Clackmannanshire Field Studies Society · 2018. 6. 13. · Betty Roy, MBE, Isobel G Stewart, Rev....
Transcript of Clackmannanshire Field Studies Society · 2018. 6. 13. · Betty Roy, MBE, Isobel G Stewart, Rev....
ISSN 0262-2211
Charity Registered in Scotland (SCO 08738)
Clackmannanshire
Field
Studies
Society
Newsletter ____________________________89
Vol. 41 Part I
October 2012
Volume 41 Part I Newsletter No. 89
October 2012
CONTENTS Page No.
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Editorial Isobel Wood 2
AGM - Chairperson‘s Report Edward Stewart 4
Dates for your Diary
CFSS Winter Programme 2012/13 10
Forth Naturalist & Historian 11
Dollar History Society 12
The Clackmannan History Society 13
Stirling Field & Archaeological Society 14
Tullibody History Group 15
Reports from Summer Outings & Field Trips
Spring Field Trip—April 13th
—16th Oban Isobel Wood 16
Wednesday Walks
Cambus to Menstrie Jack Archibald 20
RSPB Skinflats Inter tidal Nature Reserve Edward Stiubhart 22
Larbert House and Hospital Country Park Isobel Wood 26
Union Canal Towpath and Avon Gorge Aqueduct Jack Archibald 27
Alloa Swing Bridge Edward Stiubhart 29
Gartmorn Farm Jack Archibald 34
Saturday Outings
Kinnoull Hill Edward Stiubhart 35
The Highland Chocolatier, Cluny House Gardens &
The Scottish Crannog Centre Jack Archibald 38
Bits and Bobs of Loch Leven Circuit Edward Stiubhart 41
Visit to the Glasgow Necropolis Jack Archibald 46
From 42 Years Ago Vol. 1 No.2 March 1971 50
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EDITORIAL Isobel Wood
Unfortunately I have not been very well this summer which means I
have not been to a lot of the outings. I went to the outing last Saturday
and I felt much better. Eddie has kindly helped to fill some of the
spaces and has supplied the next section.
Weather Disrupts the Summer Programme
May 9th Menstrie Glen, Loss Dam & Jerah, with Jack Archibald
The weather this year has been terrible, and some of our summer
programme had to be changed or cancelled. The first walk had to be
changed. The heavy downpour of rain had made the Mensrtie Glen area
impossible and very dangerous for walking. The walk scheduled for
August 22nd (Cambus to Menstrie via Old Railway) was carried out on that
evening.
July 11th Japanese Garden, Cowden, with Sir Robert Stewart
This was cancelled. The gardens are going through a phase of partial
restoration, and the heavy rain that persisted for several days prior to the
walk turned the gardens into a sea of mud, far too dangerous to walk.
Sir Robert has kindly offered to make another walk available later into the
autumn, around October. Let‘s hope the weather gets better.
Members will be advised when a date comes to hand.
July 28th Loch Leven Bits & Bobs, with Eddie Stewart Michael Bruce Way. We had to omit part of the walk along the side of
Bishops Hill due to ground conditions. This resulted in our missing out the
visit to the Michael Bruce Museum at Kinnesswood.
August 8th Alva Ponds with Susan Mills
Susan had to call off at the eleventh hour due to work commitments. I
made an executive decision and cancelled the scheduled walk as I wasn‘t
familiar with the Alva Pond area. I therefore changed it to Alloa Swing
Bridge, a walk which I‘m very familiar with.
It was a beautiful summer evening, however, the midges thought so as well,
and they turned out in their millions, and made their presence felt. Just as
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well the carnivore midge wasn‘t out as only a few of us might have been
left to tell the tale. (Avon Skin So Soft is a good midge repellent).
August 22nd New paths at Gartmorn Dam
with Jack & Sadie Archibald
The walk at Menstrie Glen was still out of the question. So Jack & Sadie
arranged another walk which was linked to the new paths which have been
opened at Gartmorn Dam.
We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the change to the
programme. However, we have a duty to err on the side of safety for all
members participating on the walks.
The Coffee Morning is coming up and I would like to thank everyone for
their donations as well as giving up their time to help. You will be told the
amount we raised at the AGM, or perhaps sooner.
The subscriptions have stayed the same this year. I would like to thank all
the people who pay their subscriptions in good time as this helps both our
subscription Secretary and Treasurer.
We do not usually put references to the members of the Council in the
Newsletter. I thought it would be nice to have a record of them in this
newsletter.
Chairperson: Mr. Eddie Stewart;
Treasurer: Mr. Eddie Stewart;
Secretary: Mrs. Marilyn Scott;
Membership Secretary: Mrs. Sadie Archibald
Members: Mr. Jack Archibald, Mrs. Margaret Forsyth, Mrs. Nancy
Henderson and Ms. Susan Mills.
As you can see we are not a big Council, if anyone would like to join us on
the Council you would be made most welcome!
Eddie Stewart, David Hunter and I opened the Old Kirkyard and Mar &
Kellie Mausoleum, with good weather, on Sunday 2nd September for Open
Doors Days. It was a very successful day. Seventy four people signed in
for the tour.
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I went to visit Ken MacKay in a care home in Dunblane. This care home
looked lovely and comfortable. Ken would like to convey his condolences
to the CFSS members, on the deaths of Betty Roy, Isobel G. Stewart and
Alistair Cruickshank. He looked very well and was very chatty. Bob and
Alison Snaddon had a lovely afternoon with him.
I hope everyone enjoys reading this newsletter.
Chairperson’s Report, presented on behalf of the
Trustees of Clackmannanshire Field Studies Society
on the 28th May, 2012.
On behalf of the trustees I have pleasure in presenting the
42nd Annual Report detailing the activities of the Society
over the past twelve months.
Firstly, on behalf of the trustees, we extend a very warm
welcome to our Annual General Meeting, and a sincere
thanks for your loyal support over the past years since the
society’s inception, and in particular during the past twelve
months.
During the past twelve months we have sustained the loss
of a number of great stalwarts of the Society: Roy Wood,
Betty Roy, MBE, Isobel G Stewart, Rev. Alistair
Cruickshank, Helen (Ella) Murray and Betty Bakken. Our
thoughts and prayers are with them and their families.
Each contributed their own particular enthusiasm to the
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Society, and we are the richer of having known them and of
enjoying their company over many years. We also take this
opportunity to thank members who through illness or who
wish to retire after many years of faithful membership of
the Society. Fair thee well, faithful member, we wish you
peace and contentment.
The Summer Programme of 2011 was attended by an
average of 14 members and non-members, who thoroughly
enjoyed the varied events which were organized by
members of the committee who undertook the task of
checking out each walk with meticulous care and providing
as much information that could be found. Also the
knowledgeable information which members shared was
welcoming.
At this time I would like to take this opportunity to thank
all who contributed and to all who participated, thoroughly
enjoying the Wednesday evenings and the Saturday
walks….YES ….there is still plenty room for more members
also non-members to come along and join in with all these
events, it is good for you, it stimulates the mind and body.
We take this opportunity to give a SPECIAL THANKS, to
individuals from other organizations who guided CFSS
organized walks within their particular area. Their
particular knowledge and expertise was invaluable, and
made these walks a pleasurable experience.
The Winter Programme of 2011-12. Once again a big thanks
to committee members who organized the speakers for the
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ten events, the topics that was presented were a nice
balance of local subject and a wider field of national and
inter-national, this is no small feat. We take this
opportunity to once again thank very sincerely all our
speakers for their particular presentations, the attendance
of members and non-members, on average 40. This is
particularly gratifying to the committee and it gives
encouragement to the committee to search every avenue
for new and exciting Presentations. The committee gives its
sincere thanks, and looks forward to your continued
support for 2012-13.
Grateful thanks, to all who set up the equipment in the
afternoon, strips it down and takes it back to the room,
attending to the register, preparing the coffee and tea,
where, members can relax and chat for a short time after
the meeting.
Last September the Society took part in Scottish
Archaeology week, by organizing a walk from the Weir at
Forest Mill, along the 2.5 miles of the Lade which carried
the water from the Black Devon to form the Gartmorn
Dam. These waters were then carried on by another Lade
to de-water the Earl’s pits at Sauchie. This water carried on
to power Caresbridge distillery, textile mills at Gaberston,
Springfield, then Alloa Corn Mill, and then John Paton’s
Mill, finally to a dam which was situated S East of Alloa
Tower, which was released at low tide to cleanse the Alloa
Harbour of mud. This was to celebrate the Tercentenary
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of the construction of the Weir and Lade by the Sixth Earl
of Mar 1711-1713. Unfortunately the event wasn’t a success
due to lack of support. Again thanks to everyone who
assisted in organizing.
During 2010-11, a booklet was produced and was published
in May 2011. This booklet was produced by Murray
Dickie, a founder member of the CFSS in 1970. Murray
wrote the original pamphlet for the Clackmannan County
Education Committee in 1973. The Society expressed an
interest to reprint this pamphlet, and when Murray was
approached, without any hesitation he agreed to produce
a second edition, with the aid of all the extra material
which he had stored in his attic. So thanks to Murray
Dickie and to the Society’s committee members, we have a
booklet which celebrates the Tercentenary of the Sixth Earl
of Mar’s contribution to the Industrial Revolution of
Scotland. “The Craigrie and Gartmorn Lades” which is
priced at £4.00 per copy. We commend it to the Society
members and non-members; no home library will be complete
without it.
Early January 2012, the Society wrote to the
Clackmannanshire Council highlighting the fact that a
Museum is desperately needed for Clackmannanshire,
and despite the promises made over many years by
previous administrations, didn’t came to fruition.
