THE ARRAN BANNER 20 YEARS AGO

Saturday October 23, 1999

Oldest known dwelling house in Scotland

The remains of five large post-holes found in Lamlash could be the site of the oldest known dwelling house in Scotland.

The discovery was made at Glenkiln by experts from Glasgow University. Tom Finnie of the Heritage Museum has now visited the site with fellow local archaeologist Fiona Gorman and both are convinced about the significance of the find.

The five posts would have supported a shelter probably dating back some 10,000 years to Mesolithic times. The experts say that the shelter probably housed six or seven people and was one of a group of several for an extended family group of around 20. The timber posts could have been covered with a hide roof, a little like a teepee, and directly opposite the house was a row of stake-holes at frequent intervals facing south which Tom believes may have been a drying frame for fish (for food) and skins (for clothes).

Double bogey

Arran may soon have eight golf courses if a proposal by Machrie Bay Golf Club comes to fruition. They have been told by the owners of Dougarie Estate, who own their present course, that they will not renew the lease when it expires in 2002.

The club have offered to buy the land, but this has been turned down. However, it is understood that the Gibbs family intend to run the course themselves.

Now Machrie Bay members have been given the three options open to them in a letter from club captain Peter Emsley. They could develop a new course on land they can acquire at Ashlar Farm, or the second option is to become a club without a course and the third is to disband. Mr Emsley in his letter is urging members to vote to develop a new course.

01_B42twe05 Winners at the 1999 Lamlash Tennis Championships are back row: Jimmy Stewart, Alastair Glen and Campbell Seaton; front row: Eleanor Muirhead and Audrey McCrone.

01_B42twe02 The Glenkiln site of Mesolithic house taken from the main road south of Lamlash.

01_B42twe04 A year ago we reported on the Cordon footbridge over the Monamore Burn being swept away in the October floods. This week it has been replaced with a new sturdy structure which the builders say will be there for many years to come. Our picture shows Gareth Hopps and Anthony Brown applying the finishing touches.

01_B42two03 Forty years of the Brodick Friday Club were celebrated last week at a lunch attended by past and present members and committee along with their guests. The immediate past president, Mrs Grace Small, was presented with flowers as a token of thanks for her long years in office.

01_B42twe06 Notes from a Small Island was the title of a musical project which took place on Arran over the October holidays bringing together young musicians from North Ayrshire, Aberdeen city and South Lanarkshire which culminated in a concert in Lamlash Hall.

01_B42twe01 Tom Finnie and Fiona Gordon have visited the site of what could be Scotland’s oldest dwelling house.