Monumental makeover for Glenfinnan landmark
It takes a steady hand to repaint 520 letters on a 200-year-old plaque.
The plaque before its recent makeover.
And steady it was as Glenfinnan Monument National Trust for Scotland (NTS) enjoyed watching the 19th century marble being brought back to life - first removing the black algae and mould that thrives in our damp climate, then painstakingly cleaning the lettering before repainting it.
The marble plaque marks the day when Charles Edward Stuart gathered the Jacobite clans and raised their standard at Glenfinnan, beginning the 1745-6 Rising.
It remembers the "generous zeal, undaunted bravery and inviolable fidelity" of the Highlanders who "fought and bled in that arduous and unfortunate enterprise".
An old postcard shows the plaque in its original position.
When the National Trust For Scotland became custodians of Glenfinnan Monument in 1938, the plaque was fixed above the doorway.
The plaque was removed as part of restoration work the charity completed soon after it took ownership, including removing harling or render from the whole tower and taking it back to bare stone.
The plaque’s story after it was removed is an intriguing one.
"From reading archive letters, it would seem no-one thought it looked good above the door and, combined with structural challenges in returning it there, the decision was made not to reattach it," explained Emily Bryce, local NTS Operations Manager.
"After that, the plaque was offered to the Church of St Mary and St Finnan in the village - which politely turned it down - then the West Highland Museum which agreed to store it. But it was also suggested it be taken out into Loch Shiel and sunk to be rid of it."
Thankfully the plaque suffered no such drastic fate and was inserted into the interior side of the perimeter wall surrounding the monument instead.
"Before the monument came to us in the 1930s, it was in a derelict state," continued Emily.
"The render had fallen off the west elevation and its door was completely bricked up after someone stole the feather in the bonnet of the Highlander statue atop the tower.
"Conserving this 60-foot structure, built in 1815 on an exposed spot at the head of the loch, with shallow foundations on often-saturated shore gravels, is no easy feat, but it is an absolute privilege."
More conservation work is planned for later this year with every penny spent in the café, shop or car park at Glenfinnan helping to care for this special place. Visit Glenfinnan Monument NTS to keep up with all the latest news.
NTS is grateful for funding support from Historic Environment Scotland for this restoration project.
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