Trial Trench

Date 15 January 2015

Event ID 1006992

Category Recording

Type Trial Trench

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1006992

NT 27633 74963 A single trial trench was excavated inside the doocot on 15 January 2015 on behalf of The Friends of Lochend Park. The work aimed to establish the nature of deposits in the doocot and identify any previous floor surfaces. The beehive doocot was constructed in the 16th century to serve the castle at Lochend. It is reputed to have been utilised as a plague kiln in the 17th century, and was used by the Royal Humane Society as a boathouse in the 1850s. The present ground surface within the doocot is an earthen floor and it is thought that the original ground level is substantially lower. Excavations revealed a rough stone floor surface which partially covered the interior and may have been associated with the structure’s use as a boathouse. Beneath this were further levelling deposits overlying pits dug into the natural subsoil. No original floor surface was encountered.

Archive and report: National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE)

Funder: Rubicon Heritage Services

Louise Baker - Rubicon Heritage Services

(Source: DES, Volume 16)