We have a reply from the Council. (See copy of letter, which
is available)
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The Society is actively considering “TO ADOPT A
MONUMENT”. This is a scheme which is under the
auspices of Archaeology Scotland and Historic Scotland,
and is open to various grants. The Monument in question
is the “Horse shoe Weir” on the River Black Devon,
Forest Mill.
First the Society has to gain approval from the Landowner
where the Monument is situated. As already mentioned,
this was built by the Sixth Earl of Mar, 1711-13. This was
to raise the river by 16 feet, to enable the water to flow
down the 2.5 mile Lade to Gartmorn Valley where an
earthen Dam was constructed to store water, so as to de-
water the Earls pits at Sauchie. The society has to look to
the future. This monument at present is in excellent
condition with the care and maintenance it received over
the years up to 2006, when Gartmorn Dam ceased to be a
public water supply.
We are hoping to be in a position to advise you of the
progress we have made in “Adopting this Monument”, at
the AGM.
We wish to draw member’s attention to the difficulty we
are experiencing in complying with the Society’s
Constitution. At present we have only eight elected
members on the Committee. We are currently working
with Four short of our minimum requirement. See: excerpt
from the Society’s Constitution.
5, ELECTION (Current Excerpt from Constitution)
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The Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership
Secretary and not less than eight or more than twelve
other members of the Council shall be elected annually
at the Annual General Meeting. The Council shall be
empowered to elect such other office – holders or sub –
committees as necessary.
The proposal which is of necessity emanates from the
committee. A notice of motion will be presented at the
AGM will consist of the following;
The Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership
Secretary and four other members of the Council, Making the
total of eight members of the Council. The council shall be
elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. The Council
shall be empowered to elect such other office – holders or sub
– committees as necessary.
Edward Stewart, Treasurer.
20th April, 2012.
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CFSS Winter Programme 2012/13 Meetings are held in Alloa Town Hall (Tommy Downs Room), unless
otherwise stated, on Monday evenings -2nd and 4th of the month- 7:30 to
9:30 pm. Members of linked societies and other non-members are
welcome, though non-members would be expected to join for subsequent
visits.
Sat. 8th Sept. Coffee Morning, St Mungo's RC Church Hall, Mar Street,
Alloa 10 am -12 noon. Tickets £1.50
2012
October 8th Presentation TBA Fergus Cook, P&KC Ranger
22nd An Island Apart: The impact of Rome North of the Forth
Murray Cook, Stirling Co archaeologist
November 12th Clocks on Public Buildings within Clackmannanshire
Robert Lindsay, CFSS
26th Excavation at Alloa Tower Allyson Bailey
December
10th Members Night
2013
January 14th Drovers of Falkirk Tryst Ian Scott, Calatria
28th Loch Leven & River Leven, A Landscape Transformed
Prof. David Munro
February 11th Woodland Trust Scotland Jim Christie
25th Scottish Toponymy in Transition TBA
March 11th Kite Photography Dr John & Rosie Wells, Jim Knowles
25th Alloa Warrior Susan Mills, CFSS
May 6th AGM cheese & wine
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Forth Naturalist & Historian
Saturday 17th November 38th Man and the Landscape symposium
How Green is my Valley? Environment health in the Forth Valley
Information at http://www.fnh.stir.ac.uk
Environmental health can mean many things. For this year's symposium
we see it in two ways. First, the environment needs to be in good health,
physically. The history and practice of environmental management is often
seen in doom-laden context of impending ecological crisis. We forget that
there have been and are plenty of ways in which individuals and
institutions have desired to maintain and improve our region. This work
goes on unnoticed by most. We want to celebrate these activities. Second,
the environment gives us good health. Access to and enjoyment of the
countryside gives us innumerable physical and mental benefits. We want to
see how our landscape has, over centuries, been given back to us.
This symposium will focus on ‘good news’ stories that have made, or hope
to make a beneficial difference to the Forth Valley and its environs. Some
contributions will take us back several hundred years into the past but
which still affect our lives today. Others will reflect on what improvement
means or has meant in the past. We’ll look to present-day initiatives and
wonder what ‘oak trees’ will grow from seemingly ‘little acorns’. And
we’ll explore how we might each make a difference.
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Programme 2012-2013
2012 11th September Q Ships The Grangemouth Connection.
Mr. Geoff. Bailey, Keeper of Archaeology and Local History in Falkirk.
9th October The Falkirk Trysts. Mr. Ian Scott, Falkirk Local History
Society.
13th November Scotland's historic global links viewed from the Ochils.
Mr. Robin Bell, Writer and broadcaster.
11th December Roman frontiers in their landscape setting.
Professor David Breeze, Former Chief Inspector of Ancient Monuments
for Scotland.
2013
8th January What you didn't know about Tullibody
Mrs.ChrisChris.Calder,. Tullibody History Group
12th February What was the Scottish Enlightenment?
Dr. Nicholas Phillipson, Edinburgh University.
12th March South with Shackleton.
Professor David Munro,Former Director of the Royal Scottish
Geographical Society.
9th April The Queen's Body Guard for Scotland (The Royal Company
of Archers). Col. R. Callander, Secretary of the Royal Company of
Archers.
14th May AGM followed by:-Charles Rogers –a Monumental Man?
Mr. J. Malcolm Allan, of Bridge of Allan.
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Winter Programme 2012 – 2013 Our 61st Year
Saturday 15th September ―Bringing a Graveyard to Life‖
By Eleanor Young
Saturday 20th October ―Sight and Sound in Harmony‖
By John Patton on behalf of Stirling and District Camera Club
Saturday 17th November ―The Adam Family of Blairadam‖
By Elizabeth Adam
Saturday 19th January ―The Historic Erskine Family‖
By Jamie Mar and Kellie
Saturday 16th February ―Antarctica‖
By Sandy Jack
Saturday16th March ―AGM and Members Night‖
An evening for members to show slides from their own collections
All meetings at 7pm in Clackmannan Church Hall JMB / Secy.
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WINTER PROGRAMME
2012/2013
Meet in the Smith Museum, Albert Place, Stirling
At 7.30pm
Tuesday 9th
October
COMMENTS ON NATIVE AMERICAN
AND HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY IN CALIFORNIA
Paul McCormick
Retired Lecturer in Anthropology
Tuesday 13th
November
A HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL STIRLING AND ITS HINTERLAND
THROUGH THE PRISM OF PLACE-NAMES
Peter McNiven
Glasgow University
Tuesday 11th
December
COMMUNITY AND ARCHAEOLOGY: YEAR 1
Murray Cook
Regional Archaeologist
Tuesday 8`" January
AN OVERVIEW OF SCOTTISH PLANTS
David Black
Volunteers Co-ordinator of Plantlife Scotland
Tuesday 12th
February
THE WORK OF THE WOODLAND TRUST
IN CENRAL SCOTLAND
Jim Christie
Woodland Trust
Tuesday 13th
March
Annual General Meeting
& Members Night
Scottish Charity No: SC026822
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TULLIBODY HISTORY GROUP
Scottish Charity SC 033965
Winter Programme 2010/11
Meetings are held on the last Thursday of every month
They are held in The Heritage Centre and start at 7.30
Talk Schedule
2012 2013 SEPTEMBER 27TH JANUARY 31ST
ALASTAIR DURIE SCOTTISH SABBATH
GEOFF BAILEY THE ANTONINE WALL
OCTOBER 25TH FEBRUARY 28TH
JULIAN WARD WHAT THE VIKINGS
DID FOR US
ALASTAIR MAXWELL-IRVING SCOTTISH TOWER HOUSES
NOVEMBER 29TH MARCH 28TH
DAVID BYTHEWAY JOURNALISM
ALISTAIR LAWSON THE HISTORY & WORK OF
THE SCOTTISH RIGHTS OF WAY SOCIETY
DECEMBER 18TH APRIL 25TH
CHRISTMAS PARTY MURRAY DICKIE EARLY FARMING IN THE
OCHIL HILLS
MAY 30TH
AGM
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Spring Weekend Trip 13th — 16th April 2012
Great Western Hotel, Oban
Twenty people went on the weekend trip to Oban. The weather was very
good Friday
This was our first stop so that we could meet up together.
Kilmahog
The Wool Mill Visitor Centre was once part of the self-supporting cottage
industry and its original water wheel is incorporated within the building.
Wool was dyed on the premises as well as being spun there. It was then
wound onto bobbins ready for weaving. Three men ran the business. A
spinner, Betty Roy‘s Grandfather knitted socks for the shop. For a time
they also manufactured fishing rods. The building at the end of the village
on the right was originally the Toll House.
Cruachan the Hollow Mountain
Just a short distance from Oban, here you can discover one of the hidden
wonders of the Highlands. A power station buried one kilometre below the
ground. Hidden deep within the mountain of Ben Cruachan, on the shores
of Loch Awe is Cruachan Power Station. A five star visitor attraction, its
visitor centre welcomes over sixty thousand visitors each year.
As its centre lies a massive cavern, high enough to house the Tower of
London. Here enormous turbines convert the power of water into
electricity, available to you in your home at a flick of a switch!
The hollow mountain is a place like no other, an underground world on a
spectacular scale.
Bonawe Iron Furnace
Bonawe Iron Furnace, a relic from an industrial past produced 700 tons of
iron per year from 1753 to 1876. We had a guided tour here.
Your first reaction on finding a large iron furnace in this beautiful spot is to
look at a map to work out where the iron ore came from.
Your second is probably to look at the quarrying visible on the hillside at
Bonawe on the far side of Loch Etive. The discovery that the ore, turned
into iron at Bonawe, actually came by sea from Furness, (in what is now
Cumbria) is a surprising one. Why would they bother?
