THE Living Lomonds Landscape has completed the Lochore Castle-Big Dig, a community-based archaeology project, which excavated three trenches at Lochore Castle and the results of the venture will be made public over the coming weeks.

Volunteer archaeologists gave a combined total of 135 days of their time at the 900 year-old castle on the road leading to Lochore Meadows Country Park, to uncover the hidden history of this part of Benarty heritage.

While many of the volunteers came from the local area, some came from as far afield as Bathgate and Stenhousemuir. All the volunteers shared a common passion for archaeology and local history; however one volunteer had a very special reason for signing up.

Elizabeth Vallance, from Stenhousemuiur, believes that she may be related to the Valance (Valoniis) Family, originally from northern France who were the Lords of Inchgall Castle (Island of Strangers), the other name for the ancient structure, from around 1296 until the early 15th Century.

Elizabeth’s father, Andrew, has been researching the Valance family tree for many years and believes that they may have links to Adam de Valoniis, originally from Torry Estate, in Dunfermline.

Audrey Peebles, of Living Lomonds, said: "Adam is thought to have married the eldest daughter of Sir David Lochore and then gone on to construct a stone built castle on the site near the entrance to the country park.

"In fact the site’s old name ‘Inchgall’ Island of Strangers, probably refers to the Valoniis or their predecessors in the Lordship of Lochore, who would have spoken an early form of English and French, as this was very much the language of court at this time".

Audrey explained that Elizabeth came across the ‘Lochore Castle- Big Dig’ on social media and she and her partner William signed up to become volunteer archaeologists.

Said Elizabeth: "My first visit to Lochore Castle, my first taste of archaeology at a site that may well be part of my family’s past, was just fantastic.

"I found a piece of medieval pottery, which added to the whole experience. We will be following the progress of the works of the castle with a special interest over the coming months."

The de Valoniis dynasty made their mark on history, with individuals holding influential roles, both in England and Scotland from the time of William the Conqueror. Philip de Valoniis held the office of Lord High Chamberlain during the reign of Malcolm IV.

Tangible reminders of the family’s power and wealth during their residence at Lochore were found during the dig. These included sherds of imported glazed pottery dating to the 14th and 15th century and probably from continental Europe, which would have graced the Vallance feasting table when entertaining powerful guests. Fragments of diamond-shaped window glass panes from the 15th century, known as leadlight, were a rare luxury in domestic buildings of the time. Details like this help to bring the opulence of the castle back to life in the mind’s eye.

Audrey concluded by saying that the conclusions of the Big Dig – Lochore Castle, including scientific analysis of core samples and carbon dating will be shared locally at a public event and exhibition in the coming months and a detailed report will be made available through the Living Lomonds website www.livinglomonds.org.uk.