Excavation
Date 28 August 2017 - 20 November 2017
Event ID 1039741
Category Recording
Type Excavation
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1039741
NS 58976 61944 (Cathkin Park) and NS 58751 61970 (Hampden Bowling Club) Playing The Past explores the physical history and built heritage of some of Scotland’s historic sporting sites. A desk-based assessment, geophysical survey and excavation at Cathkin Park and a dedrochronological assessment at Hampden Bowling Club were carried out, 28 August – 20 November 2017, as part of this project. A desk-based assessment was also undertaken for a number of historic sporting sites, focusing on the Cathcart/Crosshill area in S Glasgow. The work consisted of map regression, historical analysis, and a collation of oral histories from local residents and sporting club members.
Part of the assessment included Cathkin Park, home to Third Lanark, which prior to the construction of Cathkin Park Stadium had housed the second incarnation of Hampden Park. Geophysical survey and excavation were carried out within Cathkin Park to investigate the remains of both
Cathkin Park Stadium, and Hampden 2.
The geophysical survey was carried out on the existing pitch and surrounding parkland to the S, whilst excavations focused on the former pavilion of Cathkin Park Stadium. The excavation of two small trenches formed the launch of Scottish Archaeology Month 2017. One of the trenches revealed the brick built remains and possible floor level of the former pavilion, whilst both trenches revealed large amounts of demolition rubble and debris associated with its destruction.
An additional study was carried out at the pavilion of the Hampden Bowling Club, which is located on the site of the original Hampden Park. A dendrochronological assessment was conducted on the roof beams of the current pavilion, as it is believed that the roof of the pavilion was reused from the pavilion of the first Hampden Park. However, there were too few tree rings to allow dendrochronological dating. The assessment did identify construction styles in the roof, and highlighted that further analysis of the construction of the roof and comparison with old photographs would help to establish if the roof is from the original Hampden Pavilion.
Archive and report: NRHE (intended)
Funder: HLF and Historic Environment Scotland
Ian Hill, Helena Gray, Phil Richardson, Iain Pringle, Rebecca Barclay and Coralie Mills – Heritage and Archaeogical Research Practice Ltd and Archaeology Scotland
(Source: DES, Volume 18)
