Dalry, Ryefield
Firing Range (Period Unassigned), Lade (Period Unassigned), Magazine (Period Unassigned), Textile Print Works (19th Century)
Site Name Dalry, Ryefield
Classification Firing Range (Period Unassigned), Lade (Period Unassigned), Magazine (Period Unassigned), Textile Print Works (19th Century)
Canmore ID 354914
Site Number NS25SE 56
NGR NS 28770 50513
NGR Description Centred on
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/354914
- Council North Ayrshire
- Parish Dalry (Cunninghame)
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Cunninghame
- Former County Ayrshire
Excavation (10 April 2015 - 10 September 2016)
NS 28770 50513 A desk-based assessment and excavation were carried out in two phases, 10 April – 18 July 2015 and 12 March – 10 September 2016, which aimed to gain an understanding of the industrial heritage of the area and expand the existing record.
The desk-based assessment established that a 19th-century print works, a mill lade and rifle range, existed along the S bank of Rye Water, Drakemyre. Further investigation revealed early 19th-century site plans showed the area being used as a bleachfield. An initial topographic survey recorded visible features relating to the print works and a small structure to its N.
An excavation revealed three unrelated structural features. The mill, lade and associated buildings (c1750–1819), the print works (c1840) and the small building to the N of the print works, which was identified as the magazine (c1870).
This was the most significant site (see accompanying image) and its construction, which included a bitumen floor, was consistent with a gunpowder magazine. This assessment was supported by contemporary documentary evidence. The pottery finds ranged from early to mid-19th
century in date.
A further excavation of trial trenches revealed only demolition material from the buildings shown on the early 19th-century plans. Drains of probable industrial nature were uncovered and these may relate to the bleaching process. The lade is shown on the early 19th-century plans as open and was then covered sometime before the OS map 1856.
Excavations along the culvert revealed different methods of enclosure. The first 30m was covered by a brick arch and the remainder by sandstone slabs. These do not look coincidental and could indicate careful design. Possibly the aim was to trap air in the arch, when the lade was in full flow, which would have had the effect of evening out fluctuations by
compressing air trapped in the upper part of the arch and so speeding up the outflow. The pottery finds ranged from mid-18th to mid-19th century in date.
Report: http://kilwinningheritage.org/downloads/
Diane Brown and Ralph Shuttleworth – Kilwinning Heritage
(Source: DES, Volume 17)
