Wester Dalmeny Farm

NT17NW 65 centred 14270 77444

NT 142 774 Upstanding building survey and archaeological evaluation were undertaken between May and October 2002 prior to the conversion of Wester Dalmeny farmstead into a series of dwellings. The building survey identified five phases in the farm development. The steading was constructed in 1827 based on a formal plan incorporating two quadrangles around two central courtyards. A hexagonal horse-engine located on the S side of the steading was in operation at this time. By the late 19th century a steam engine and boiler house had replaced this. Later phases included the construction of a free-standing byre and the demolition of the E range. The final phase included the incorporation of a grain drying facility.

The archaeological evaluation discovered a number of possible pits and ditches and recovered sherds of late medieval pottery. A subsequent watching brief in the area to the S of the upstanding steading uncovered late or early post-medieval building remains. The structural remains comprised at least two adjoining buildings defined by vestigial walls extensively robbed of their larger stone component, a beaten earth floor deposit containing two hearth settings, and cobbled surfaces incorporating drainage features. Green-glazed pottery was recovered, along with quantities of glass, iron objects, ironworking slag, bone and shell.

Report to be deposited in the NMRS.

Sponsor: bell grant.

M Cressey and G Mudie 2002

An area ground resistance survey was conducted on the grass verges that border the road junction in the middle of Dalmeny Village to ascertain whether anomalies could be detected close to the road junction. These could indicate that the earlier village was built closer to the road. The grassed area to the NW of the junction is bounded on its N side by a row of cottages, and that on the S side of the T junction extends the full length of the main village street with cottages on its S side. The grass verge on the NE side of the junction is narrower than that to the NW and to the N of it lies the old school with the parish church and graveyard some 40m further to the N. The survey on the NW area showed nothing that could be interpreted as house foundations close to the road but some non-linear high reisistance features appeared on the W edge close to the redevelopment of Wester Dalmeny farmhouse. The survey on the S side verge, which was started at the W end, shows the line of the infilled tramway, as a linear high resistance. Two rather indistinct rectangular high resistances lie about 10 and 30m to the E of the tramway and most other linear high and low resistances appear likely to be related to infilled trenches supplying services to the cottages although a linear low resistance adjacent to the road som 60m to the E of the tramway may represent early houses. The smallest of the verges on the NE corner of the road junction showed no clear rectangular shapes but does include an almost continuous high resistance, about 4m wide, that runs parallel to the pavement on the S side of this survey.

Edinburgh Archaeological Field Society 2005.