The Rodney Stone, Brodie Castle

Day 8

To provide temporary protection from the prevailing wind, the National Trust for Scotland and artist Jon Warnes have joined forces in this very creative project.

Jon has woven a willow fence to compliment the interlace patterns on this Pictish symbol stone. The fence will help protect the stone until the newly-planted trees behind the it are dense enough to provide a natural windbreak. I like the idea of bringing together two artists working centuries apart.

The 9th century stone was found in 1782. It is a class II cross-slab with Pictish symbols and Ogham writing on one side and a cross on the other. After it was found, it was set up on a site in Dyke village to commemorate the victory of Admiral Lord Rodney over the French and Spanish fleets at Dominca in 1782. It was moved to this site in the castle grounds in 1842.