Work continues on desk research and references while the survey progresses.  All the 1995-1997 materials have been converted to digital form and Fiona is working on the survey Introduction.  The Scheduled Monument Consent has been largely prepared and submission is pending completion of the June Survey.

Although not yet live, the site has been extended to unlimited pages and we are collecting historical materials. Beyond the information available on other sites, we hope to include images of the references themselves to support historical descriptions.

The Board met late this month (February 17). In addition to updates on progress, it was noted that photos were contributed to the RCAHMS site and links add in Wikipedia. More to follow ...

The Board met one week late this month due to our Holiday travels.  Given that there seems to be conflicting information published on the internet about Ellan Vhow, the Board decided that we should take on an additional $10 per month so that we can expand to unlimited site pages and strive to be the definitive source of Ellan Vhow information.  As with other EVPF expenses, the Board will donate to cover the costs of expanding the site. 

The process of collecting and maintaining accurate information on Ellan Vhow will be on-going, but we plan to have new pages and core content by the next monthly Board meeting.

We completed the digitization of the 1995-1997 Survey photos and video and will consult Firat Archaeological Services (Fiona) about potentially publishing some of these here.

We traveled from Houston to Loch Lomond December 28-30 hoping to get out to Ellan Vhow for more measurements and more comprehensive photographs.  The weather was cold and wet all three days, but it was ultimately the high winds that foiled us.  Bill Porter was our scheduled captain and Bill advised against travel to the island those days.  Bill is well known on the loch for fast cars and speed boats (amongst many other things) and we took it seriously when he suggested that we should plan to visit another day.  We did take some photographs from various places along the shore and it was clear that the vegetation was down on the island.  We may try again in March ... hopefuly for work with the tree surgeon in April.

We did meet with Fiona Baker and exchanged materials from the June survey.  We had a casual dinner at the Ardencaple there in Rhu and caught up on progress and plans.  Fiona was so kind as to invite us to her home for tea the following afternoon.  This was a wonderful treat. We got to see some of her special artifacts and to peruse her library!   We also did a bit more planning for the next phase of preservation works after tea and reviewed next steps for preparation of the June report.

We confirmed that completion of the June 2102 Survey is required for submission of the Historic Scotland Scheduled Monument Consent.   Fiona has loaned the originals of the 1997 photographs, slides and video to us ... which we will digitize and incorporate in the electronic June update.  Both Fiona and Tom Addyman, a standing building expert, will edit and update the significant archaeological content of the report.

We did manage to have a magical Hogmanay in Edinburgh (New Year's Eve) and an equally magical visit to the University of St. Andrew's on the 1st.  A trip to the British Museum rounded out our visit. All-in-all it was a great trip!

We aim to get the next round of work started in March or April, although time and government permitting, things may get going even sooner than that. Until then, a very Happy New Year from Scotland!

On our June visit to Ellan Vhow we discovered a dressed stone complete with groove for receiving leaded glass and a socket for an iron "ferramentum" to support the glass.

Tom Addyman of Simpson & Brown (and the standing buildings expert for our expedition) has provided the following description of the features of this stone.

The right hand side of your photo of the stone is the exterior of the window.  The chamfer at the angle would be visible externally. 

Running from right to left, after the chamfer there is the glazing groove – for 
leaded glass slotted in and affixed in place with lime putty. 

Inside this is  the socket – because it is inside the glass it is for an iron  cross-member –  a ferrimentum – this was to support the leaded glass panel – which
would be wired to it.  

Example of a ferramentum.

Behind that there is the
check or rebate/rybat  (sometimes called ‘rabbit’
..!), which is the  step-back at the inner side  of the window dressing (i.e. dressed stone) – this then angles back for the splay of the inner jamb (side) of
the window.

Similar dressed stones in a Campbell castle ruin near Grangemouth.  Viewed from the interior.

Again, thanks to all who are supporting the project!  So far the various Clan Macfarlane societies have published or are planning to publish articles about current and future projects and a number of independent groups are spreading the word as well.  We are in the slow part of the project ... preparing the paperwork and working with Historic Scotland for another "Scheduled Monument Consent", but are looking forward to Project 3 this winter.

We have added a Donors List to acknowledge some of those who have contributed to the project so far.  We have a larger number of anonymous individual donors than expected.  If you don't see your name on the list, please drop us an email at info @EllanVhow.org to give us permission to publish your name.   If  you already gave us permission by entering your name during the donation process and you don't see your name yet, we probably just haven't updated yet.  We will update the list every few weeks in batchs.

If you haven't seen the photos from the earlier projects, you will find them on the Ellan Vhow Images tab.  Take a look! 

Thanks again for all your support.  Soon the castle on Ellan Vhow will be seen again as it hasn't been seen in a hundred years!

Many thanks to all those who have donated so far!  We still have a ways to go to fund Project 3, but the planning and approval process is started.  Thanks!

We are in the process of arranging approval with Historic Scotland for the next preservation project ... hopefully to be carried out this winter.   As mentioned earlier, a mature Scots Elm just to the north of the cellar entrance is threatening the structure of the cellar (or Dungeon as it is often called).  We propose to coppice that Scots Elm to remove weight and strain from the cellar structure and to inhibit root growth.  A coppiced tree is cut approximately a  foot above ground level.  The tree remains alive, but focuses all its energy to new growth and has little root growth.  The expansion of penetrating roots will damage and destroy masonry walls over time.  We plan to use the same licensed tree surgeon we used for Project 2 and the work will be per the guidance of Historic Scotland and under the supervision of local archaeologist, Fiona Baker.  We hope to cut selected saplings that are penetrating the castle walls as well.

