EHG4255 - DBA and watching brief - Cameron Square, Fort William

Technique(s)

Organisation

Ross & Cromarty Archaeological Services (RoCAS)

Date

Feb 2014

Images (69)

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Location image of the cobbled surface in front of the alley entrance on the SE side of the West Highland Museum © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73642 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Image showing detail of the cobbled surface, overlying a thin yellow sand levelling layer over natural gravel © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73641 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Image showing detail of the cobbled surface, with service trench cuts visible © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73640 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Image showing detail of the cobbled surface, with service trench cuts visible © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73639 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Post-excavation image of cobbled surface in front of the alley SE of the West Highland Museum; images shows the cobbles extending below the concrete step, the only evidence that they probably continued fully down the alley/close © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73638 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Post-excavation image of cobbled surface in front of the buildings to the SE side of the West Highland Museum; service trench cuts within and adjacent to the feature are visible © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73637 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Post-excavation image of cobbled surface in the S corner of Cameron Square, in front of the buildings to the SE side of the West Highland Museum © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73635 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Mid-excavation image of cobbled surface during removal of overlying concrete step © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73633 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Looking down the close in the S corner of Cameron Square, along the buildings to the SE side of the West Highland Museum; the cobbled surface (F1) has become visible below a concrete layer © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73632 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Working shot, Cameron Square during refurbishment, showing the location of the Kennedy monument base © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73630 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Looking down the close in the S corner of Cameron Square, along the buildings to the SE side of the West Highland Museum; post-removal of concrete setts and showing concrete foundationss for old kerbs © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73629 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Working shot, showing the cobbled surface in front of the buildings on the SE side of the West Highland Museum © Lochaber Archaeological Society. id: 73627 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Post-excavation image of a the SSW-facing section through the 'V'-shaped drain; the image shows the thin slabs supported by a thick lime mortar layer overlying the natural gravel © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73626 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Post-excavation image of the SSW-facing profile of a surviving section of the 'V'-shaped drain in the N corner of Cameron Square; the image shows the profile of the cut through the natural gravel and High Street in background © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73624 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Post-excavation image of a surviving section of the 'V'-shaped drain; the image shows the thin slabs supported by a thick lime mortar layer overlying the natural gravel © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73622 (click to view a larger version of this image)

SSW-facing profile of a surviving section of the 'V'-shaped drain, post-excavation; the image shows the thin slabs supported by a thick lime mortar layer and the profile of the cut through the natural gravel © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73620 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Looking over the SSW-facing profile of a surviving section of the 'V'-shaped drain, mid-excavation; the image shows the thin slabs supported by a thick lime mortar layer © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73619 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Mid-excavation image of a surviving section of the 'V'-shaped drain in the N corner of Cameron Square © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73618 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Remains of the drain (F3), running NE-ward from the base of the Kennedy monument; the thin slate side slabs and thick lime mortar layer supporting the sides is visible © Lochaber Archaeological Society. id: 73617 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Remains of the drain (F3), running NE-ward from the base of the Kennedy monument © Lochaber Archaeological Society. id: 73615 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Location image of the drain (F3) where it terminated at the base of the Kennedy Monument © Lochaber Archaeological Society. id: 73614 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Image shows the 'V'-shaped drain in situ after lifting of a slate capping slab, which had been covered by the sand and soil layers in Cameron Square for 150 years © Lochaber Archaeological Society. id: 73613 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Looking through the 'V'-shaped drain, partially silted up in the base © Lochaber Archaeological Society. id: 73612 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Capping slabs for the 'V'-shaped drain running northeast-ward from the Kennedy monument © Lochaber Archaeological Society. id: 73611 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Kennedy monument base and NW wall face, post-excavation © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73610 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Kennedy monument base and NW wall face, post-excavation © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73609 (click to view a larger version of this image)

NW-facing section of monument base, NW end with service trench cut © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73608 (click to view a larger version of this image)

NW-facing section of monument base, N end © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73607 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Working shot with Kennedy monument base and West Highland Museum in background © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73606 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Recording of the monument base in progress © Lochaber Archaeological Society. id: 73605 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Recording of the monument base in progress © Lochaber Archaeological Society. id: 73604 (click to view a larger version of this image)

NW-facing profile of the Kennedy monument base showing the base of the electrical cable trench on the SW side of the structure © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73603 (click to view a larger version of this image)

