The Caithness Stone has stone has just arrived from Scotland!
A visit today to lettering artist Mark Brooks from Canterbury. The Caithness Stone has just arrived from Scotland for the two plaques we are commissioning as part of the ReQuest2021 project commemorating James Marr and Norman Mooney, the two scouts who took part in Shackleton’s Quest Expedition to the Antarctic in 1921. It is a beautiful stone, ideal for inscriptional work and has outstanding weathering capabilities.
Both stones will have the same design but will be different in size. The larger one will be sited in an appropriate place at Scout HQ Gilwell Park, and the smaller one will accompany the ReQuest2021 team on the expedition to Antarctica in the Winter of 2021/22.
The plaques will be a celebration of the two scouts’ participation in the expedition. We did not feel the need for solemnity, so Mark has designed them with bold energetic letter forms. Lively ligatures and playful nesting of letters are used in order that the letters fit neatly into a rectangular block and with an even pattern. We want the stones to be as visually engaging as possible. The letters are tightly and efficiently packed into the stones’ dimensions in order to reduce the footprint. The larger stone will be an echo of its smaller cousin.
I came across this interesting article while researching information on Sir Ernest Shackleton. I am a volunteer with the Wick Heritage Society and I am currently researching the history of a ‘distinguished visitors plaque’ in the town of Wick, Caithness. The plaque lists distinguished visitors to Wick 1850 – 1923. Among the names listed is Ernest Shackleton. Unfortunately I haven’t yet been able to find out a)when he visited the town or indeed b)why he visited.
Wick of course is in the County of Caithness and I see the two plaques mentioned on your website are commissioned as part of the ReQuest2021 project commemorating James Marr and Norman Mooney, the two scouts who took part in Shackleton’s Quest Expedition to the Antarctic in 1921 and I’m absolutely delighted to see that the plaques are being made of Caithness stone.
I am interested to know more about Shackleton’s visit to Wick and I would like to find out more information about James Marr and Norman Mooney. I am also intrigued to find out the reason for choosing Caithness stone for the commemorative plaques.
Kindest regards
Doreen
Doreen thanks so much for your interest in our project. Because Shackleton’s two Scouts were from Scotland we originally wanted to use Scottish stone for the plaques and actually acquired some Caithness stone. Very sorry to disappoint you – it is a remarkable material but unfortunately wasn’t suited for the use we had planned for it. We decided instead to get the most suitable material for our plaques and in the end have used Welsh slate. The final plaques to the two Scouts have now been produced. One has been installed at the UK Scout HQ Gilwell Park and one is destined for the Scottish Scout HQ Fordell Firs. So at least one will be sited in Scotland.
I was not previously aware of Shackleton’s visit to Wick so would also be keen to find out more in due course.