More stones

Backblip

We continued to empty the moat. At some point (probably in the 18th century) the water-filled moat was backfilled with boulders and rubble, then soil was dumped on top of this above the surface of the water, to make a dry garden. We were reversing the process, hoiking out the rubble in a thin soup of muddy sludge. As usual, as I was trying to get a sling round one of the stones to allow the mini-digger to lift it out, I realised that I hadn't taken off my watch. Well, it was filthy, but does appear to be waterproof...

Much excitement was generated by these carved stones. They are from the around the doorway (it is possible to see how the current front door is surrounded by a re-built bit of masonry). The stone to the left here has a groove in the surface which was probably for fixing a pintle (the metal peg which held one of the hinges) the other stone is a voussoir one of the stones that made up an arch over the door. Significantly, the yellow sandstone has been burnt red and black... this ties in nicely with records of the siege of 1645, when MacColla burnt his way in. History brought to life!

Edited to add: Saw the male Hen Harrier on the way back after work today. Still no photo.