NW-facing profile of Kennedy monument, showing lime mortar and sandstone/schist slab construction © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73602 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Kennedy monument base and NW-facing wall section, post-excavation, with the NW side of Cameron Square and High St in background © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73601 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Kennedy monument base and NW-facing wall section, post-excavation, with the N side of Cameron Square and High St in background © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73600 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Kennedy monument base and NW-facing wall section, post-excavation, with the N side of Cameron Square in background © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73599 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Kennedy monument base and NW-facing wall section, post-excavation, with West Highland Museum in background © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73598 (click to view a larger version of this image)

NW wall of the Kennedy monument, post-excavation, showing the rubble and gravel fill inside the structure © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73597 (click to view a larger version of this image)

NE wall and N corner of the Kennedy monument base post-excavation, showing the stone slab and lime mortar construction © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73596 (click to view a larger version of this image)

SE wall of the Kennedy monument, post-excavation, showing the rubble and lime mortar fill on the inside of the structure © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73595 (click to view a larger version of this image)

NE wall of the Kennedy monument base, post-excavation, showing the rubble and lime mortar fill on the inside of the structure © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73594 (click to view a larger version of this image)

SE wall of the Kennedy monument base with the electrical cable trench to right © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73593 (click to view a larger version of this image)

SE wall of the Kennedy monument base with the electrical cable trench running through it © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73592 (click to view a larger version of this image)

NW wall of the Kennedy monument base with the electrical cable trench running through it © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73591 (click to view a larger version of this image)

SW wall of the Kennedy monument base with the electrical cable trench to left (NE) © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73590 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Post-excavation image of NW-facing profile of the Kennedy monument base showing the base of the electrical cable trench on the SW side of the structure © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73589 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Post-excavation image of NW-facing profile of the Kennedy monument base showing two surviving courses over a natural gravel base; the /mortar rubble core at the interior of the monument wall base is visible in back © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73588 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Mid-excavation image of the Kennedy Monument base, showing the NW-facing profile and the square-shaped wall base comprising sandstone / slate slabs and schist stones with thick lime mortar fill © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73587 (click to view a larger version of this image)

The base of the Kennedy Monument showing through the a compact sandy soil layer © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73586 (click to view a larger version of this image)

The base of the Kennedy Monument showing through the a compact sandy soil layer © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73585 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Photo showing pit after removal of tree planter on N side of Cameron Square; photo shows topsoil over redeposited gravel © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73584 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Photo showing pit after removal of tree planter on NW side of Cameron Square; photo shows topsoil over redeposited gravels © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73583 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Profile of the foundation base of no.40 High Street, showing dressed stone below a sand layer underlying the present building base; this is a possible earlier building foundation with a mortar layer extending from the front © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73582 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Location of profile images 7-8, no.40 High Street © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73581 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Profile of the foundation base of no.40 High Street, showing dressed stone below a sand layer underlying the present building base - this appears to show an earlier building foundation © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73579 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Looking over Cameron Square to the West Highland Museum on the SW side of the square with no.40 High Street on the right © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73578 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Looking over Cameron Square at the start of the 2014 refurbishment during removal of concrete setts © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73577 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Image of Cameron Square at the start of the 2014 refurbishment works; removal of existing concrete setts in progress over the approximate location of the former Kennedy Monument; West Highland Museum (MHG17336) in centre background; © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73576 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Image of Cameron Square at the start of the 2014 refurbishment works; removal of existing concrete setts in progress © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73575 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Image of Cameron Square at the start of the 2014 refurbishment works; facing the West Highland Museum (left) with no.40 High Street on the right side © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 73574 (click to view a larger version of this image)

Documents (1)

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SHG26446_Cameron_Square_2014.pdf — Fieldwork report © Ross and Cromarty Archaeological Services. id: 120759 (click to open this file in a new window)

Description

An archaeological watching brief and desk-based assessment was carried out over multiple days within a three week period in 2014 by RoCAS as part of a refurbishment project of Cameron Square, Fort William. Three archaeological features comprising structural remains of earlier phases of the square were recorded during the fieldwork. These included the remains of a C19 monument, an associated 'V'-shaped drain and an area of cobbled road surface. <1>

Sources/Archives (1)

<1> SHG26492 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Peteranna, M. & Wombell, J.. 2014. Refurbishment of Cameron Square, High Street, Fort William: Archaeological Watching Brief. Ross & Cromarty Archaeological Services (RoCAS). Digital.

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Location

Location	Cameron Square, Fort William
Grid reference	Centred NN 1022 7390 (33m by 50m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NN17SW
Operational Area	ROSS SKYE AND LOCHABER
Civil Parish	KILMALLIE
Geographical Area	LOCHABER

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Record last edited

Jun 24 2015 11:51AM

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