WWII remains at Rerwick, Tankerness (B Bell)
One day, last year, Mike and I went for a walk to Rerwick in Tankerness. It’s a place with a lot of WW2 buildings. This one fascinates me – it’s partly submerged now – half full of water. What interests me is….the lichen on the window-sill has formed a pattern. I like the combination of the colours – yellow black-edged lichen on the wooden window-sill and the grey concrete.
It’s a bit of Orkney history, quite near in time, yet – concrete and a wooden sill, and the lichen making patterns – patterns which look vaguely human, reminds me of some ancient rock art.
If folk are interested, they could go there and see for themselves. Rerwick is an un-usual kind of place – very peaceful, a fine piece of coast-line, yet with the war buildings sticking up all over the place. And this one is half under water – there are even steps going down to the door – under the water.
I think it’s ace.
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- Lichen B Bell
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- Lichen (B Bell)
Jeanne Bouza Rose
She’d had the idea for a while and had wanted to use it for the Shopping Week special day at Graham Place two years ago, but only got Jim Middlemass to make it last year. It was used at Shopping Week and at the Ness Open Days. It will be probably be appearing at the Ness Open Days this year, as well, in the Stenness School. Make a date for your diaries …July 16th and August 20th.
Bernie Bell is a regular contributor to The Orkney News
See also our articles on Bernie Bell’s Walks, World War II sites in Orkney to visit and one featuring the art of Jeanne Bouza Rose.
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I’ve just written this to someone, so thought I’d add it………….
“It is a good walk – lots of interest – if the tide is out, there’s a pool, nearly enclosed by the rocks. One time, when the tide was right out, we walked out along the stony bit that sticks out into the sea, on the left hand side. I wonder if folk used to maybe wait ’til the tide was in, then put nets across the gap at the end, then just harvest the fish, as the tide went out? If you go there, and the tide is out, you’ll what I mean.
The war buildings aren’t of inherent interest to me, but the rocky coast there, is great – monumental slabs of stone. Another thing I like about a walk at Rerwick, is the grand sweep of everything – great sweeps of the sky and of the land. We had a lovely walk yesterday – beautiful sunshine – V good.”