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The answer revolves around the problem of transporting the fuel. Until the
widespread use of coke in the late 1700s, iron furnaces depended for fuel
on charcoal. The large scale production of charcoal needed an awful lot of
trees. Still worse, transporting the charcoal was a hugely wasteful business.
The approach adopted by the English iron masters who ran the business
was to take the iron to the source of the fuel. As early as 1610 they had set
up a furnace near Gairloch in the far North West. Argyll contained
plentiful woodland and Loch Etive became one of a number of centers to
which ore was transported for smelting. Their first efforts in this immediate
area were further up Loch Etive at Glen Kinglass. This only operated from
1722 to 1738. The lessons learned were used when setting up the Bonawe
furnace in 1753.
At its height, the Bonawe furnace was the centre of a significant settlement.
The manager would have been supported by perhaps eight men producing
the iron, plus up to a dozen more involved in arranging the delivery of the
charcoal and maintenance of the site. They and their families, many from
England, occupied the workers' houses still visible around the site.
Bonawe today is set on a beautifully grassy slope facing north towards
Loch Etive. The higher parts of the slope are occupied by the large
charcoal stores, plus the ore shed, still stained red from the ore. The ore
shed also houses a fascinating series of displays charting the history of the
site and information about the iron making process. Also on the site is a
bark house. The oak bark, produced as a side product of the charcoal
making, was valuable for the tanning industry.
But the heart of the site today, as during its productive life, is the furnace
itself. The upper parts of this show what worker's lives would have been
like feeding the furnace, while the furnace itself can be seen from below
via the hearth. Outside it is still possible to see where the mill raced from
the reservoir to the south, together with the pit in which the water wheel sat
until 1941.
Dunstaffnage Castle
We had a guided tour here.
Standing on top of a rock outcrop it lies three miles north of Oban.
Dunstaffnage Castle is an impressive fortification overlooking what was
once the most important junction of the sea-lanes on the west of Scotland.
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This has been a defended site for nearly 1500 years. By 1249 the fortress
here was held by the MacDougall‘s, appointed by King Hakon IV of
Norway.
Dunstaffnage Castle is surrounded by attractive woodland and grassy areas
sweeping past the Visitor centre to the shore of Dunstaffnage Bay.
Saturday Three Isles Excursion MULL—IONA—STAFFA from
OBAN
We began at Oban then took the ferry for Isle of Mull, crossing the Firth of
Lorn to Craignure on Mull. Then by bus to the ferry at Fionnphort to Staffa.
Nearly everyone got off the boat and onto the Island of Staffa. The climb
to Fingal‘s Cave was quite steep but nearly everyone made it and came
back in very good spirits. There were puffins swimming around the boat
this trip which was just perfect. The ferry took us to Iona. On rout we
could see Benedictine Nunnery and the Reilig Oran, the burial place of the
kings on the route to Iona. All on lovely sunny day, with calm seas.
Janet Wright, Nessie Calder, Brenda Jenkinson and
Bill Calder at the top of Fingals Cave on Staffa
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Sunday Ardmaddy Castle Garden
Minette Struthers welcomed us to her beautiful gardens.
Ardmaddy rises above its formal walled garden on one side with
outstanding views of the Islands on the other. Visitors approach the garden
by an old arched footbridge over a burn finding its final path to the sea. A
fine collection of species and hybrid rhododendrons, azaleas and climbing
plants line the walls with a variety of shrubs and herbaceous perennials.
Between dwarf box hedges flourish a wide range of interesting vegetables
and cane fruits which are grown using labour-saving methods.
Walks take you through mixed shrubs, trees and spring flowering bulbs
leading on to the water gardens and up into the bluebell woods among
which are some fine rhododendrons more than half a century old. There
have exceptional colours especially in autumn. A ―clock garden‖ with
cutting flowers, stone and water features was recently added to the garden.
Then we went on the Bridge over the Atlantic. The bridge was built in
1792/3 at a cost of £450 and was designed by John Stevenson of Oban and
built by Robert Mylne. On the far side of the bridge is Tigh an Truish Inn.
The name means house of the trousers comes from the period after the
1745 rebellion when kilts were banned. The sign outside the Inn, for
Younger‘s Brewery of Alloa, it is a very old sign.
A very short crossing on a small boat to Easdale Island
For 200 years this was a slate mining island. The Island is cover in slate
and it makes a different kind of landscape. It now houses some cottages
for holidays and some people stay on the Island. Some of the group walked
round the Island which took about 20 minutes. There are no cars or Lorries
on the Island. The mode of transport is wheelbarrow. We visited the Folk
Museum which was opened in 1981. The whole Island is of historical
interest and the museum is the place to find all the information about the
history of the Island. There is a bar and restaurant which is the social hub
of the Island.
Kilbrandon Church (Isle of Seil)
Kilbrandon Church warmly welcomes families and people of all ages from
all walks of life. This is a beautiful Church on a beautiful Site. The
stained glass windows were designed by Douglas Strachan. Douglas
Strachan made the window in the church I go to Tillicoultry Parish Church.
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I have a DVD telling us about the church and hope to play it at the
Christmas Evening of the CFSS.
Some of us then visited the Oban Chocolate Company, for Coffee and Cake
and to buy chocolates.
MONDAY Ardchattan Priory and Gardens
Ardchattan Priory and Gardens are close to the north shore of Loch Etive.
Duncan MacDougal, Lord of Argyll was the founder. The Priory and
gardens date back to 1230 and had continuously evolved over the centuries.
This is where some grave slabs and other monuments are. Ardchattan
Priory was founded by monks, of the Valliscaulian order, by Duncan
MacDougall in 1231. The Priory only entered the wider flow of Scottish
history once. In 1308 when King Robert the Bruce held what is said to be
the last Scottish Parliament ever conducted in Gaelic here during a military
expedition to Argyll.
After the Priory and gardens we drove through Glen Coe and this was a
real treat. The sun was shining and the hills were covered in snow. This
had a lasting memory.
Isobel Wood
Cambus to Menstrie via old railway line (loop line)
Wednesday 9th May 2012
The first walk of the Summer Programme started with a change of venue
as conditions underfoot in Menstrie Glen were horrendous. Our revised
walk, on the evening of 9th May, proved to be a bit different with tarmac all
the way (which had been completed the previous month). This path was a
result of a joint effort between Clackmannanshire Council and Sustrans, a
charity that masterminds the setting out of footpaths and cycle-ways
through out the country.
Now to the walk, where six members and a guest made their way to the
banks of the River Devon, at Cambus. The meeting point was the Iron
Bridge adjacent to Cambus Cooperage.
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The first part of the path was completed last year and it had been a focal
point when we did the Black Grange Circular. The path follows the banks
of the Devon on one side and on the other the new Cooperage which was
completed this year. After a bit of ‗zig-zagging‘ through a cattle grid and
under a bridge, that takes the Alloa to Stirling railway line, we reached the
intersection where the original railway line meets the new path.
From there it was a straight line for a considerable distance, passing on the
way a stone-built doo-cot in a ruinous state. There is no indication when it
was built or who built it.
Our next point of interest was the Dumyat Industrial Estate, another recent
construction. From there it was a bit of an intersection as we met the old
Stirling Road, which has been a pathway for some considerable time. We
then passed under the old Road Bridge. As this is situated under the
comparatively new Road Bridge we were able to see the changes in
construction methods between stone and concrete.
It was then straight ahead through the Carse Lands until we reached the
River Devon again. The Railway Bridge must have been unsafe as a new
foot bridge has been cleverly constructed on top of the old steel girders -
quite impressive!
We now entered Menstrie from a completely different angle as we
normally see it. We had to think where we actually were. One thing I did
not mention when approaching Menstrie was that Dumyat was ablaze with
yellow gorse, what a wonderful sight.
The point when we passed under the hump back bridge on the Menstrie
Tullibody road was the end of the track. This always provides a thrill when
you pass over it in a car!
It was then about turn and we made our way back to Cambus. It was a
great pity we could not go on to Alva, the full length of the Loop. Maybe
some day it will come to fruition. It turned out quite an evening and was
enjoyed by all. One final thing, we walkers were in the minority as the path
was overwhelmed by cyclists!
A short history of Alva Loop
The Alva Loop was built around 1861/63 by the Alva Railway Company
which was founded in 22nd July 1861 with enactment of the Alva Railway
Act. The company capitol, to fund the work at the time, was £15,000
divided into 1500 shares of £10.00 each. Amazingly at today‘s rates we
could maybe purchase 2 dozen railway sleepers for that sum of money!
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The chairman of the company was James Johnstone of Alva House a
respected landlord of that time. Other directors were Alexander McNab
owner of Glenochil Distillery, James Porteous owner of Alva Woollen Mill,
William Ross joint proprietor of Brookfield Mill and James Lochead who
owned Alva‘s Erskine Street. We have to thank them for the walk.
Jack Archibald.
Wednesday 23rd May, RSPB, Skinflats, Inter tidal Nature Reserve
And Flood Alleviation Scheme
Toby Wilson from RSPB
Conservation, our host and
guide, greeted us on arrival
and I had the pleasure of
introducing our nine members
to him.
He then gave us a short
introduction on the Intertidal
habitats such as the saltmarsh
and mudflats that support a
fantastic wealth of wildlife,
and deliver important benefits
for people living and working near the seas and estuaries. Sadly these
habitats have been lost in Scotland over the years, mainly through
reclamation for farming and development. Skinflats is one of the Firth of
Forth‘s intertidal habitats that provides vital food for internationally
important numbers of wintering wildfowl and wading birds, but as this area
has a long history of industrial and agricultural use, that has resulted in a
loss of valuable habitat. With every new pressure from development,
climate change, and disturbance to the birds using the Forth, there is a need
for action on large scale to protect this rich heritage, and to make the most
of opportunities for sustainable flood management and climate change
mitigation. To this end the area was chosen to trial in a small way the
effects of flood alleviation. Hopefully larger schemes will follow which
23
will deliver water framework directive aims and a more sustainable
solution to managing flood risk.
