Standing Building Recording

Date 18 December 2000 - 19 December 2000

Event ID 1029989

Category Recording

Type Standing Building Recording

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1029989

In view of the effects of weathering on elements of the two gun emplacements ( A and B ) overlooking the Tay estuary on the southern side of the Castle enclosure , a baseline survey was completed over 1 day.

The site was recorded via a full photographic record and measured sketches of both emplacements.

The gun positions are generally complete with much surviving detail of how the guns were supplied and powered . The range of storage spaces with their own fittings and constructional details , and the variety of cable fixings and tracks , are all evident at present but show signs of degeneration through weathering . Actual damage is most marked around the edges of the inner recessed squares of both A and B ( contexts F029 and F006 ) and is a product of standing water weakening the fragile edges of the recesses. Elsewhere damage due to weathering is reflected by spalling and cracking . The former is apparent at the northern edges of the gun platform , where water has apparently penetrated beneath the surface of areas F004 ( A ) and F030/031 ( B ). The former is worse than the latter and has resulted in cracking across the platform surface. The section exposed along the north edge of gun emplacement B , through the platform fabric, does not appear to have allowed the same penetration as in A, and also appears to be of a single phase of construction.

In general terms , cracking is evident in any of the exposed elevations and on those areas where the concrete is of finer mix than in the general fabric of the structure. – i.e. on the glacis surfaces , the gun platform surfaces and the face of the access stair in A.

Generally site A was more damaged than B , partly because it is a more elaborate structure with more surfaces to damage , and also because it is more exposed to the elements.

Ideally , both the sites should be drawn at 1: 20 in order to pick up all structural detail and because of the number of curved surfaces and elevations , the sites would be best presented as isometrics or cutaways . In all , this is quite a tricky exercise and would take at least 10 man days on site and probably similar off site .

Sponsor: Historic Scotland

G Ewart and A Hollinrake 2000

Kirkdale Archaeology