Watching Brief

Date 9 November 2015 - 7 September 2016

Event ID 1024328

Category Recording

Type Watching Brief

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1024328

NS 5598 6634 A watching brief and excavation was

undertaken, 9 November 2015 – 7 September 2016, during groundworks associated with the re-development of Castlebank Street and the installation of a major water drain. The work included monitoring of borehole drilling, and the removal of overburden from the full length of the

working area for the drainage tract as well as the adjacent development and covered the area from the existing rivers edge to the boundary of Castlebank Street.

A number of archaeological features were uncovered including two substantial intersecting ditches, and several distinct phases of structural stonework, probably relating to the 17th-century Hutcheson’s tower house and the earlier 12th-century bishop’s residence. A large assemblage of medieval and later ceramic was recovered, along with several metal objects, including a decorative pin and a copper alloy decorative boss. Most of the features were fully excavated while others not affected by the development were preserved in situ.

Following on from the main excavation another area towards the southern and western edge of the Kelvin River was investigated. Only 19th- to mid-20th-century structures survived in this area. It is likely that the levelling of the area along with the deep concrete foundations, the construction of the foundry and later the railway and the most recent concrete retaining wall, will have truncated any remains that may have survived prior to the 19th century.

Archive: NRHE (intended)

Funder: Peel Holdings, Scottish Water and Downing

Beth Spence – GUARD Archaeology Ltd

(Source: DES, Volume 17)