Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Archaeological Evaluation
October 2003
Braehead Cottage, Thorntonhall – Archaeological Evaluation
Overview
This Data Structure Report presents the findings of the archaeological evaluation, which took
place in support of the proposed residential development at Braehead Cottage, Thorntonhall.
These archaeological works were commissioned by Adams Partnership, on behalf of
Springfield Homes.
The development area concerned is a triangular plot of vacant land containing an industrial
continuous limekiln, which had been identified by West of Scotland Archaeology Service.
Several other features of post-limekiln occupation of the site including the now disused
cottage are also present on-site.
South Lanarkshire Council has received the planning application for the development of two
residential units on the site. As part of their determination process, after advice from the
West of Scotland Archaeology Service, they required the implementation of an
archaeological evaluation to determine the nature, extent and significance of archaeological
features on-site.
Rathmell Archaeology Ltd was appointed to act on behalf of Adams Partnership with regard
to the archaeological requirements of South Lanarkshire Council. The project works were
agreed with West of Scotland Archaeology Service have been designed to comply with the
requirements identified by Mr Hugh McBrien (West of Scotland Archaeology Service),
archaeological advisor to the planning authority.
Project Works
The programme of works agreed with West of Scotland Archaeology Service comprised an
archaeological evaluation. This evaluation took place prior to any other development work,
taking place between the dates of 13th September 2003 and 16th September 2003 inclusive.
The initial assessment of evaluation work required at this stage of development was based
on information provided by West of Scotland Archaeology Service and also by Adams
Partnership. The nature of the work to be undertaken was agreed with West of Scotland
Archaeology Service prior to the commencement of the evaluation.
The evaluation was carried out to assess the extent of the archaeology related to the limekiln
within the development area, specifically to determine:
1. the location and character of the Kiln Pot of the Continuous Limekiln;
2. the character of the infill of the Kiln Pot;
3. the location of the edge of the quarry scoop into which the Continuous Limekiln
has been constructed;
4. the character of the infill of the quarry scoop.
The substance of works was agreed as six trenches each 2m by 0.5m and 1m deep located
to address these four objectives. These were agreed as an adaptable response due to the
uncertainty of the character of sediments on-site, the constraint from Tree Preservation
Orders (necessitating hand excavation) and the paucity of information available on the site.
All works were carried out in accordance with the Institute of Field Archaeology Standards
and Policy Statements and Code of Conduct and Historic Scotland Policy Statements.
The operation and constituent elements of a Continuous Limekiln
The differing elements of the limekiln discussed below are all elements of a coherent
industrial process developed in the eighteenth century and reaching its flourit in the mid
nineteenth century.
In sequence, Limestone and Coal must be delivered by wagon or similar to a Charging
Platform. From here it is loaded in layers into a Kiln Pot, effectively a lined vertical shaft that
tapers to a point at its base. At the base of the Kiln Pot is the Kiln Eye, a small access to the
base of the Kiln Pot from a Draw Chamber. A fire, set within the limestone and coal in the
Kiln Pot, produces a chemical reaction. When calcium carbonate is burned the end products
are carbon dioxide and quicklime (calcium oxide). The quicklime remains in a lump or
powdery form known as roach lime or lime. The resultant lime is drawn off from the base of
the Kiln Pot, through the Kiln Eye, into the Draw Chamber. Here the lime can be packaged
into wagons and carried away, a process that must keep the lime dry.
A continuous limekiln can be run for 2 to 3 years before the Kiln Pot needs to be relined, the
fire being kept at mid height in the Kiln Pot by the addition of more layers of limestone and
coal as the lime is drawn off. The character of the vertical shaft of the Kiln Pot necessitates a
considerable drop between the Charging Platform and the Draw Chamber, although there
must be road access to both using gentle gradients. This drop is usually achieved by building
the limekiln into a steep slope, retaining the fill material with a massive masonry façade.
Commonly there is a link road between the Draw Chamber and the Charging Platform.
Findings: Evaluation
The Limekiln façade, incline and draw chamber
The development area is a triangular area of ground that has a limekiln at the broader,
western, end with the later cottage standing a the eastern end, where the existing road
access is. The most visible feature on site is the façade of the limekiln, orientated north to
south and standing some 7m high, facing east. The masonry Façade, that is substantially
intact, is totally overgrown with ivy and has a series of yew trees on the parapet. At the base
of the Façade, the ground is some 6m beneath the adjacent public road, to the immediate
north, and a steady incline runs east to meet the falling ground on which the public road runs.
At the base of the Façade is an archway to a vaulted draw chamber aligned east to west,
some 6m deep, 5.6m broad, 2.35m at the centre and 1.2m high at the wall. The interior of the
Draw Chamber has been used to dump all forms of material (eg domestic refuse, washing
machines and cookers).
Two Kiln Eyes were identified in the Draw Chamber as minor arches, one in each
longitudinal wall, at maximum distance from the entrance. The northern Kiln Eye was of
masonry construction, the southern of fire brick construction. Each was roughly 1m broad.
