Kilmarnock, Moorfields Industrial Estate

NS43NW 420 407 374

In advance of a housing development, an archaeological evaluation in August and September 2004 revealed evidence for extensive post-medieval land drainage in an area of poorly draining fields. Indirect evidence of an industrial landscape was established with the recovery of linear gullies filled with coal waste. A probable kiln of possible medieval or post-medieval date was also discovered.

Report lodged with the NMRS.

Sponsor: Lands Improvement Holdings plc.

C O'Connell 2004

An archaeological excavation was carried out at this site in January 2005 in an attempt to fully excavate and record the possible kiln and flue that was partly revealed in work in 2004 (see entry above), that was marred by heavy flooding of the site. The kiln was fully uncovered and excavated. It was constructed in a large cut and built from dry stone and measured 2.75m in diameter internally at the top, narrowing to around 1.6m at the base. Externally, the kiln measured 3.1m at the top and 2.2m at the base. A 15.2m long and 0.98m wide flue ran downslope from the structure towards the SE. The flue is V-shaped and is deeper towrds the flue, and narrows and become shallower until it tapered out to the S, furthest away from the kiln. The base of the kiln was lined with paving slabs and had been deliberatelly back-filled with derbris at some stage. The outer walls of the kiln were coonstructed in large cobbled-sized stones. A silty clay had been used to bond the walls in places. The walls were around 6 courses high and sloped inwards towards the base.

The kiln appeared to be used for corn-drying. Possible post holes around the kiln structure may have supported a temporary cover for the kiln. The kiln was back-filled after it went out of use. Late medieval pottery were found in the kiln fill, suggesting the kiln went out of use before this.

A gully was also excavated in a trench 40m x 5m. Continuous flooding meant not all of the trench could be recorded. The gully was 0.4m deep and 0.6m wide and was U-shaped with slightly sloping sides and a concave base. It was modern in date, attested to by modern glass found in context in the gully. It appears to have been a drainage ditch, and may have been associated with agriculture that was present here long after the kiln had been back-filled. Drains that cut through the kiln structure show this.

R White 2005

A post-excavation report was carried out by CFA Archaeology to establish a function and date of use for the kiln.

NMRS, MS/2643.