It is seven weeks until the target date for unveiling the graveslabs in their new home next to the War Memorial. There is still a lot to do but all of the strands of the project seem to be coming together. …
With all the many official negotiations completed, the second grant from Historic Scotland is now in place, and the project is fully funded.
The eight stones in Baligarve schoolroom are now ready for cleaning, conservation and repair. Colin Rowan plans to start this part of the work on 29 June 2015 and he expects the stones to be ready for mounting in the new shelter by mid-July.
Meanwhile, Clare Ellis returned to Lismore on a very wet day (21 May) to do the archaeological survey of the shelter site, at the same time digging down to bedrock for the foundations. In spite of getting totally soaked and filthy, she and Bob Hay found nothing of archaeological importance. The area has been very disturbed in recent times and all of the “finds” (sweetie papers, broken glass, plastic flowers, bricks, sheep shears and a whisky half bottle) were recent – litter or items falling down from the graveyard. Had we found a burial or a medieval relic the project would have been stopped in its tracks.
Medieval Graveslabs Project 6
Medieval Graveslabs Project 6
Medieval Graveslabs Project 6
At the same time, Alex Gourlay and Mike Rayworth have been making good progress with the shelter. The design, documented by Alex with detailed plans, was formally approved by Historic Scotland in May and the structure, in Argyll green oak, is nearly complete and ready for assembly – probably from 21 July.
Medieval Graveslabs Project 6
Because of the weight of the stones, it will be important to get the foundations right, gaining strength and stability from keying into the exposed bedrock. The cement and gravel have arrived, and Jim MacCormick will be casting them over the coming weeks, in time for the concrete to cure before the timber structure is installed. The opportunity will be taken to extend the concrete to the foot of the graveyard wall, providing extra stability to the wall.
Medieval Graveslabs Project 6
Medieval Graveslabs Project 6
Our funders, Historic Scotland and the Heritage Lottery Fund, are keen that we should provide clear, informative, attractive and bilingual (Gaelic and English) interpretation of the Graveslabs. The plan is to provide two boards next to the shelter: “The Stones and Their Symbols” and “The Stones and Their Carvers” and a further board on the wall nearer the church “The MacDougalls and Their Cathedral” to explain the relationship between the church and the stones. Lynn Vesco, CELM’s “preferred contractor”, who designed the banner boards for the museum, has the design of these boards in hand and it is hoped that they can be manufactured in time for August. Before then, we need to secure the approval of our funders for the designs. Dr David Caldwell has given valuable support in ensuring that the texts are accurate.
Continuing the series of descriptions of the graveslabs, the “Lady stone” is not the most artistic or skilful of the eight, but it may well be unique amongst the 800 or so West Highland graveslabs in the way that it portrays a medieval lay woman. Colin Rowan will have a major task in re-assembling the three pieces of the original stone.
Medieval Graveslabs Project 6
The Lady Stone shows an image of a woman with a well-developed bosom, arms akimbo, wearing a cote-hardie with long tippets on the sleeves. Her high-fashion clothes (14th C) show that she was a lay woman (not a nun) of very high status. She may originally have had a rosary in her left hand (now almost weathered away). It is hoped that, after cleaning, it may be possible to identify the small images at the top of the stone, one possibly a dolphin.
Medieval Graveslabs Project 6
