broon's armchair is waiting to be installed by the fire, and Maw Broon's kitchen is taking shape, complete with cooking range, jeely pan and dresser, stocked with crockery that looks just like the real thing (cartoon-style) but is light as a feather.

Pictures coming soon!

A research trip to to see a real live but an' ben complete with all its historical details dating back to, ooh about nineteen oatcake, brought me to Inverallochy and Maggie's Hoosie. Maggie was a fisher wife who disliked change, and lived in this two-room house with no electricity or running water, until 1950.

It's not unlike the Broons' but an' ben, but luckily for Maw, her kitchen is a bit more up to date than this one (but not much). I reckon she still has a range-type cooker and a butler-style sink in the kitchen, and probably a Welsh dresser, full of plates - and Paw's collection of pipes.

It will be a challenge making all this in newspaper, but I already have a big kitchen table under way, not to mention a stool, an armchair and some of the home comforts you might expect to see on the mantelpiece of the but an' ben.