[ad_1]
The splendid Muckle Mouthed Meg sculpture, carved with a chainsaw by the renowned Sam Bowsher, sits proudly in the forest with a view of the historic ruins of Elibank Castle in the distance.
It replaces the previous work of art depicting the Meg and her husband William Scott which was removed five years ago.
The story of Muckle Mouthed Meg and William Scott is one of two feuding Borders families brought together by marriage – but it’s far from your usual love story.
For William Scott, of the Scotts of Harden, was sentenced to death after being captured following an unsuccessful attempt to steal cattle from Sir Gideon Murray on the lands of the Murrays of Elibank.
But Lady Murray had other ideas and convinced her Sir Gideon to offer the prisoner the choice of death, or marriage to their only unmarried daughter Agnes – she of the Muckle Mouth whose ugliness was well known throughout the Borders.
Eventually he chose marriage and it’s said the couple lived happily ever after, having eight children and helping to unify two feuding families.
At the unveiling of the sculpture, Mary Kenny brought the story to life while Keith Murray-Hetherington, Head Trustee of the Murray Clan Society spoke of the clan’s gratitude.
Mr Bowsher said: “It was a really fun piece to do and something very different to what I’ve done in the past. Obviously in the story, she’s known as not being especially attractive so that was a challenging thing to bring to life because you want to carve it well enough for it to be a good carving, but you are kind of trying to make the person unattractive.
“The carving came from a Western redcedar log in Lochgoilhead. I started with a round log and then cut two bits for the two profiles and then draw and carve from there. You start from a big block of wood and then refine it, refine it and refine it and eventually you get what you’re after.
“I was doing nine hour days and it took about a week to carve but then I left it for a month so the surface would dry and take some treatment. I’ve stained it brown and that always does better if it’s a public carving where people are going to be touching it.”
He added: “It’s a wonderful setting. I’d never actually been here before or saw the carving that it replaced but it’s the perfect spot for it with Elibank Castle in the distance. I’m really pleased and hopefully it lasts a long time.”
The piece was commissioned by Forestry and Land Scotland.
[ad_2]
Source link
