Orkney Image Library

Two questions which occur to me every time I walk up Gunn's Close but then go out of my head before I meet anyone who might know the answers: (1) Before its recent rebuilding the second house in from Victoria Street had a huge chimney stack which was at least twice as thick and twice as wide as the others in the close. Why? Had there been an inglenook or similar fireplace below it? (2) When so much trouble was taken to rebuild the houses in a style comparatively in keeping with their original appearance, why was the dyke opposite them only rebuilt to half its height, thus removing one of the main things that make a close a close?