gb0551ms-36-35-169

Transcription

[Page] 168A
[Continued from page 168]

On the N. [North] side between the two upright pillars a thick
slab, squarish in section just shows at ground level.
This appears to have been the chamber of a
cairn the superstructure of which has been
entirely eradicated.

14th May 1912.

Set out early to visit certain forts on the
Coast between Gatehouse & Kirkcudbright
not overtaken last autumn. Bicycled past
Cardoness Castle and crossed the Fleet by
a wooden bridge then on the advice of my
assistant taking devious ways by farm roads
&c., which did not save time, to Knockbrex. I was
able, however, to make enquiries regarding the
underground "dwellings" reported as being on
the islands off Knockbrex and satisfied myself
that they were only smuggler's caves and
not worth a visit.

[Margin] Fort. Knockbrex.

Immediately to the E [East] of the gardener's house
at Knockbrex, which is approached by a
short roadway opening off the high road
opposite the S. [South] entrance to Knockbrex, is
a fort fashioned out of a long narrow
ridge by the formation of double trenches with
intervening ramparts across the
ridge at either end of the enclosure.
The main axis lies NE . [North East] and SW. [South West], along

[Continued on page 169]

[Page] 169
[Continued from page 168A]

which the enceinte measures about 100' and at
right angles to it near the centre 65'. From the
bottom of the ridge on the NW. [North West] side there is a
steep inclination of about 30' and on the
opposite side a rise of about 8'. The remains
of stone work are visible at the edge of the
scarp around the interior . At the S. [South]
corner a roadway some 10' wide opens on a
hollow in the interior around the inner
side of which there appears to be some
stonework. At the NE [North East] end the trenches are
some 20' in width and 8' and 11' in depth
while at the SW. [South West] they are about 26' in width
and 6' and 5'.3" in depth below the summit
level .

[Margin] Broch-like Structure. Kirkandrews.

This structure was excavated in 1906 by Mr
Brown of Knockbrex under the supervision of
the late Mr. Barbour whose plan and description
appear to be quite accurate and probably
cannot be improved on. ( see Pro.gs. [Proceedings] 1907. p. [page] 68 Vol. [Volume] 41)
Leaving our bicycles at Kirkandrews I had a
look at the stones in the old churchyard. One
took my fancy. It bore two nude figures, of
singular hideousness, hand-in-hand representing
a parent and child while beneath them
was the following doggerel verse.

[Continued on page 169A]