After this short introduction talk we proceeded to walk over the site, first
going west over the south sea wall towards the Kincardine Bridge, then
turning and proceeding back east between the old sea wall built around
1785 and the ponds that were
recently created. During the walk
Toby explained various aspects and
took question from the group.
Suddenly there was a moment off
panic, when Morag disturbed a
small ―Gentleman in a Black Velvet
Coat‖, we don‘t know who got the
biggest freight Morag or the small
Gentleman. After everyone calmed
down, we continued to where the sea
wall had been breached to allow a controlled flow of water. During
extreme weather the whole area can fill up to alleviate flood conditions
within the area.
On returning where we started the walk we concluded with a five to ten
minute general question and answer session. Everyone had thoroughly
enjoyed the evening; the weather had been good and most importantly
there had been no midges.
The Society members gave a hearty vote of thanks to Toby; recently
married and just home a few days from his honeymoon. We asked him to
convey our regards to his wife, and to apologise to her for keeping him out
so late.
RECLAMATION PRIOR TO 1850 Foreshore Reclamation. The tidal part of the estuary lies below Stirling,
and here we have different conditions to consider. No doubt the flat
carse land in this section of the valley was originally all more or less of
a peaty swamp. It still contains patches of deep peat at Dunmore and
Letham Moss near Airth, but most of the ancient bogs were drained and
reclaimed long ago, and the modern reclamations have been confined to
the straights of foreshore below Alloa along both margins of the Forth.
The whole of the tidal rise and fall in the Firth is 18 feet at ordinary
24
springs, but reaches 19 or 20 feet at extreme equinoctial tides or after
the prevalence of winds which raise the level of the North Sea at the
same time. Between Bo‘ness and Alloa there is at the foot of the high
ground a strip of low-lying land which slopes gradually down to the
estuary. It includes a wide fringe of foreshore covered at spring tides
with very little water and partly dry for several days at high water of
neap tides. The fringe next to the shore was once, and is still to a small
extent, merely a salt marsh overgrown with plants which thrive in such
water-logged ground.
After the middle of the eighteenth century, when the general industrial
awakening began in Scotland, various riparian owners of the saltings
and shallow foreshores sought to add to their estates by constructing
dykes on the Dutch principle to exclude the tide from the bays and
shallow parts of the foreshore, and confine the river between regular
banks, with the effect of straightening and improving its channel below
Alloa.
The Foreshore at Skinflat Nature Reserve From, H.M. Caddell ,
DL. Scottish Geographical Magazine, VOL. 45 (1929)
A short account is given in the Transactions of the Highland Society for
1831 (vol. X111. p. 102) by Joseph Udney, a and surveyor who surveyed
and laid off the new ground after the reclamation was completed. We
are informed that the surface of the foreshore was raised by warping. A
line of strong fir stakes 7 feet long and 4 feet apart, driven 4 feet into
the mud was first laid out on the outer side of the intake. The stakes,
which projected 3 feet above the mud, were interlaced or warped by
wattles of brushwood so as to produce a sheltered backwater where
mud could settle. There must have been an immense quantity of it, since
at the end of the first year the mud inside had risen 3 feet to the top of
the wattling. Second and third lines each a few feet inside the first were
then constructed, and at the end of three years it was found that the mud
had silted up 9 feet, when the surface had risen to the level of the
adjacent land and the reclamation was complete. The proprietor, Sir
Lawrence Dundas of West Kerse, by that simple operation about the
year 1784, gained 200 acres from the sea in three years, and the expense
of the embankment did not exceed £200, or £1 per acre.
25
Mr Udney laid out the land and farmhouses were built on it. In the
fourth year after operations began, the new land was sown down with
rape, which produced a fairly good crop. After the fifth year, when the
farm-steadings were built, the land was let at £4 per acre, so that for an
outlay on the acquisition of land from the sea amounting to £200 plus
the cost of the farm buildings, the annual return was £800. This result,
to say the least, was highly encouraging.
―The whole operation of embanking and gaining ground by stakes, and
warping of common fir, is so simple and effectual, that his Lordship‘s
tenants, when their farms happen to be along the Firth, take in, at their
own expense, more or less land yearly, as fir trees were so plentiful, this
method of gaining land is comparatively less expensive than any other‖
(p, 103).
Interesting Facts:
To-day you will see the original embankment which was constructed 225
years ago when reclamation was completed ( which raised the land by 9
feet)
The Romans called the Forth ―Bodotria‖.
Scottish Gaelic - ―Abhainn Foirthe‖
Grangemouth was known originally as ―Sealock‖ during the
construction of the Forth and Clyde Canal. The settlement was then
renamed ―Grangeburnmouth‖, which refers to its position of the mouth
of the Grange Burn, which flowed into the Forth at this point.
Skinflats, formerly a Mining Village, was reputedly named by the
Dutch engineers who were at the construction of the River Forth
Embankments.
Edward Stiubhart 2012
26
Larbert House and Hospital Country Park.
Wednesday 13th June 2012
Forestry Commission Ranger Gordon Harper
With his colleague Jenny Ventham, Community Ranger
This is a follow up to last year’s walk around the park at Labert Hospital
and we noted that the amount of work that has been done in this short time
is wonderful.
The weather was good which made a very pleasant night out.
Just as you enter the park, they planned to make an orchard but that idea
had to be scrapped as there is a large water pipe running through this piece
of land. Their idea of developing an allotment has not worked out either!
They are now going to build Maggie‘s Care Home on that site with a
sensory garden adjacent to the building. I think is an excellent idea.
They have cleared the ice pond and it‘s a lot bigger than I thought. The
path which has been built goes all the way around the pond. All the paths
have been laid with Toptrek. Now the paths are much easier to get around
on foot and with wheelchairs. Where some parts are still a bit steep for the
wheelchairs, the Forestry Commission is going to try and even them out so
that wheelchair access will be a lot better.
There was a bird‘s nest at the beginning of this path on the ground and the
group were able to view this. We were also able to see a pair of Swans
swimming around with their cygnets. The water looked so clean and tidy. I
believe there must be a good stock of fish in the loch as there was a
fisherman fishing.
We next walked along to the stable block which they are meaning to make
into Mews Flats and make a similar structure behind giving the block a
double aspect. However there is a big drawback to these plans. There are 5
different bat species (Common Pipistrelle and Soprano Pipistrelle bats
which feed between the trees; Daubenton bats which like to feed over the
loch; Long-eared bats and one other bat species) roosting in the stable
block and, of coarse, they are a protected species. The land to left of the
stables has been obtained by the developers and up until now they have not
got planning permission for this piece of land.
Beyond the stables there is a walled garden which is going to be developed
into more expensive luxury homes.
27
There is a Ha Ha in the woods which the group went and looked at.
Larbert House was going to be developed into a hotel but this idea has
been dropped. The developers would like to make it into flats. They will
have to wait till they have developed some of the land and earned some
money before they can do anything with the House. I thought Larbert
House had deteriorated since last year. In front of Larbert House there was
a carpet of blue Orchids which are beautiful.
There are two counters in the park one at each entrance which count the
number of people using the park. The one at the far side of the park had
counted well over 50,000 people using the park
People are not allowed to use the entrance to the hospital as a smoking
place; they are now using the park. Around the seats in the park there are
hundreds of cigarette ends which waste the park. I hope the rangers
manage to find a way to stop the smokers dropping their cigarette ends.
We, finally, looked at the ice house which was ‗breeze blocked‘ up.
Gordon is going to drill holes in the breeze blocks in the hope that the bats
will find another home. Gordon has checked the undergrowth around the
ice house and the ornate stone that was taken from the ice house will one
day be put back on.
We are hoping to go back next year and once more we can see what is
happening to this beautiful place.
Isobel Wood
Union Canal Towpath and Avon Gorge Aqueduct
Wednesday 25th July 2012
When this was suggested to me by the members of the society, during the
boat trip on the Union Canal last year, I said to myself ―what a good idea!‖
Then it was all forgotten about until the time came along to think about
places to go for our summer program which then resurrected the idea.
Searching the internet the ―The Avon Valley Heritage Trail‖ looked
promising. It was then in the car to find the point of departure. This
proved to be a bit tricky but we eventually went into Muiravonside
Country Park. We had the good fortune to meet the Park Ranger, who was
cleaning a drain at the side of the road, at the entrance. He turned out to be
just what we were looking for - a mine of information!
28
He drew us a sketch map of the area, where to find the Avon Valley
Aqueduct and parts of the Avon Valley Heritage Trail. However he did not
recommend it due to the terrible weather we have had. There are various
attractions in the park including animal husbandry and as always a café.
We of course had to sample it and found it to be excellent, soup and a roll
for £1.60, which suited the pocket as well as the palate.
After our eats we met up with the ranger again who gave us a guided tour.
We ended up under the Aqueduct looking at the torrent of water passing
beneath the arches - very picturesque! As we continued our walk we met a
member of the Field Studies who we had not seen for a few years which
was a nice surprise. It was then to thank the ranger for his considerable
assistance and we left him, and we took stock of what would make an
interesting walk.
It took another visit to compound our findings. The Country Park would
have been interesting but it closed at 8pm which was a bit early for us. We
did decide on a program and on the night we headed for the car park at
Muiravonside Church which is on the banks of the Canal. It turned out to
be a fine night with 16 members attending. The towpath made
comparatively easy walking and we saw some interesting flora and fauna
on the banks of the canal which is in good condition considering it was
built between 1818 and 1822. On our journey we passed a canal basin.
