Culzean Castle, Home Farm

NS21SW 7 23701 10404

NS 236 104 A small-scale archaeological evaluation was carried out in order to inform the Heritage Impact Assessment for the proposed extension of the restaurant at the Home Farm at Culzean Castle. The area of the proposed extension is to the NW of the existing building, overlooking the sea. Desk-based research indicated that this area may have been the site of a series of small pens for pigs and poultry, marked as secondary features on Adam's original plan of the Home Farm (c 1778). Whether these pens were ever constructed remains in doubt as nothing is shown in this position on the later OS maps, although a series of pens are shown further to the N.

The test pits and watching brief both indicated that parts of the evaluation area consisted of made-up ground of sandstone rubble. Relatively modern artefacts, probably 20th century, were found at a depth of over 0.8m below the surface. It is clear that the area had been greatly disturbed during the 1971 renovation work. In two areas close to the existing building wall an area of paving or simply well-laid foundations were discovered. The possibility that much of the ground was made up immediately prior to the original construction of the Home Farm has been suggested on the basis of borehole survey data. The artefacts recovered during the work are a mix of 19th- and 20th-century material, with the most notable find being a copper belt buckle.

Archive to be deposited in the NMRS.

Sponsor: NTS.

D Alexander and D Sneddon 2002

(NS 2368 1041) Home Farm: The range of Home Farm buildings (associated with Culzean Castle) was designed by Robert Adam and built in 1777. Fomerly a hollow square of stables, byres and barns, it has been restored by the Natural Trust, returning it to its original outline, and adapted as the Centre for Culzean Country Park.

R Prentice 1976

Photographed in 2009 on behalf of the Buildings of Scotland publications.

RCAHMS (CAJS) 2009.