ARCHAEOLOGISTS have successfully identified the original shape and size of one of the country’s oldest bowling greens – enabling its restoration.

An appeal for information is now being made after last week’s dig at Stirling’s Cowane’s Hospital exposed a minor canine mystery when the team uncovered the skeletons of two dogs, one with a bowl, possibly from the mid-20th century.

One of the small trenches dug by Edinburgh-based Addyman Archaeology also gave a glimpse of the far more distant past with the discovery of stonework that could be evidence of the buildings demolished in the 1630s to make way for Cowane’s.

The hospital, an almshouse funded through a deathbed 40,000 merk bequest by wealthy local merchant John Cowane, and its grounds are the focus of a £3 million restoration project to save them and give them a sustainable future at the heart of the community.

The grounds were redesigned in 1712 by the Earl of Mar’s gardener, Thomas Harlaw, creating the bowling green, terraces and Dutch parterre with gravel paths running in curved patterns round planted areas.

Philip Karsgaard, Addyman Archaeology project officer, said: “It was a great week and was very successful in identifying the original footprint of the 1712 bowling green and garden, which are needed for the restoration.

“We didn’t know whether the site had been entirely cleared before Cowane’s was built, but stonework in one trench suggests that there may be whole other layers of archaeology surviving underneath.

“We know that demolitions took place to make way for the hospital and this gave us a tantalising glimpse of what could be the remains of a building from the early 17th century, or before.”

The work has all been financed through the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Groups from Raploch Primary, Stirling High, Allan’s Primary and Wallace High also came along and pupils had the chance to do some excavation work themselves, sieve earth for finds and learn about metal detectoring.

Rob Robinson, Cowane’s Hospital Maintenance Trust project development manager, said: “This excavation will provide us with vital information to help restore the bowling green – which is a fascinating piece of Scottish history – as well as the gardens to how they were more than 300 years ago.

“The discovery of two carefully buried dog skeletons, perhaps much-loved pets, was also rather touching – especially as one of them was with its dish and bowl. These suggest that they date from the 20th-century, perhaps as long ago as the 1940s.

“It would be lovely if there was still someone out there who could tell us their names and who they belonged to.”

The archaeologists have backfilled the trenches and returning the site to how it was when they arrived – including the dogs’ graves, which have been left intact.

Cowane’s Hospital recently secured a stage one Heritage Lottery Fund pass and is now developing the project and working towards a full application to restore the hospital and gardens and to open them fully to the public.