This had been a bustling point of the Canal when it was in its hey-day. It
looks as if it has been restored recently. Another interesting item was the
dry dock area where boats had been repaired. Recently one of the boats had
been recovered by a team of archaeologists. The Avon Aqueduct was the
highlight of the evening. We walked over it, had a photo shoot, and in the
distance we saw the railway viaduct which takes the trains to Edinburgh
(two examples of Victorian engineering). Returning back over the
Aqueduct we ventured down a path, and a considerable amount of steps, to
see the wonders of Civil Engineering of the early 19th century (in the
underbelly of the Aqueduct).
It was a shame we had to return by the same route as a circular one was out
of the question due to the time factor. All together a very interesting
evening plus the weather was kind to us!
Here are some facts and figures of the Union Canal courtesy of Wikipedia:
29
Union Canal is 31.5 miles long from Lochrin Basin, Fountain Bridge
Edinburgh to Falkirk where it meets the Forth and Clyde Canal now
connected by the Falkirk Wheel.
The Union Canal has many Aqueducts, the main ones being Slateford over
the Water of Leith; The Almond near Ratho; and the 810 foot long Avon
Aqueduct (the second longest in the United Kingdom).
Designed and constructed between 1818 and 1822 by Hugh Baird. Two
builders of the canal, infamous or famous take your pick, were Burke and
Hare of body snatching fame.
Built mainly for the transportation of coal and lime from Lanarkshire.
Closed to commercial traffic in the 1930‘s, now mainly used for pleasure
craft and canoe clubs.
Jack Archibald
Wednesday 8th August, 2012. Alloa Swing Bridge.
This was a change of walk from our
programme, which should have been
the (Alva Ponds) as Susan Mills, was
unable to lead due to pressure of work.
I‘m not familiar with Alva Ponds;
therefore I opted for Alloa Swing
Bridge.
Nine members met at Marshill car park
and proceeded to the West End Business Park where we started our walk
towards Longcarse Farm. We then joined the old disused Caledonian
railway to the Alloa Swing Bridge, which was constructed in 1885. On the
way we had to pass some inquisitive cattle and on arriving at the bridge we
had to move more cattle from the north abutment, so that we could view
the remains of the bridge piers that crossed the River Forth. The weather
was perfect but the midges were everywhere.
Known as the Alloa Railway, the route was double track except over its
engineering centrepiece – a bowstring girder bridge of 540 yards in length
across the Forth (structure number ALL/9) – which only accommodated a
single line. Signal boxes were located at both ends. Built by Messrs Watt
Alloa Swing Bridge
30
& Wilson of Glasgow, the first train over it – (heading south) consisted of
three carriages fitted with gas lamps and carrying about a dozen passengers.
From the south, the structure comprised 13 spans on a curve of about 43
chains radius, climbing at 1.410. Two more spans on the level were
followed by the swing bridge of 143 feet, controlled from a cabin erected
above the track and driven by a stationary steam engine. This provided two
clear openings for river craft of 61 feet either side of a pier that was
protected by a timber cutwater projecting 47 yards both up and down river.
Four further spans created a connection to the abutment on the north bank,
making 21 in total. The deck was raised 23 feet above high water level,
supported on two stone columns joined by ironwork at the top and
bottom.While still under construction, the bridge suffered damage when
the ferry steamers, ‗Princess of Wales‘, ‗Stirling Castle‘ and ‗Edinburgh
Castle‘, sailing between Granton and Stirling, collided with the structure
on numerous occasions. Then during autumnal gales in 1899 the sailing
ship ‘Stephanie‘ carrying salt from Hamburg, was driven against a pier by
the high tide (however no damage was recorded). Nevertheless, concern
grew amongst the local shipping community who had long considered the
structure to be a barrier to trade, located as it was on a part of the river
afflicted by treacherous currents. The bridges ‗evil reputation‘ even
extended to Continental ports and several tugboat owners prohibited their
vessels from passing beneath it. A committee was appointed to make
strong representations to the Caledonian Railway. The difficulties
escalated on 12th October 1904 when the schooner ‗Stirling‘ collided with
pier 17, displacing some of the girders.
Trains were not running again until 1st
June 1905. A second period of enforced
inactivity began on 15th August 1920
when HMS ‗Mallard‘, which was moored
at South Alloa Ship Breakers, broke her
moorings and crashed into the bridge
causing serious damage to piers 9, 10 and
11. (It was reported at the time in the
Alloa Advertiser that it was a surrendered German three-funnelled
Collision, 1904 ―Stirling‖
31
Zerstörer Torpedo boat). Reopening came on 1st March 1921. As a
consequence of all this, when piers 9, 10, 11, were repaired (counting piers
from the south) to complete the repairs strengthening cast iron cross
bracing was installed on all the piers.
During the line‘s final years, the
passenger service was operated by a
four-wheeled railbus, which ceased on
the 29th January 1968. Regular freight
traffic over the bridge ended on 6th May,
but trains continued to bring coal to the
engine house on the swing spans until
this was fixed in the open position on
18th May 1970. Work to lift the track got underway on 8th February 1971;
thereafter the deck sections were
dismantled.
Today the piers still stand in the river as an
evocative reminder of ―the other Forth
Bridge‖. Substantial abutments are sited on
both banks – the northern one is heavily
strapped with rail whilst the other is
affected by cracking. The abutments and
piers will eventually erode and disappear.
The ―VIC 56‖
One of the great worthies of the River Forth
was ―VIC 56‖. She was built at Faversham in
1945. Like many of the other VICs she had,
when built, an open navigation platform (the
wheelhouse was added later by the Admiralty).
The boiler was of a convertible coal / oil design,
and, presumably because of coal shortages she was completed as oil burner;
and remained until 1980. She was given a loadline certificate by Lloyds
(not necessary for naval vessels), that allowed her to trade around the
British Isles (except for the west coast of Ireland). By 1947 she was
allocated to the Victualing Store Officer at Rosyth, and so began a 30 year
HMS ―Mallard‖ Destroyer Torpedo-boat
―VIC 56‖
Collision, 1920 HMS ―Mallard‖ ―Mallard‖
32
life spent almost entirely in the Firth of Forth, taking stores and
ammunition between Rosyth, Crombie, Leith, Port Edgar, and Bandeath.
(I spent around three years from approximately the age of thirteen rowing a
boat up and down the river, and regularly viewed her sailing to and from
Bandeath).
―VIC 56‘s‖ long survival at Rosyth must be partly due to her suitability,
(as an oil burner), for carrying ammunition. In her last year her main role
was to act as occasional relief vessel for larger motor ammunition ships
which took over her routes. . Her last recorded naval steaming was on 10th
February 1975, when she was then laid up and put up for disposal. In
September 1978 she was bought for preservation, and is now docked at
Chatham Historic Dockyard. She was recently involved in the Thames
Water Pageant to celebrate the Queen‘s Diamond Jubilee.
Septimius Severus in Scotland 208- 210 AD
Two extremely rare coins were minted to celebrate the military campaign
in Scotland of Septimius Severus and his son Caracalla.
One showed a fixed bridge and the other a pontoon
bridge built on boats, and there was reference to the
rivers Forth and Tay. In 1931, prior to the discovery of
the second coin, Sir Charles Oman suggested that
Severus had built a fixed bridge near the location of
Alloa Swing Bridge and Caracalla had built a bridge at
Carpow on the Tay. John Purtell supported this
hypothesis in his presentation at a conference in the
Severus International Centre for Severus Studies on 31st May 1996 in
Rome.
The fixed bridge at Alloa is feasible, as there was a plentiful supply of
timber available, and it would open up the forest for tactical defence. (To
build a bridge and log causeway to the beachhead which ran from Cambus
to Alloa; parallel with the present A907).
Alloa Inch
Between Alloa and Cambus there were originally
three Islands in the River Forth; Alloa Inch,
Tullibody Inch and Throsk Island, which is now
Septimius Severus
Alloa Inch, centre
33
joined on to the land at Bandeath. Alloa inch was the largest of these and is
located upstream of Alloa. Historically it was called Carsie or Kersie
Island, then Longcarse or Longkerse Island, before its current name was
adopted. It is surrounded on both sides by the 3 -400 yard wide River Forth,
and although it can be reached by boat at high tide, at low tide the sides of
the river channels become an impenetrable tract of soft mud making access
extremely difficult. Originally the Inch was 42.5 acres of grazed salt marsh
that submerged to a depth of 3-6 feet by 20 foot spring tides. The
construction by Robert Drummond of Friarton, Perth in 1806, of a 1.5-mile
long 6-9 feet encircling embankment, converted 77 acres into rich arable
farmland. This enterprise was not without its difficulties, as the river over-
flowed the defences within two months of construction. Once the banks
were secured a farmhouse and steadings were built, and the Island was
farmed continuously for 170 years. Eventually however, problems with the
water supply from the mainland, and the collapse of a stretch of bank in
1983, led to the abandonment of the farm. In 1996, the Scottish Wildlife
Trust purchased the Island as a salt marsh Nature Reserve.
Although we could appreciate the beauty
of the Island on our walk to the Swing
Bridge, the midges were out in their
millions and a number of our members
were not protected by Avon Skin so Soft.
Therefore, we decided against going to
see the remains of Tullibody House and
made for home. So, ended another
memorable evening.
Eddie Stewart
.
Beware of, ―Culicoides impunctatus‖ (Carnivore Giant Midge)?
North Bridge Abutment
34
Wednesday Walk
22nd August 2012
It was not only the third change for the destination of this walk but also the
time had to be changed due to the recent inclement weather! As a
precaution I brought along a couple of torches in case the darkness came
down before we finished.
