Yo Retlaw!
I now have another theory.
As you are aware, the 1850's saw a great flowering in the introduction of foreign flora, fauna and the like into the British Isles (think of Darwin and Joseph Banks). One of the species intoduced was that of the Chile Pine - also known as the 'Monkey Puzzle Tree' - when fully grown, a reet monster of a thing.
So could there have been such a tree up 'yon? And could someone have built steps up to it? The timing seems about right.
It all makes sense to me
