Kilmarnock, Altonhill Farm

NS43NW 422 419 394

An evaluation was undertaken in March and April 2004 in advance of development on the western fringes of Kilmarnock; 105 trenches were excavated, amounting to 5% (c 19,240m2) of the development area. The features uncovered related

to coal mining practices and the remains of a steading next to Hillhead Farm. The remains of the steading were in a very poor state and much disturbed by modern activities. A small gauge railway embankment was seen to cross through the second most northerly field, running from the western fields and disappearing into the Altonhill housing estate. This was probably for a narrow gauge coal-hauling railway which served a nearby colliery. An isolated pit was also discovered.

A watching brief and excavation took place here ahead of proposed development work. Sections through a railway embankment were excavated and areas around features found in a survey were monitored during topsoil stripping. An area of burning was revealed, 1.32m x 1.45m, and consisted of well-compacted, black silty clay. Another area of burnt clay subsoil was found, and teardropped in shape. These features were difficult to date or ascertain their function, due to a lack of structural evidence.

The railway embankment was constructed in one fill, and measured around 1.58m in height above the subsoil. The base was 9.3m wide and the level top was 2.9m wide. It was constructed on top of the subsoil, and not cut into it. A thin layer of coal ash just under the modern topsoil was thought to have come from the coal waggons the railway was apparently built for. It appears to have been a single, narrow-gauge track, which served a nearby colliery. The embankment and railway is not present on the 1st or 2nd edition OS maps, but was built before the Altonhill housing scheme. This would date the line to between the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

R White 2005.