Glasgow, Barrack Street, Old Barracks

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken during the development for a new supermarket on a piece of derelict waste ground to the east side of Glasgow city centre in Gallowgate. The watching brief was quite extensive - lasting for almost 6 months - and uncovered remains of a former 17th / 18th century potteries, remains of an 18th century Barracks, and also a Second World War firing range which was discovered within previously blocked-off railway tunnels to the north of the site. A Level 1 historic building recording survey was also undertaken on the stone rubble built boundary walls which surround the site at Barrack Street and Hunter Street and were found to have undergone a great deal of repair and rebuild.

Information from Oasis (aocarcha1-115408) 27 March 2013

NS 602 649 A programme of archaeological works was undertaken 20 April - 24 October 2011 prior to a supermarket development. The work consisted of an evaluation of the most archaeologically sensitive area of the site, followed by a watching brief to oversee all ground-breaking works, with subsequent excavations taking place where significant archaeology was encountered. A historic building survey was also conducted, which focused on the remains of the 18th-century wall that encircled the development area.

A number of archaeologically significant features and structures relating to the 18th century military barracks and the 17th/18th-century pottery works and other early industries were revealed and excavated.

Features relating to the military baracks consisted of the truncated remains of the barrack canteen cellar, the eastern barracks privy, a couple of unroofed barrack buildings, and the upstanding remains of the armoury foundations and two other buildings adjacent to it. The majority of finds from this period came from the drainage channels where brass buttons and ceramic pipe stems were prevalent. The soldiers' privy also provided a number of ceramic and glass artefacts.

Some structures relating to the 'Pighoose' Pottery, which predated the barracks, were also recorded. The NW corner of the 1720s pottery building was discovered as well as parts of the flue system and the edges of at least two kilns. The flue and furnace of another small industry predating the barracks were also located. Several pottery waster pits were excavated and provided a large assemblage of red earthenware jug fragments.

Finally, a WW2 rifle range consisting of a series of brick walls/foundations with sand pits dug out of the concrete floor behind the walls was located in the South Tunnel.

Archive: RCAHMS (intended)

Funder: MacDonald Estates