EDINBURGH ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD SOCIETY

Geophysical Surveys over the site ofp

Acrehead Farm, Bavelaw, Midlothian --

1. Summary

Area ground resistance surveys were made over the site of the abandoned Acrehead
Farm which had previously been plane-table surveyed as part of the involvement of
the Society in the Scottish Rural Past Project. An aerial photograph of the farm site is
shown as Illus.7.1. and the surveyed area in Illus. 7.2.
The two surveys were made to record features at different levels below the ground
surface; the first surveyed at approximate depths between 0.5 and 0.75m and the
second between 1.0 and 1.5m. The printouts of the two surveys are shown in Illus.
7.3. and Illus. 7.4, respectively.

The main building, which appears on the southern side of both printouts, measures
approximately 20m E-W by 5m N-S. To the E of this building is a less clear (and
possibly later) annex that may not be on the same alignment. A second building lies
N-S adjacent to the NW corner of the main building. Less clear dividing walls, within
the main building, do not appear in the second survey and possibly represent later
additions with shallower foundations. A significant low resistance, to the NE of the
main building, indicates a probable waterlogged area that could be the site of the farm
well. A possible third building lies on the E side of the farm yard.

2. Introduction

The farm lay close to the W side of Bavelaw Castle and to the E of Wester Bavelaw
Farm, on ground that sloped N towards Threipmuir Reservoir. National Grid
Reference positions, provided by the National Library of Scotland Map Library, were
obtained for Bavelaw Castle, Easter and Wester Bavelaw Farms and Acrehead; the
last named was given as N T 16302 62927. From the first three named the spot point
for Acrehead was calculated and plotted (see Illus. 7.2.).
Acrehead Farm was demolished or fell out of use at the time of agricultural
improvements when smaller farms were incorporated into larger units. The proximity
of Acrehead to Bavelaw Castle probably hastened its demise as the surrounds of the
castle became more an area of parkland than that of small-scale farming.

The surveys were made in order to augment the information derived from the plane-
table survey and area ground resistance measurement was chosen as a suitable method
of indicating wall foundations. This techtuque is deemed to 'respond well7 to sites
with 'masonry foundations, paving, cavities and robber trenches' and is 'usually to be
recommended' (see Ref 8.1.). Ground resistance measurements indicate the
underground stone features that are not evident from the topographical measurements
made in the plane-table survey.