Measured Survey

We didn't have any cherubs helping us!

There was a young man(Kevin) who had graduated from Glasgow, and was working for the RCAHMS (see the list of links to the side of my blog) and he offered an extra survey if anyone was interested in it - using inexpensive and 'old-fashioned' tools that have been in use for hundreds years. 

Again, this would require drawing and measuring, so I signed up for it. Besides, I liked the idea of using old-school methods (of course!).

We went to the same area where we did the walkover survey - up past Baadhead farm, to another old farmstead - Scores Burn Farmstead - that had been marked as a sheep fold on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map (i.e. it had already been abandoned and turned into a sheep fold). 

The first thing we did was to walk around the farmstead, and do a rough sketch of what we found. Then Kevin showed us what to do next, we practiced a bit and he split us into two groups and we worked on different areas of the farmstead. 

A beautiful elm tree at the edge of the farmstead. I recognised it as an elm, as it reminded me of the tree that used to stand by our driveway in Utah.

The part of the farmstead re-used as the sheep fold. The pile of rocks in the corner indicates the remains of a twinning pen.

View from the farmstead.

The plane table and alidade! Very fun to use.

More views of the remains of the farmstead.

The roots of the elm. Notice the little pool. It reminded me of how Beccah, Morag & I always believed there were fairies living in our elm tree.

The branches.

Stopping for lunch (this photo was taken by Natalia, one of the girls in our group).

Doing the measured survey was so fascinating, because when we first arrived, all that was visible were a couple of building foundations. But after we explored and walked around, we discovered so much more! 4 to 5 structures, a quarry, and two corn-drying kilns.

After we were done, we walked down to Baadhead farm, and wandered around again, waiting for our lift. We spoke passionately of the shame of farms still being given up and abandoned.

The next day, Kevin put together all the drawings that we did, and that another group had done, and copied them off for us. Here is the drawing: