Kames Castle, Isle of Bute, Historic Building Record

This necessitated a detailed marking-up of existing architects' drawings with principal features, phasing data and significant analytical observations. It also entailed a narrative report describing the structure and its evolutionary history, and a detailed referenced photographic survey of all exposed masonry both externally and to the interior elevations. Externally the tower had long been encased in a cement-based harl, a finish that was considered to have adversely affected the condition of the structure. The present project involved removal of this surfacing material thereby allowing the building to dry out and to enable re-pointing to take place employing a lime-based mortar. Following removal of the harl the joints of the underlying masonry were cleaned out, with cement pointing removed so as to expose the underlying solid lime-based mortar. At this stage, when the building was at its most 'readable' state, recording work was carried out from the works scaffolding. Existing architects' as-existing drawings of the exterior (Simpson however a detailed hand-drawn survey proved an effective means of record. Addyman Archaeology undertook Historic Building Recording at Kames Castle, located 0.5km to the west of Port Bannatyne on Kames Bay on the Isle of Bute. The work focussed upon the principal monument of the site, a Category B Listed tower of late medieval date, carried out in response to a programme of repair that particularly involved the removal of cement finishes to the exterior and parts of the interior. The current works intend to convert the tower into holiday accommodation. Following removal of existing finishes the interior and exterior of the structure was examined from scaffold and analytical and phasing details annotated both onto existing architects' elevation drawings and new survey drawings. A general photographic record was maintained. The archaeological recording permitted a comprehensive reassessment of the architectural evolution of the tower whose austere external appearance was found to belie a complex structural history. It was concluded that overall the tower is a largely complete structure of earlier date than most commentators have suggested, perhaps datable to the 14th century.