A hearty band of nine souls met up at the car-park opposite Deerpark
Primary School. We headed up a recently constructed path at the side of
the road that takes you to Gartmorn Dam, which is an asset as you don‘t
have to dodge the traffic. On reaching the Dam you veer left through a
gate onto a newly constructed path with an excellently produced indication
board. We were now on Gartmorn Farm Woodland Trails (see sign above).
Not much woodland yet but hundreds of trees have been planted over an
area of three fields. The trees will cover the whole face of Gartmorn Hill. I
can only hope it turns out as it is planned, it will take a good few years for
the woodland to reach maturity!
The first two paths form an arc to the original path, alongside the dam,
which was originally a wagon way to the coalmine at Sheriff Yards. After
35
travelling along the first two paths we are back on the original path for
approximately 500 metres. We then go through a gate and meander up the
face of the hill taking a couple of deviations en-route.
Reaching the summit of the hill, we looked over to see a wonderful
panoramic view of the dam and the surrounding area. We were really lucky
that night as it turned out quite clear and we could see for miles. We then
followed the path that takes you behind the farm - we are now going back
down hill.
Reaching the end of the new paths it was through another gate turning on
to a farm track that eventually leads on to the Fishcross / Coalsnaughton
road. Not quite as far as that, we turned left, leaving the trails into the Cow
Park Woods. We headed for the summit of Mount William and some more
spectacular views. It is a pity that some of the trees have grown so tall as
they block the view in some places. From here on it is downhill all the
way to the cars, with everyone having enjoyed the trek.
Jack Archibald
Saturday 26th May 2012, Kinnoull Hill
Kinnoull Hill (222m – 728ft)
Kinnoull Hill, a dominating feature as you drive over the Friarton Bridge
on the A90, is renowned for the quality of its walking trails through varied
woodland. It is on Perth‘s eastern doorstep, and there are various routes
beginning from each of the two car
parks up on the hill
On the day, seven CFSS members
made their way to the Fair City of
Perth. After a comfort stop at
Rodney Gardens, we ventured the
last two miles up into the Hill,
arriving at Jubilee carpark. It was
beautiful, warm day.
The itinerary for the visit allowed
36
for two walks; one to Kinnoull Tower and Viewpoint and the other to
Deuchny Hill Bronze Age Fort. After the walks, a visit to Perth Museum to
see the Bronze Age Logboat was on the agenda.
Kinnoull Hill
Woodland Park
encompasses the
hills of Kinnoull,
Corsiehill, Binn
Hill, Deuchny
Hill and Barnhill.
It is home to
mixed woodland
– from open
deciduous woods,
to the closed
canopy of
plantation
conifers. It is a
habitat for both
red and grey
squirrels, and
also roe deer and
a wide variety of birdlife, can be seen, such as Jay, Green Woodpecker,
and in winter Redwing and Fieldfare. As well as being a Local
Geodiversity Site, the hill is designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest
(SSSI) with areas of unique vegetation, including remnants of lowland
heath and interesting plants such as the Northern Marsh Orchid
Our first walk to Kinnoull Tower took us up round the eastern side of the
hill with a steady incline to the summit (728 ft.). We kept a sharp lookout
for the various wood sculptures en route, and I think we found four out of
ten; we also took in the magnificent views along the Tay valley towards
Dundee. We glimpsed the old observatory on Binn Hill built by Charles,
14th Lord Gray around 1813, although the trees did obscure it slightly.
Eventually we reached the Tower, a folly built by the 9th Earl of Kinnoull,
and here we took a well-earned rest to enjoy the views. We then walked up
37
to the Viewpoint where a location point giving directions and distance to
various landmarks is situated. Also sited here is a Triangulation Point.
After another rest we retraced our steps back to the Tower and via a path
on the left walked down through the middle of the hill to the carpark,
where we had lunch.
After lunch we made a group decision not to do the second walk to
Deuchny Hill Bronze Fort, but to make for Perth Museum. (I was relieved)
Prior to making our way to the Museum, we had a leisurely stroll around
the Arboretum, which was adjacent to the carpark. (James Aitken, a well-
known Perth landscape gardener and lover of trees, lived at Orchardbank
next to Branklyn Gardens. He left a bequest o £80,000 to Perth and
Kinross Council Countryside Trust to reinstate the original Arboretum.)
We concluded the day at the Museum where we saw one of the River
Tay‘s ancient watercraft; the Bronze Age Carpow Logboat found near
Abernethy. The craft measures 9.25 (30ft) metres long and is made from a
single piece of oak tree cut through the middle lengthwise and carved out
inside. The bow was shaped to enable it to cut through the water, and the
stern or transom was grooved out with a transom board fitted and wedged
© Copyright. Reproduced by kind permission, Perth & Kinross Council
© Copyright. Reproduced by kind permission, Perth & Kinross Council
38
in place with a 75mm x 1 metre (3 inch x 3ft 6
inch pole. It was probably lined round the
inside edge with clay to keep it watertight.
The Logboat has gone through a drip-drying
conservation process at the Museum of
Scotland‘s conservation centre at Granton,
Edinburgh. It will be on exhibition until
January 2013 in Perth.
I would like to thank very sincerely, David
Strachan of Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust,
and Perth and Kinross Countryside Rangers
Ian Moncrieff and Fergus Cook, for their
assistance. Fergus gave a guided tour around the hill in March 2012 while I
was reconnoitring the walk. My thanks also to Jack and Sadie Archibald
and to Eleanor my wife, who accompanied me on the reconnaissance; it
made the day a joy.
Eddie Stewart
The Highland Chocolatier, Cluny House Gardens
The Scottish Crannog Centre
C.F.S.S. Outing Saturday 23rd June 2012
This was a trip to Central Perthshire sampling the eats, gardens and history.
On a fair morning we left Marshill Carpark with the knowledge, through
the grapevine, that the sun was splitting the trees in Aberfeldy. Fourteen
members headed for Kinross, with another four leaving from Tillicoultry,
where we joined the M90 to Broxden roundabout on the outskirts of Perth.
From there we joined the A9 to the Ballinluig interchange, and headed
along the A830 to Grandtully, the home of The Highland Chocolatier (Iain
Burnett) our first stop.
This was both a coffee stop and an opportunity to have a headcount to
check no one had gone astray. We adjourned to the Legends Café where
we all enjoyed coffee, scones and cakes which were very tasty. We then
39
browsed round the gift shop and had a look at the processes of the art of
making chocolate. I can‘t say if many of us tasted and bought the goodies
that were on sale - I didn‘t, the prices put me off!
It was then on to our next port of call, Cluny House Gardens, to feast our
eyes on the myriad of flower and shrubs of the woodland garden. Not
forgetting the giant Sequioas, one being a champion of 11 metres girth. On
arrival we were given a short introductory talk by the owner of the garden,
Wendy Mattingley. What a tremendous job she and her husband have
achieved, looking after the garden which was created by her late father.
The paths were well laid out and kept in a good state of repair. This was
quite a feat as the garden is laid out on the side of a hill.
Every corner you turn you see something different, whether it is shrubs
trees or flowers. The layout is perfect. The garden included Japanese
Maples, Rhododendrons, Birches and a selection of Conifers. Lying
underneath are some very exotic plants. You could see Himalayan Lillies
growing to a height of 4 metres. When I first saw them on a visit to the
gardens, two years ago, I was amazed that a plant could grow to such a
height. It was a pity that we were a bit early in the season to see them in
their full bloom.
However there were plenty more to see. Himalayan Poppies with their
lovely shade of blue, a mass of Primula Candelabra, Wood Lillies,
Trilliums, Chilean Flame Flower, and a host of others. It is a garden of all
seasons and no matter when you visit you will see something different in
bloom. While having our picnic lunch in the gardens we were entertained
by the local wildlife, mainly the red squirrels that were also enjoying their
lunch of special nuts laid out by Wendy. The weather remained fair
throughout, which was unexpected, as we had been expecting to have to
take advantage of the emergency arrangements organized by Isobel Wood.
Fed and watered we made our way to the Scottish Crannog Centre at
Kenmore on Loch Tay. Leaving the Garden we headed for Aberfeldy. We
travelled over the General Wade Bridge. This is a relic from the pre-1745
Rebellion period and still in use today. The traffic lights however are of the
modern era!
40
On arrival at the Crannog Centre it was a case of getting ourselves
organized, at the reception area, before heading out to the house. This is
built on piles and stands in the Loch. To get there we had to negotiate a
bridge made of logs - not the easiest things to walk on! After that we were
shown in by the guide and, sitting comfortably, were given a
comprehensive talk on the building of the house and its construction. This
included a description of all the different sections of the inside plan, from
where the animals were kept and the food was stored - even including the
sleeping area for the children. There was a fire burning on a stone slab in
the middle of the house. It was amazing how warm it was as it was only
timber wattling on the walls with space in between, and quite dark when
the doors were closed. I really admired the thatching on the roof.
Once the talk was completed we were taken outside to a workshop area
where we were shown and given a demonstration on various types of wood
lathes. Next we were shown how to bore a hole in a stone using a piece of
hazel and a bow. This is quite an operation - he did say it took a number of
hours to complete! Finally the demonstration everyone wanted to see,
making fire without using Swan Vesta or a Ronson Lighter. Unfortunately
we saw lots of smoke but no fire. The same principles were applied as for
boring the hole in the stone. This time a bow and a spindle is used into a
piece of wood, with necessary tinder to ignite the flame.
Well it was time to be homeward bound after a very enjoyable time here.
We returned to Aberfeldy and then headed for Amulree and the Sma Glen.
Then onto Crieff, Gleneagles, Glendevon and home. The drive home
through such lovely scenery was a perfect end to the day.
Jack Archibald.
