Soft Capping in Scotland: The context and potential of using plants to protect masonry
4.3
Species Survey.
Assessment from photographs by HL
D=Dominant, A=Abundant, F=Frequent, O=Occasional, R=Rare, VR=Very Rare, *=Present Common Name
Latin Name
Capping
Cottage by shore
Surr. Veg.
Comment
Grasses: Cock’s Foot
Dactylis glomerata
Common Bent
Agrostis capillaris
R
F
Creeping Soft Grass
Holcus mollis
O
F
Early Hair Grass
Aira praecox
R
Perennial Rye Grass
Lolium perenne
R
F
Red Fescue
Festuca rubra agg
D
O
Smooth Meadow Grass
Poa pratensis
F
F
Sweet Vernal Grass
Anthoxanthum odoratum
R
Cleavers
Galium aparine
R
Common Mouse Ear
Cerastium fontanum
R
Common Sorrel
Rumex acetosa
Creeping Buttercup
Ranunculus repens
Creeping Thistle
Cirsium arvense
Curled Dock
Rumex crispus
Daisy
Bellis perennis
Dandelion
Taraxacum officinale agg
Meadow Buttercup
Ranunculus acris
R
Mountain Sorrel
Oxyria digyna
R
Nettles
Urtica dioica
R
Ribwort Plantain
Plantago lanceolata
R
White Clover
Trifolium repens
F
R
O
Ruderals/Herbs: On lower ledges
R R
F VR R
R VR
O A
Trees/Shrubs: None noted Mosses/Ferns: None noted 4.4
Fauna:
5.0
Technique
5.1
Source of Technique:
None noted on the walls. Birds nest on the sheltered ground within the ruins.
The technique of the early repairs seems to have been a domed earth layer topped by turf. It is reasonable to suppose that this was applied sometime between 1911 and 1924 as part of early Ministry of Works conservation works. However it remains possible that the caps were made by Lethaby and the undated photographs were taken between phases of repairs in 1896-97. In any case, the technique was probably related to vernacular soft capping techniques in the north of Scotland and Orkneys, as illustrated at Dounby (CS8), while also being influenced by SPAB recommendations of the time. The recent capping technique aims to replicate the earlier method, with minor improvements. These cappings replaced areas of the earlier cappings that were failing.
5.2
Season of Work:
Early cappings, unknown. Recent cappings: Autumn 2003 and September 2004.
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