Moray ice house project unearths links to area's rich history
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A PROJECT to develop a Portgordon landmark has uncovered more than than was bargained for.
Gollachy ice house, which sits just outside the village to the east, was bought by Brigid Aitken who won planning permission to turn the derelict building into a cafe and community facility.
However, during initial building work, a cobbled courtyard next to the structure was discovered along with a whole host of other artefacts which give a glimpse into the ice house's past.
Now a small team of archaeologists from Highland Archaeological Services Ltd, led by Lachlan McKeggie, have been investigating the site to reveal and record the full extent of the find and discover more about the history of salmon fishing in the Portgordon area.
Taking the chance to acquaint themselves with a piece of local history and visit a live archaeological dig were two classes from Portgordon Primary School, who were taken on a fascinating tour of the dig, the ice house and some of the artefacts uncovered by the team. These included a diverse range of objects from an animal bone through to tools and a variety of ironwork.
Mr McKeggie noted that the finds unearthed so far indicated that the ice house and surrounding area were used for far more than just storing catches prior to transport to markets, with various crafts such as barrel and box making quite likely practised there.
He continued: "We've been working here on and off at the site for a couple of years and we're now near the end of our dig.
"The cobbled courtyard was probably used for a wide range of purposes, from tarring ropes through to acting as a hard standing area for horses and wagons.
"Indications are that there were two outbuildings here at one time as well as the ice house, which we reckon was probably built around the end of the eighteenth century or early in the nineteenth century. The outbuildings could have been used for a number of purposes, including as a stables.
"We've uncovered a huge quantity of artefacts, including nails, pins and tools, which indicate a whole range of activities connected to the fishing industry were conducted here, not just the storage of fish. There was far more here than I expected to find, to be honest.
"The final thing we'll be doing is sending a drone up to get pictures so we can create a 3D model of the dig and the surrounding area."
The discovery of the cobbles and other artefacts came as something of a surprise for Ms Aitken.
She said: “I am delighted to be sharing this discovery with the local community and to welcome the pupils from Portgordon Primary School.
"I will be keeping everyone informed of progress as the project moves forward.
"Uncovering the cobbles certainly wasn't what I expected; I thought we'd maybe find something here from the ice house's fishing past but nothing like this. The cobbles are lovely, really amazing and we'll be looking to protect these during the development."
Ms Aitken's plans for the 19th century ice house include creating a cafe and a visitor centre, along with a space for art exhibitions, yoga classes and pilate sessions. The spot is also popular with sightseers who come to view the seals who often congregate just off the coast there.
She went on to say that prior knowledge of the area and its popularity had been a key figure in her decision to breath new life into the B-listed building.
"It will be there for the community," she added.
The opportunity for the primary youngsters to see first hand local history literally being uncovered was one very much appreciated by the school's headteacher Karen Murray.
She said: "We were delighted to receive Mrs Aitken’s kind invitation for classes to visit the Gollachy Ice House and hear about the archaeology work that is being undertaken.
"The ice house site is an important link to the fishing industry of the past and this was a wonderful opportunity for pupils to learn more about the history of our community.
"All of the pupils enjoyed their visits and were fascinated by the work of the archaeologists, as their numerous questions showed.
"With all the current restrictions, arranging school visits is not easy at the moment so we are very grateful to Mrs Aitken for allowing the whole school to visit the site and ensuring all safety guidelines could be adhered to. We are sure the pupils will be very interested in watching the work at the ice house as the project continues."
A website dedicated to the project is due to go live in a couple of weeks where updates on the development and other activities will be posted.
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