Both arches were blocked by later masonry although the northern blocking had collapsed
spilling out a soil matrix and exposing a vacuous rubble fill behind. Both Kiln Eye arches had
cast iron furniture beneath their arches.
The presence of two Kiln Eyes implies the two Kiln Pots and a symmetrical arrangement for
the overall structure. Indeed the stonework of the vaulting over both of the Kiln Eyes appears
to have begun to spread and drop presumably as a result of the loading of the filled Kiln
Pots. Probing suggested that the stone floor of the draw chamber was 100mm beneath the
soil build up. Above the entrance to the draw chamber, there is a date stone marked 1850.
The west end wall has a comparable structure with the balance of the Draw Chamber
masonry implying the visible walls are all original elements. Two recessed aumbry-like
openings were noted in the west wall.
There is no visible bedrock anywhere on site. This is significant considering the depth of the
excavation relating to the original building of the limekiln. There is a steep slope along the
northern edge of the development area sloping up to the public road. No bedrock is visible
along the slope leading up to the road. This would seem to indicate that the quarry scoop for
the construction of the limekiln is recessed into natural clay rather than excavated into
bedrock.
Illus 3: View along Trench 4 from the south, the upper Illus 4: View towards southern end of Trench 2 from the west
surface of the Charging Platform visible showing the break-of-slope and drop from the Charging Platform
T3 Facade
T4 T1
T2
T5
T6
Illus 5: Interpretation plan of site showing all trench extents (Red) the inferred extent of the
Kiln Pots (Black) and the minimum limit of original excavations to form the Limekiln (Blue).
Interpretation is overlain on site topographic survey with the cross-hair interval of 20m.
Discussion
With the information gained from each of the trenches as well as our examination of the
surviving upstanding remains, we are able to provide an answer for the questions posed in
our objectives. Using the information from our evaluation combined with background
provided by West of Scotland Archaeology Service we are able form quite a complete picture
of the Kiln as it survives.
Prior to the construction of the Kiln there was already a road running past the site. The road
therefore is probably at an original ground surface level. The Kiln was completed in 1850, as
shown by the date stone over the entrance to the draw chamber, but is not shown to be
active on the 1857 first edition Ordnance Survey. This suggests a maximum active life of only
seven years. In many ways this is not unexpected as by the time of its construction this type
of Continuous Limekiln was being replaced with a larger scale industrial and chemical
process (RCAHMS 1998).
The physical evidence on site supports our temporal observations given that the northern
Kiln Eye has the original masonry, which would have only had a two year life span, and the
southern Kiln Eye has been re-lined with fire brick, which has a life of four to five years. This
suggests a minimum practical working life of six years for the Limekiln (Manning 2000).
It is unusual to find a Continuous Limekiln with two Kiln Pots that empty into a common draw
chamber but there is known to be variety in they way they were constructed (RCAHMS
1998). From the observable evidence we made the assumption that the Kiln was constructed
symmetrically, in other words an identical Kiln Pot was above each Kiln Eye. From the fact
that the vaulting of each back corner is spreading it would seem that both Kiln Pots were
built, the loading bearing down on the back corners of the Draw Chamber.
Evidence of masonry separating tipped in-fills and heat-altered clay from Trenches 1 and 2
may be reasonably assumed to be the surviving top of the southern Kiln Pot. From this we
can suggest a diameter for the Kiln Pot of 3m assuming a circular plan. We also observed
fragments of mortared firebrick from the excavation of Trench 2. Some Continuous Limekilns
were constructed with square planed Kiln Pots. It must also be noted that we have not
determined the nature or exact state of repair of the northern Kiln Pot although it is
reasonable to assume that it has lain un-used for a longer time than the southern Kiln Pot.
The northern Kiln Pot had a vacuous rubble fill at its base, some of which has collapsed into
the Draw Chamber.
We were able to observe that the structure of the Draw Chamber has degraded somewhat in
the back corners immediately beneath the Kiln Pots. The arches of the Kiln Eyes on both
sides have not sprung but are beginning to fail. This is more evident on the northern Kiln
Eye. The remainder of the façade and the structure of the Kiln does not show obvious signs
of potential failure but it is impossible at this stage to determines what damage the ivy, which
covers the structure, and the yew trees, on top of the Façade, have already done.
On top of and behind the Façade there was strong evidence for a well-founded Charging
Platform. Trench 4 contained a layer of extremely compact small stones built up on a base of
larger stones. This would seem to be the surface of the Charging Platform; a deliberately
solid surface upon which to run the carts which would have continually supplied the Kiln with
coal and limestone. This surface is understandably well made close to the area of the Kiln
Pots but is still present in a lesser form at the edges of the Charging Platform. This is visible
in Trenches 3, 5 and 6 as an equally compact but not as well founded stony surface. It is
therefore reasonable to interpret that the surface of the Charging Platform continues in all
directions to the break of slope.
Further information from Trench 3 allows us to make suggestions as to the composition of
the knoll into which the Kiln is constructed. Given that we there was no visible bedrock
anywhere on site we felt it important to determine the potential depth of compact clay
deposits. Trench 3 was excavated to a depth of over a meter with no sign of bedrock and no
change from dark brown very compact clay.