The most visible impact of the proposed project will come from the trimming of the ivy currently covering the castle walls.  The ivy will be cut back heavily ... removing weight from the structure and hopefully focusing the survivng ivy on new growth and reducing root expansion.  The ivy roots penetrate the masonry and if the ivy is killed, the roots die ... leaving voids.  Water can enter these voids and freeze damage can be worse than from the slow growth of the ivy.  The long-term best solution is probably to kill the ivy and repoint/consolidate the masonry.  That is a much bigger project than our current scope and a full archaeological study needs to be completed before such work would be approved.   

That comprehensive archaeological study could conceivably be an extension to Project 3 ... depending on available funding ... but it likely a separate project in itself.

Trimming the ivory and coppicing selected trees will give us our castle back, however.  Hopefully, next summer's visitors won't have to imagine that the "tree with a window in it" is our castle. 

The Ellan Vhow Preservation Fund is a non-profit corporation registered in the state of Texas.  We are in the processing of filing for 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, but that process takes time.  Given the contained scope of our planned projects, we believe we automatically qualify to receive tax exempt donations under the Gross Receipts Exception without filing. We are continuing with the filing process and we understand that is retroactive when granted.  As always, donors should consult their accountants if there is any concern.  (Thank You!)

We have added a "Make a Donation" button to the home page to receive Credit Card and PayPal donations through a secure PayPal site.  It is not very elegant, but it will serve our purpose near term.  Click "Not a PayPal Member" to see credit card payment options.

We will continue to update the site and we do appreciate all the support we are receiving! 

Thank you!

Since our first post, we have contacted all three Clan Macfarlane societies that we are aware of.  All indicated that they supported protection and preservation of Ellan Vhow.  Some of these may have their own plans for preservation and archaeological projects and this effort should not interfere with those plans.  We hope that this project will get proper preservation work started and that it will make it easier for others to follow with subsequent works.

To that end, the EllanVhow Preservation Fund will be supported by donations from individuals interested in supporting Ellan Vhow preservation without regard to clan or society affiliation.  It will operate independently and will not accept funds directly from any of the known Clan Macfarlane societies.  It will hope to benefit all Macfarlanes and all others who might enjoy Ellan Vhow and its heritage.

We will be setting up mechanisms to accept donations via the web and via email.   We will publish progress and account for all project costs. 

In the States, today is a day for contemplation, a day for each of us to ponder our role in this world, and a day to count our blessings.  It is a fitting day for a first post.  

There have been disputes amongst and within clans for centuries.  We are aware that some still exist today.  We also know that all Macfarlanes and all who appreciate Ellan Vhow are squarely in favor of properly supervised efforts to preserve and protect it.  To that end, we have formed a separate, independent non-profit organization as a focal point for support of preservation works there.  We will welcome all support.  All those who we have been able to contact so far have been very supportive and we are very grateful for that support.  We will continue to reach out to others who have an interest in EllanVhow and know that we can count on their full support as well.

We are trying this week to submit an initial article to the three Macfarlane societies that we are aware of ... to begin to make others aware of the project and of how it came about.  Of course, our hope to is build support for basic preservation works on the island.   Ellan Vhow is a very special place and it is important to "preserve" it for this and future generations.

"Preserve" is an important word.  It states that the goal is not to change EllanVhow, but to maintain it against the natural forces of decay so that its natural beauty and its history can be enjoyed.  Our focus will initially be on managing the particular trees and foliage that threaten the historic buildings.

Our first work came as a result of a photographic archaeological study of the island this summer.  There is one natural entrance to the interior of the island and a fallen tree was blocking that entrance.  This was diverting the heavy summer visitor traffic across the east wall of one of the outbuildings and it was already showing damage in June.  Given the urgency, we were able to get a Scheduled Monument Consent from Historic Scotland in record time to remove that fallen tree.  It was removed by a licensed tree surgeon in August under the supervision of Historic Scotland and three local archaeologists.  The trip was sponsored by the directors of this organization.

We will strive to ensure that all works will meet with and will be advised by Historic Scotland standards and that works will be supervised by archaeologists where appropriate.

Those of you who have visited the island know that there is an intact cellar or "dungeon" as it is called locally.  A mature Ulmus Glabra (Scots Elm) tree sits just north of the dungeon entrance and is threatening the struture.  Ivy has overtaken the castle itself and saplings grow from the walls and wallheads.  After discussing with Historic Scotland on site, we are proposing to coppice the Scots Elm tree and to cut back the ivy on the castle walls.  Our proposal is to work with Liam MacKenzie (the tree surgeon who helped us in August)  under the supervision of Fiona Baker, Director of Firat Archaeological Services. 

We are now in the process of writing up the archaeological results of the June survey and seeking approvals for the proposed works mentioned above.  Longer term, in discussion with Historic Scotland, we may propose more permanent removal of the ivy as well as masonry work to preserve the castle walls. It will be important to do a proper, full archaeolgoical survey of the site as soon as reasonably possible.  

More to follow!  Loch Sloy!