41
Saturday 28th July 2012, Bits and Bobs OF Loch Leven Circuit
Eleven members made their way to Portmoak Church via Kinross and
Milnathort, and onto the A911 Burleigh road, passing Burleigh Castle, the
ancestral home of the Balfour of Burleigh family and then the Orwell
Standing Stones (megaliths which are still shrouded in mystery). We
journeyed on past Powmill Waterwheel (old meal mill, now a modern
home) and through Kinnesswood
(where Michael Bruce, the gentle
poet of Loch Leven was born and
died) to arrive at Portmoak
Church where we parked the cars,
and met up with Eric and Kay
Howman.
The first walk was part of the
Michael Bruce Way. Yes part way; we were omitting the high part due to it
being very steep and muddy. We took the low road, walking along the
footpath that runs parallel with the main road, back towards Kinnesswood
and the Bishops Hill Golf Club. We then crossed the road and made
towards Grahamstone Farm. After 4-500 metres we took a short grass path
to Portmoak Moss. During this part of the walk our ears were assaulted by
the noisy gaggling from geese (pink footed, Greylag or White Fronted.)
They form around 10% of the world population and come from their
breeding grounds in Iceland and Greenland to Loch Leven, which is the
largest loch in lowland Scotland. We continued till we came to the Moss
Bog, which has evolved from the Ice Age. In the Middle Ages, Portmoak
was part of a much larger uncultivated woodland, which provided peat, turf
and pasture for the local communities at Kinnesswood and Scotlandwell.
From the 17th to 20th centuries local residents had the right to cut peat for
fuel, and the legacy of that activity is a vertical wall of peat, up to 2.5
metres high with a depth of around 6 metres. Continued peat growth has
elevated the bog surface to form a gently curving dome from which the
term ‗raised bog‘ is derived. Portmoak is of great conservation value as a
raised bog habitat, and is currently undergoing restoration by the
Woodland Trust and the local community. Eight varieties of Sphagnum
moss and a variety of birds and animals (in particular red squirrels) share
the habitat.
42
After a short walk we arrived at Scotlandwell (Fons Scotia), and made our
way to Friar Place, where within an iron enclosure are buried the wife,
mother and a number of children of the Rev. Ebenezer Erskine, minister of
Portmoak from 1703 to 1731, and father of the Secession Church. The
name ‗Fons Scotia‘ dates back to the Roman period. A hospital was
established here in the 13th century, (on the site of an early Celtic
foundation), by David de Bernham. This was gifted to the Red Friars, and
the hospital and village became a centre of pilgrimage, with the Friars
using the spring water to cure an assortment of diseases. It is alleged that
King Robert the Bruce, who came there, was cured from leprosy. We then
visited the Well and Washhouse. The waters (curative) percolate up
through the rocks and fine white sand, and are still used today. (However, a
disclaimer sign is on display with regard to the curative properties). In
1882 a small piece of common ground known locally as the Peat Hill, was
divided up amongst the feuars of the village, including the spot where the
well now stands. Thomas Bruce of Arnot, who
eventually acquired all the land, decided to
beautify the village by landscaping the site. In
March 1857, the distinguished Edinburgh architect
David Bryce prepared the plan for an ornamental
fountain or well. (He is best known for Fettes
College and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary). He not only designed the well
but also the stylish washhouse opposite, using stone from the quarries at
Greenhead of Arnot and Nivingston near Cleish. The well was completed
in 1856 at a cost of £153. The death of Thomas Bruce‘s wife Henrietta
during the construction turned the project into a
labour of love and also into a memorial. On
either side of the waterspout in front of the well
are the embossed initials TBA (Thomas Bruce
of Arnot) and HD (Henrietta Dorin). The
people of Scotlandwell are concerned today
about the state of the historic well and
washhouse, as both are in need of repair.
The well needs minor structural repairs
and also cleaned out, and the washhouse is
urgently in need of renovation.
Leaving the well we walked back up
43
through the village to Portmoak Church. This is the third church at the site.
The first was dedicated to St Stephan and the second to St Moak (situated
initially where the Scottish Gliding Centre now is). The present church was
built in 1832. Since 1564, 29 incumbents have ministered at Portmoak;
there was a four-year vacancy from 1731 however. The present incumbent
is Dr. Angus Morrison, who arrived in 2011. The most celebrated
incumbent was Ebenezer Erskine (1703-1731), who left the Church of
Scotland, after becoming disillusioned. He became one of the first
ministers of the Secession Church, which eventually became known as the
United Presbyterian Church (UPC).
The Portmoak Stone, a fragment of a cross slab stone was
found by Professor David Munro in 1976, at the site of the
early chapel which is located within the Scottish Gliding
Centre Airfield. This stone is now set into the east wall of
the Portmoak Church. It may date to the 10th century or
earlier. There is a bell which is dated 1642 and which one
could speculate is also from the old Chapel. The Church
Plate is very interesting, one from the UPC Balgedie
communion cups, and a communion cup from the Free
Church which broke away from the Church of Scotland over the issue of
the rights of the heritor. Both cups are still in use in the church today.
Situated within the churchyard is the memorial to Michael
Bruce 1746-67 who packed a lot into his short life. First
and foremost he was a Poet affectionately known as, ―The
gentle poet of Loch Leven‖. Michael was however
potentially destined for the ministry. He was a member of
the Secession Church and after University at Edinburgh,
as part of his church training he was placed as a school
teacher, first at Gairney Bank, Kinross, then at Forest Mill, Clackmannan.
He also tutored at Kennet House, the children of Robert
Bruce, Lord Kennet.
Whilst at Forest Mill he became seriously ill and
subsequently walked back home to Kinnesswood, where he
eventually died on the 5th July 1767. The weaver‘s cottage
where he was born has been preserved as a Museum to his
memory.
44
“Hail, native land! Where on the
Flow’ry banks of Leven
Beauty, every-blooming, dwells’
Once again the Society takes this opportunity to thank very sincerely Mr
Harry McLennan for opening the church for our visit. This was very much
appreciated by all present on the day.
Due to another commitment Jack Archibald had to leave the rest of the
walk prior to lunch.
The rest of us got back into our cars to go for lunch at Lochend Farm! Just
in time as a heavy shower of rain came tumbling down.
After an enjoyable lunch, we then journeyed by car a few miles to Findatie
where we parked the cars for another short walk. We walked down the path
to the Sluice Gates which are over the River Leven at the head of the Loch.
At the beginning of the 19th century, the
demand for food from a growing population
encouraged landowners and farmers to seek
new ways to increase production. The Kinross
Estate and neighbouring landowners decided
that by lowering the water in the Loch by 1.4
metres (4½ feet) they could increase land
available for farming by some 1100 acres.
This could be achieved by cutting a new deeper channel for the River
Leven and controlling its flow by sluices. Mill owners and industrialists
downstream were persuaded to help finance the scheme as they would
benefit from a more regular water flow all year round. An Act of
Parliament (the Leven Improvement Act, 1827) allowed the digging of the
four mile cut from Findatie where the River Leven flows from the loch to
Auchmuirbridge.
Leaving the sluice gates, we walked to the new footbridge (towards
Levenmouth Farm) over the river, and standing centre of the bridge got a
good view of the canalised cutting. We then retraced our steps and walked
the 1.5 km towards RSPB Vane Farm. On the way we arrived at Findatie
beach, and lingered for 5-10 minutes. The view from there looking over to
St Serf‘s Island, where there are the remains of a Culdee Chapel, is
beautiful. Walking along the path towards Vane Farm there are incredible
360 degree views of the landscape. Prior to reaching the farm we had to
45
fasten up our coats as rain began to fall, but it was not heavy and we
arrived at the Centre relatively dry. We spent around 45 minutes at Vane
Farm; it was a welcome comfort stop and the shop contained many
interesting items. While most browsed, the drivers were shuttled back to
Findatie to collect their cars, and then returned to collect their passengers
before proceeding to the final stop of the day. As we made our way to the
Secession Church Monument at Gairney Bank the rain was very heavy, but
fortunately it stopped as we arrived.
On 6th December 1733, Ebenezer Erskine of Stirling,
William Wilson of Perth, Alexander Moncrieff of
Abernethy and James Fisher of Kinclaven, signed an Act
OF Secession during a meeting in a small house at Gairney
Bank. The monument marks the spot
Directly across from where the Secession Monument now
stands, was the site of Gairney Bank where Michael Bruce took up his first
charge in teaching at the age of 19 years, after his studies in Edinburgh
(1762-1765). Michael was taught to read before he was 4 years old, and
one of his favourite books was a copy of one of the works of Sir David
Lindsay of the Mount, a poet of the 16th century and a ‗familiar‘ of the
Courts of James 1V and James V. Michael‘s attendance at school was
often interrupted because he had to herd cattle on the Lomond hills in
summer, but his early companionship with nature greatly influenced his
poetry.
A Note on the Establishment of the Secession Church 1733
The Patronage Act of 1712 gave the local Laird (or landowner) the right to
appoint the minister of his parish. This went against the tenets of the
Presbyterian system that had established from the time of the Reformation
the right of elders representing the congregation to make such
appointments. By 1733, such was the ill feeling, that many (secessionists)
under the leadership of Ebenezer Erskine, broke away from the Established
Church.
Ebenezer Erskine born 22nd June 1680, died 2nd June 1754
He had been described as an Evangelical Divine, and was of the Rev.
Henry Erskine (1624-1696), who was descended from the Earls of Mar.
Henry Erskine was removed from his charge following the Act of
Uniformity (1662), and imprisoned on the Bass Rock for Nonconformity.
