On our way up to the lighthouse we passed
Little Ross cottages. At one time the lighthouse keepers' families lived on the island and helped support themselves by farming.
The weather cock had rusted solid as there was a strong north wind blowing.
The row of cottages was built on a steep slope so although the walls were vertical, their tops sloped downhill.
The first cottage was used as a smithy.
The sandstone blocks to the side of the fireplace had symbols carved into them.
I have no idea what they mean.
We proceeded down the sloping "street" to the bottom house where the gate was...
...secured by this beautiful brass latch inscribed NL which I think might be short for Northern Lighthouses.
Once through the gate we entered the former vegetable garden which the island's current owners now keep as a mixed garden. These thistles were just past flowering but...
...their seed heads were very decorative,
The lighthouse towers above the walls which shelter the allotment.
The owners have built a summerhouse on a boat shaped deck. Ian enjoyed a moment on the bow but this boat wasn't going to hit any icebergs.
It truly is a beautiful spot and the ship summer house has...
...a lovely view. On leaving we were careful to secure the door against any coming storms.
This old sundial was more decorative than functional as it was still in deep shade. Maybe its owner was a late riser?
Although a very different age, those symbols are very reminiscent of the mason's marks on the sandstone blocks of the 900-year-old St. Athernase kirk, where we spent this past year. Was that really Ian? Sure looked like Leonardo DiCaprio on the bow of the boat...evidence of the iceberg strike too! :) Warm wishes to you, Douglas.
ReplyDeleteHi Duncan thanks for the tip about mason's marks, I started an internet search for freemason's symbols but they were very different! Yes Ian took some ribbing for that pose! :o)
Delete....and even more ribbing for the Celine Dion sing-a-long !
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And I thought the heron duet at midnight was bad! :o)
DeleteDouglas, They are Mason's marks. Every stonemason has his own mark which identifies his work. This tradition is continued in the Mark degree of speculative freemasonry, and every Mason is able to choose or design his own mark, but it must consist of straight lines, may not be an equilateral triangle (this is reserved for the Mark Master of the Lodge), and may not be the same as any other Mason's mark in that Lodge.
ReplyDeleteIn modern times they are usually found in the North East corner of the building, which is where the foundation stone is traditionally laid. These stones may have been re-used from an earlier building.
Stewart
Thank you Stewart, I am sorry for the delay in replying, I have been ill. That is very helpful information about the mason's marks thank you. :o)
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