An update from Christopher Irving, Laird of Bonshaw Tower, June 23, 2024
Meantime, the tower has been put back in order after the central heating leaks. The tower passageway and Chief’s Room look great. Next on the list is hanging lots of recently re-framed pictures in the Laird’s bedroom and getting a new rope for the stairs. The rope is a slightly fiddly and detailed piece of work, which I am hoping to get someone in to help with. This weekend, as well as spot- spraying the fields to keep the weeds down, splitting and stacking more logs for the winter, we have been spraying the sandstone walls, urn bases and flagstones at low level with a treatment that stops algae growing on it, as well as clearing twigs from the tower parapet, which jackdaws repeatedly drop on it.
You will recall that Alastair Maxwell-Irving died earlier this year. Some of his books were left to the National Museum of Scotland. He very generously passed on many of his books to us. As well as being beautifully bound, leather books, many are of significant interest for both the Irvings and more widely for students of Scottish history. You will be able to see them in the library and in the Family Archive Room we have created near the kitchen.
(Clan Irwin Association is sponsoring a trip to Scotland in May 2025 and one stop will be at Bonshaw Tower. For information contact Mary Erwin, Chairman, [email protected].)