46
Ebenezer‘s wife‘s ancestors were from Orkney and could trace their
ancestry back to Halcro, Prince of Denmark. Her great-grandmother was
Lady Barbara Stuart, daughter of Robert, Earl of Orkney, natural son of
James V of Scotland. Ebenezer was educated at Edinburgh University and
ordained at Portmoak, and ministered there successfully for 28 years,
proving to be a popular preacher. He supported Thomas Boston (1676-
1732) and the evangelical work ‗The Marrow of Modern Divinity‘, which
had been condemned by the General Assembly. He transferred to Stirling
in 1731, but continued to speak out against liberalism in the Church and
the system of Patronage. In 1733 these views led to his suspension by the
General Assembly, and he and three others then proceeded to form an
Associated Presbytery which quickly became the Secession Church.
Although this church grew, it was itself divided over the Burgess Oath
(into the Burghers and Anti-Burghers), with Erskine remaining with the
Burgher majority. He died in Stirling having made his mark on the Church
and having fathered fifteen children.
Edward Stiubhart 2012
Visit to the Glasgow Necropolis
Saturday 25th August 2012
As a follow up to Nigel Willis‘s talk (on 26th March 2012) a group of 14
members plus 1 guest partook on a pilgrimage to see the Necropolis in the
raw.
We met at Alloa Railway Station and travelled to Glasgow letting the train
take the strain. Arriving at Queen Street Station, we got ourselves sorted
out. Some decided to walk to the Cathedral/Necropolis and others opted for
a taxi. Eventually we met up again some having gone to the Cathedral
whilst others looked round the St. Mungo‘s Museum of Religious Life and
Art. Sometime or other everyone had refreshments in the Café!
Time to get together again and we met Nigel at the Gatehouse of the
Necropolis at 12 noon. Everyone arrived on time which was good. On our
way in we passed the main gates. This is an elaborate construction from the
47
beginning of the Necropolis and was recently restored by The Friends of
the Glasgow Necropolis at a cost of £14,000 - quite a substantial sum of
money!
After a preliminary talk on various aspects of the cemetery and health &
safety we were off on our travels. The first landmark was the Bridge of
Sighs - no river now, but a road way as the burn has been piped in.
Next point of interest was the Merchant House vault. This is carved into
the hillside and originally was to be something of great importance.
However they had a roof cave in and it was then relegated to being a
storage place for coffins, now a garage for the lawnmowers.
We then travelled the lower levels of the hill, Nigel pointing out various
headstones of various sizes, shapes and symbolisms. Prominent among
them was the broken column symbolizing a person who had died before
they had reached the age of three score years and ten.
We then reached the Jewish part of the Necropolis which is one of the
oldest. It all came about in the 1830‘s when there was an influx of Jews
from Eastern Europe. The nearest Jewish Cemetery was in Edinburgh. As
Jewish people prefer to be buried the same day as they die it was
impossible to uphold that tradition. At that time it took 2 days by horse
and cart and/or 4 days by canal. The Jewish Community approached the
Merchants House for a piece of land at Fir Park, the original name of the
Necropolis. We did see the original entrance and the first headstone to a
Jewish jeweller from Glasgow.
From there it was a climb up the hill, deviating from the path sometimes to
see gems of headstones. The further we went up the stones became more
elaborate and there were numerous family mausoleums, some very ornate.
We then came across the mausoleum for the Buchanan Sisters who were
19th Century philanthropists. The three sisters all remained unwed
throughout their lives and were renowned for their charitable works. They
had the mausoleum built before they died to make sure everything was in
order for the afterlife. At the present moment it is the Friends Project to
restore the mausoleum which had been vandalised. Not far from there we
48
were shown a mausoleum where only recently a visitor sheltering from the
rain discovered a species of a spider which had never been found in Britain
before. Apparently they are normally only found in Russia and North
America, I believe the gentleman involved was an avid spider watcher. It
is amazing what you find in a cemetery.
As we went on the headstones and mausoleums got more elaborate. It
made me think that there must be a lot of money made from death!
On reaching the summit, there it was in all his glory, the statue of John
Knox. He died a good bit before the Necropolis was even thought of. The
headstones seemed to be never ending with so many different themes and
grave stone markings I had never seen before. However there was one that
took my eye which was a serpent eating its tail. The last time I saw this
was when we visited a church in Northumberland, during a visit to
Hadrian‘s Wall. That was with the Field Studies of course. Nigel was able
to tell me that it meant everlasting life.
Another part of the Necropolis we visited was an area where there were no
stones at all. We were informed there were fifty thousand bodies buried
there. They are all planted in rows of six deep. It was hard to imagine and
they are all documented. These were the people of Glasgow who could not
afford a stone, amazing!
Now we were on our way back down the hill seeing more styles and
symbols which was all very interesting. The whole area is kept in good
condition with the grass being cut regularly and the weeds kept to a
minimum. In the days of cut backs it is a difficult job. The Friends of
Glasgow Necropolis have done a great job of being an extra guardian of
the area. In the past it has been plagued with vandalism, which we saw to
our horror.
Nigel did a great job showing us around, he is a wealth of information.
One of the last stones we saw was the resting place of his grandfather and
great grandfather.
49
From then on it was a case of walking back to the Gatehouse where we
gave him a big thank you and a donation, which will go to the restoration
of Buchanan Sisters Mausoleum. I don‘t know who we have to thank for
the fantastic weather we had but for the two and a bit hours we spent
trekking round the Necropolis it was shirt sleeves order all the way. We
were hoping to visit the Cathedral at this point but Strathclyde Fire and
Rescue were having a memorial service for lost comrades.
From there we went our separate ways to find somewhere to eat and all
met up again at Queen Street Station for the journey home, rather wabbit
and wet as the weather had changed rather dramatically for the walk back.
Jack Archibald
P.S
I have since had an e-mail from Nigel which reads: ―Just a quick note to
thank you very much for the generous donation cheque from C.F.S.S group
who came on tour to-day. We were very lucky with the weather and it was
good to meet you all again‖.
Nigel Willis (Deputy Chairperson Friends of Glasgow Necropolis).
http://www.glasgownecropolis.org Their website well worth a look.
J.A.
50
Extract from the Society’s Newsletter
41 Years Ago
VOL 1. No 2 March 1971.
Council Notes
To date the many Society activities have been very successful and there are sixty
members. It will be a while, however, before one can say that the proving period
is past during which time the scope of Society activities must be delimited and the
responses and wishes of members stimulated and assessed. There have already
been enough research and conservation projects suggested to last for a lifetime
from those members who intend to devote more time to Society activities. But, at
the other extreme those who wish to be more casual members have given no
indications of their opinions. They are seriously invited.
It would also be a good sign if more members inquired about, or especially joined
in the informal activities, if only periodically. Linn Mill, in particular, is tired of
the same old faces and greater numbers would ensure the conclusion of phase 1
excavations in the near future.
For the purposes of contributing to this Newsletter, activities reported need not be
under the auspices of the Society.
Volunteers are called for to take part in the County Footpath Survey being carried
out by the County Planning Department as a preliminary to making countryside
development plans. They will be asked to report on the disposition of known
footpaths. Further details from the County Planning Department, Marshill House,
Alloa. (2160)
At this stage it is to be reported that the farewell trip by train across South Alloa
Bridge to Throsk has been cancelled by British Rail who cannot secure necessary
insurance cover.
With the increasing amount of demolition and redevelopment taking place there is
a danger of important sites being obliterated without proper investigation as was
threatened at the Rack Mill Weir. The Society Council have stressed the need for
a vigilante function in the Society with prompt reporting of all relevant proposals
acted by any member. In certain cases the sites may need protection permanently,
in others only until they have been fully recorded. In the manner recommended by
the Council for British Archaeology, Murray Dickie has the basis of a site index
recording system which is always amenable to enlargement or to embellishment
with full descriptions.
The Society is experiencing the same problems today.
Therefore, we would like to extend a very cordial welcome to any member
who could assist, to come on to the COMMITTEE.
CLACKMANNANSHIRE
FIELD STUDIES SOCIETY
The CFSS was formed in October 1970 after attempting to
revive the Alloa Society of Natural Science and Archaeology established in 1863.
The society‘s aims are ―to promote interest in the environment and heritage of the
local area‖ and it has some 130 members.
In winter there are fortnightly lectures or members nights, from September to April,
beginning with a coffee morning and concluding with our AGM in May. In summer,
from April to September, there are four Saturday outings, a weekend event and
Wednesday Evening Walks fortnightly from April to August.
CFSS has run and participated in various events on David Allan and at Alloa Tower,
is associated with the Forth Naturalist and Historian in publishing, and with the annual
Man and the Landscape symposium, which is reported on in the Spring Newsletter.
Research projects have included- Linn Mill, Mining, and Alloa Harbour; these have
been published as booklets Linn Mill, Mines and Minerals of the Ochils, and Alloa
Port, Ships and Shipbuilding. A recent project is Old Alloa Kirkyard, Archaeological
Survey 1996 – 2000 further work is in progress. Other publications include David
Allan, The Ochil Hills – landscape, wildlife, heritage walks; Alloa Tower and the
Erskines of Mar; and the twice yearly Newsletter – October 2012 is no. 89, and there
are 5 yearly contents/indices.
Three local walks have been published – ―Memento Mori‖ - a guide to Alloa Old
Kirkyard, ―Alloa West Walk‖ – 19th
C development, Alloa East Walk – from Alloa
Tower includes part of former Mar & Kellie Estate and Alloa Harbour.
Membership is open to anyone with an interest in, or desire to support the aims of the
society in this field of Local Studies.
The society has a study / council room in Marshill House, Alloa. This has a small
collection of books, maps etc. which members are encouraged to use for reference or
study.
Contacts:- CFSS Chair, E. Stewart (tel: (01259) 216878)
or view http://www.cfss.org.uk