A broad interpretation of the site from the information we have gained allows us to answer
the questions put forward in the initial brief. Firstly the Limekiln has been constructed into a
mostly clay morainic deposit. There is no sign of bedrock. Further, given that slope of the
ground surrounding the charging platform on the southern side it is possible that up to three
meters from the top of the charging platform is clay re-deposited from the initial construction
excavation. Therefore, the limit of the excavation cut for the construction of the Limekiln is
very difficult to pinpoint. It would be reasonable to hypothesise that the minimum limit of the
initial construction excavation would have matched the depth of the Kiln Pots (see Illus 5).
However, the graded slope to the public road may suggest excavation would have had t cut a
graded slope. The archaeological remains, in the form of the Charging Platform, continue a
considerable distance from the Façade into the trees. Indeed the distinctive landscape
feature of a rectangular, level platform (including the slopes that retain and form this surface)
are all elements of the Limekiln.
The construction of the Limekiln, upon close examination, turned out to be different from first
expected. Two kiln pots drawn into a single chamber is a very uncommon design. In addition
the short lived nature of the Kiln means that it is representative of the demise of a particular
industrial process. It is therefore directly representative of a particular period.
Conclusion
Work was undertaken to assess the extent of the surviving archaeological remains
associated with a Continuous Limekiln on the site of Braehead Cottage, Thorntonhall, South
Lanarkshire.
The archaeology of the Limekiln consisted of a large Façade, a Charging Platform, a Draw
Chamber and, unusually, two Kiln Eyes and corresponding Kiln Pots. We were able to
determine the location and approximate diameter of the southern most Kiln Pot and also to
demonstrate that the Charging Platform was built up as a very compact stone surface. The
entire structure was built into an excavated clay morainic deposit. The original date for
construction of the Limekiln was 1850.
Overall all critical elements of an unusual Continuous Limekiln survive on-site and are
interpretable in their existing form. The site is clearly of regional significance and could
readily be considered to be of national significance, although it is neither scheduled nor on
the Non-Statutory List. However, the structure has not been actively maintained for a
considerable period of time and has survived, despite adverse vegetation, through the robust
character of the original construction. Some evidence was noted of progressive failure of the
structure suggesting the Limekiln is in need of remediation to ensure long-term stability and
survival.
References
RCAHMS 1998 Forts, Farms and Furnaces, Archaeology in the
Central Scotland Forest
Fenn, RWD 1997 ‘PK Penson, architect, water colourist and lime-
burner.’ Tarmac Papers
Manning, A 2000 ‘The excavation of three ‘flare’ lime kilns at Garn-
ffrwd Farm, Llanddarog, South-east
Carmarthenshire.’ Tarmac Papers
Harrington, J 2000 ‘An archaeological and historical overview of
limeburning in Victoria.’
Orientation: None
Size: 500mm by 500mm (0.25m 2), 200mm deep
Topsoil depth: 200mm
Significant features: Hard packed stone surface towards the edge of the Charging
Platform.
Artefacts: None
Trench 6
Orientation: None
Size: 500mm by 500mm (0.25m 2), 200mm deep
Topsoil depth: 200mm
Significant features: Hard packed stone surface just above the break of slope at the
edge of the Charging Platform.
Artefacts: None
Drawing Record
Drawing Title Scale Date Author
Record No.
1 North facing section in Trench 1. 1:20 16/9/03 AM
2 North-west facing section in Trench 2. 1:20 16/9/03 AM
3 Plan of Trenches and main features. 1:50 16/9/03 AM/TR
Photographic Record
Film Negative Description From Date
No. No.
1 19 Post-excavation shot of Trench 4 SE 16/10/03
1 20 Post-excavation shot of Trench 4 SE 16/10/03
1 21 Area of Trenches 1 and 2 before backfilling W 16/10/03
1 22 Area of Trenches 3 and 4 before backfilling W 16/10/03
1 23 Post-excavation shot of Trench 1 S 16/10/03
1 24 Post-excavation shot, southern end, Trench 1 S 16/10/03
1 25 Post-excavation shot, northern end, Trench 1 N 16/10/03
1 26 West facing section, southern end, Trench 1 W 16/10/03
1 27 West facing section, southern end, Trench 1 W 16/10/03
1 28 Base and section, southern end, Trench 1 W 16/10/03
1 29 Post-excavation shot of Trench 3 S 16/10/03
1 30 Post-excavation shout of Trench 3 N 16/10/03
1 31 Charging platform area prior to backfilling N 16/10/03
1 32 East facing section in Trench 3 E 16/10/03
1 33 Area of Trenches 5 and 6 prior to backfilling SE 16/10/03
1 34 Showing slope below Trench 2 W 16/10/03
1 35 Break of slope to charging platform S 16/10/03
36 Post-excavation shot of Trench 2 SW
Contact Details
Rathmell Archaeology can be contacted at its Registered Office or through the web:
Rathmell Archaeology Ltd
8, Underwood
Kilwinning
Ayrshire
KA13 7HR
www.rathmell-arch.co.uk