Our Portmoak
Our Portmoak: Uncovering Stories from the Past
To celebrate
‘The Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology’ in 2017, Kinross
Museum collaborated with the community in the Parish of Portmoak in organising
a programme of events co-ordinated by Nicola Carmichael, Wendy MacPhedran,
David Munro and archaeologist Oliver O’Grady. Walks, talks, story
telling, archaeological digs and surveys and the recital of locally-created
prose, poetry and music from times past all featured in this year-long
series of activities generously supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund
and Historic Environment Scotland.
Below are some images of the community events that took place, along with
pdf and web links to some of the reports, surveys and publications generated
as a result of the research work carried out.
St Serf’s Island – a special place
In August 2017
there was a rare opportunity for members of the community to visit St
Serf’s Island on Loch Leven to learn more about the history of the
island and recent archaeological survey work carried out there.
A paper on St Serf’s Island by Dr Oliver O’Grady, published
in the Journal of the Tayside and Fife Archaeological Committee, can be
accessed via this This
Web LInk
Community Archaeology Programme – “What an amazing day!”
A major element
of the Our Portmoak year was the Community Archaeology Programme which
included geophysical surveys, Portmoak’s ‘Muckle Digs!’
and a heritage graveyard survey at Portmoak Parish Church. A summary report
of the community archaeological activities led by Dr Oliver O’Grady
is found by opening
The Our Portmoak Community Archaeology Report.
Loch
Leven Discovery Day - archaeology for all ages!
At the annual
Loch Leven Discovery Day held in the Kirkgate Park in Kinross, even the
youngest members of the community got a chance to be an archaeologist
at the Our Portmoak ‘dig box’.
In
search of the Ghost of the Gullet Bridge and the Rock of the Irishmen
In April 2017 local geographer and historian David Munro led
a community walk in search of places that feature in stories relating
to two old tales and legends. These stories were later written up and
published along with three other tales in a book entitled Carlin Maggie
and other stories from the Bishopshire, which can be read here
Portmoak
Stories told by Primary 4/5 – an enchanted island, an adventurer
and a spy!
Pupils at Portmoak Primary School in Kinnesswood had an opportunity to
be creative with help from local story teller David Munro and creative
workshop leader Tara O’Leary. Following a story-telling walk through
the village and onto the Bishop Hill, a publication was produced by the
pupils. This can be accessed here.
Memories
of Old Portmoak – remembering how it was
In a series of events bringing together several groups from the community,
memories were recorded of times past in Portmoak Parish – school
days, farming life, family history and the coming of gliding to Portmoak.
Time Travel
in Portmoak Moss
A walk through Portmoak Moss, a rare example of a raised peat bog, gave
members of the community young and old the opportunity to learn about
the use of peat as a fuel in the past and how peat is formed over thousands
of years. A sample brought up from 5 metres below the surface of the moss
revealed the remains of a 5,000-year-old hazel tree!
Mike Arrowsmith of St Andrews University has given us an opportunity through
3D-photogrammetry to look more closely at two historic stone monuments
at Portmoak Church. See the images on Page
two
