Excavation at Cammo
Mondays – volunteers meet at
Cammo Lodge, Cammo Road, EH4 8AW at 9.55am
EAFS members have been excavating ruined buildings on the Cammo Estate, near Barnton, Edinburgh since 2017 (see Projects). Currently the main focus of interest is in the Walled Garden where we are attempting to identify the extent of the 18th and 19th century glasshouses. We are also digging the site of an outbuilding to try and ascertain its previous purpose.
Volunteers, with or without previous experience, are welcome to join us every Monday, weather permitting. Please contact us for more information and details about time and place.
2025 September – 2026 May Dig Report
As reported previously, since November 2024 EAFS has been working in the centre of the Cammo Walled Garden. When the excavation was started, the whole area was covered in ivy and brambles, with only a dressed stone and a few bricks poking through the undergrowth. ...
2025 April to August Dig Report
In March I reported that we were making a final attempt to uncover a central entrance to the large 19th century glasshouse situated against the north wall of the Cammo Walled Garden. Nothing was found to indicate there had been any opening at the centre of the long...
2025 January – March Dig Report
We returned to Cammo at the beginning of February after our winter break. Once the consolidation work being carried out for City of Edinburgh MDC had been completed on the walls, including clearing the ivy and undergrowth, we returned to the Walled Garden. One group...
2024 January – December Cammo Dig Report
Since December 2023, we have completed clearing the ‘potting shed’ and small greenhouse on the outside of the south-east corner of the Walled Garden. Nothing new was discovered. A few more areas of the glasshouse on the north wall were investigated and many of the...
2023 August – December Dig Report
Excavation of the glasshouse in the Walled Garden continued from August to December and a third slate tank was found, very much where it would be expected, all three being a similar distance apart. Other than that there have been no significant finds, small or large,...
Scottish Archaeology Month – Cammo Open Day
As part of Scottish Archaeology Month, EAFS will be holding an Open Day at the Cammo Estate, Barnton, on Monday 4 September from 10:00 - 3:00. There will be guided walks of the excavations at 10:30 and 1:00 plus the opportunity to try your hand at digging (tools...
2023 March-July Dig Report
March to July Since February we have been continuing to work on the glasshouse in the Cammo Walled Garden. We have uncovered a large part of the foundations and are getting closer to explaining the mysteries of its structure and usage. Clay drainage pipes,...
2023 January/February dig report
Excavation in the Walled Garden continued through January and February. We are gradually clearing the foundations of the Victorian glasshouse that leaned against the heated, south facing, north wall. The excavation is very much about uncovering structures and we do...
2022 December dig report
December Excavation in the Walled Garden continued until Monday December 12th. The weather was cold but, undeterred, a handful of members continued to clear more of the site, cleaning more of the edging tiles and around the zinc water tank. The bottom of the tank...
2022 November dig report
Start of November The end of the pipe, still of unclear purpose. Was it for drainage or to carry water or heat? Hopefully further excavation and research might provide a few answers ... or maybe not. Never ending questions and mystery are so much part of the joys of...
2022 October 31 Monday dig report
We were lucky with the weather. Work in the Walled Garden led to our finding the end of the enigmatic pipe, only for the puzzle to continue - it met another pipe at right-angles!