Pitmuies

NO54NE 69 5675 4980

NO 5670 4983 An archaeological investigation was carried out of a mainly drystone well in August 2001. The well was discovered during the digging of a service trench in connection with restoration works of steadings (NMRS NO54NE 69) that form part of a Grade A listed group of buildings at House of Pitmuies (NMRS NO54NE 26).

The well capstones were discovered some 0.5m below a layer of hard-standing surface and made-up ground. The well was a more or less cylindrical structure (i.e. not tapering) and sub-circular in plan, measuring 1.12 x 1.15m, and penetrated the ground for approximately 4m. The uppermost course of stone walling directly beneath the two capstones covering the well shaft was mortared, as were the capstones. A timber beam appeared to have been embedded into the side of the well about halfway down the shaft. A small sample was retrieved and identified as coniferous; this may be significant in that the use of conifers as a building material only occurs after the late 17th/early 18th centuries.

Sponsor: Pitmuies Partnership.

D Rankin 2001a