Progress on the main endeavour comprising factual reports, proper ‘how-to’ admonitions, howls of frustration and odes to joy!
A quiet Sunday, lots of brash and some stumps. A great way to develop a proper thirst over the course of a day.
With bonfire expertise provided by the inimitable Bruce Allen and labour by myself we burned through three and made inroads into another three. By the end of the operation access into the woodland at the top of Dunans policies was properly enabled.
The pints of Highlander were especially welcome that evening. Now all I have to do is put in the culverts!
The work by AOC to create a detailed laser survey of the castle has borne fruit in the most spectacular fashion. This fly-by generated by the data shows the level of detail that the technique has captured. We’re delighted because this represents a really detailed dataset from which drawings and plans can be elaborated – and all enabled by our Lairds’ and Ladies’ support.
We’re always delighted to work with Groupon, and this offer is no exception. There will be an opportunity to take up this offer until 2nd October, so plenty of time, and nice and early for Christmas!
Groupon offers like this have proved particularly important to the restoration project as they have brought us to a much wider market in the UK, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Without Groupon for example we would not have been able to move forward with the Conservation Plan as quickly, nor provided the match-funding for the restoration of the bridge.
For more information on what we are planning we have books, a Lairds and Ladies site, as well as the Dunans Castle Limited site.
(And for those of you who wonder about the technology which underpins our endeavours, we use a self-hosted WordPress blog, the wp e-commerce plugin and some very nifty proprietory addons to both – which enable both these offers and our other online operations.
We’re always innovating technically of course, and that’s one of my skills – I find the manipulation of mysql, php, css, etc. to make us a more efficient operation endlessly fascinating … for example, I have just realised that when entering voucher codes into our database, creating individual queries for each code is much more efficient – reducing input time from three hours to half an hour – more time to concentrate on the restoration project!)
The first of our gorgeous range of new wool items is now on our Scottish Laird website here.
We’re really proud of them, and will be adding more over the next couple of weeks. There will be various sizes of rug, a serape, a cap, waistcoat and other loveliness.
We’ll also be redesigning the website to make it much easier to get to the stuff you love – photos here by Jean Donaldson at Powan.
We’re awaiting the arrival of contractors for the investigatory works on the bridge, a meeting with the architect, and the reports on laser and bat surveys. In the meantime I am writing the business plan the bridge in order to consolidate the funding application to Historic Scotland. Its concentrated desk work, and for relief I took a walk in the pasture at the back of the castle yesterday, these photos are the result.
Following discussions with local transport providers we have decided it is about time to make some recommendations for Lairds and Ladies travelling to and from Dunans from Dunoon (and further afield as well).
Over the last couple of years we have been delighted at the service that Taxi George ( 07913 601442) has provided to both our friends and Lairds and Ladies. One of his first trips was with newly weds from California – and they couldn’t recommend his tour more. The photo above is taken on the way to Tighnabruaich with our dear friend Emma.
We also recommend David Morrison (07974597564).
In both cases we know our Lairds and Ladies will get a fair deal for the right price. We’ve left their details etc. on the “Visiting Dunans” page on our Lairds and Ladies website.
AOC have just posted a picture of their survey online: here it is and this is what they say about their work:
To fully understand the building and aid the restoration process, AOC was commissioned to undertake a detailed measured survey of the building comprising elevation drawings and floor plans (as much as these could be gained from the present access). By using a 3D laser scanner to complete the work, AOC’s team were able to complete the survey in a single day. 33 scans were completed in total with a final sampled pointcloud of 75 million points, creating a wonderful 3D image of the castle’s exterior. The problems with access to the interior were also partially overcome as the laser managed to shoot through the roofless entrance lobby and upper level windows to identify the basic floor plan; even internal features such as second floor fireplaces were identified, now hanging in mid-air after the collapse of the floor beams within. The survey was accompanied by over 900 high-resolution digital photographs of the external features of the castle to aid the survey and create a detailed record for use during the restoration programme.
To learn more about AOC please visit them here.
We’re delighted to announce that we are now selling the Dunans flag from the Scottish Laird website, here!
The flag which was first raised yesterday is a reflection of the Dunans Rising tartan and includes the Lairds’ and Ladies’ tartan logo at the centre of the Saltire cross. And yes, of course it also celebrates Scotland and its wonderful heritage!
While the last couple of weeks have included a well-earned break, we have also been working hard on the next stage of the Dunans project. In fact, if truth be told, the whole thing is rather taking off!!
The image shows what look like puffball mushrooms on the main lawn at Dunans, but are in fact essential placemarkers for the laser survey AOC carried out on Thursday. The results of which we’ll post as soon as possible.
The same day, well, evening we had the first of our ecological surveys, with 6 bat spotters onsite until 11 pm, recording all the bats that spin about our belfry!
And this Friday, myself, Robin (our architect) and Sadie went through statement of requirements for castle and ScottishLaird office. These are essential pre-requisites before the designing of space begins – a design which will use the laser survey as its basis.
On Saturday last, intrepid explorers made an extraordinary find in the River Ruel, just yards downstream from Dunans Bridge. On the sun-dappled riverbed, as if basking by a natural pool, the huge stone turtle was discovered by noted playwright and owner of Dunans Castle, Sadie Dixon-Spain. As she was later to remark, it is “an epic turtle”.
To purchase Sadie’s latest play, “The Alloway Rap”, please visit ScottishLaird.com
