Archaeological Fieldwork at Dalquhurn, Renton
Since 2006, FIRAT Archaeological Services have been involved in an extensive programme of archaeological fieldwork on lands of the Dalquhurn Estate, formerly a printing and dyeing works. These works, which are nearing completion, were undertaken in advance of the redevelopment of the site for housing by the Cordale Housing Association, based on recommendations from the West of Scotland Archaeology Service, and were designed to suplement an extenive desk-based assessment of the site undertaken by FIRAT in 1999. The archaeological work comprised an initial stage of standing building recording of surviving dyeworks buildings and the former estate wall. Thereafter, eleven evaluation trenches were excavated in a number of areas across the site.
The objective of the evaluation excavations was to determine if any archaeological remains survived within the proposed development area. Of particular interest was to determine whether any material survived relating to the site of Dalquhurn House, where Tobias Smollett was born in 1721. In addition, it was hoped that evaluation would identify remains relating to the 18th century beaching and dyeing fields, which were known to have existed on the site.
To this end, three trenches were located on flat level ground identified by map evidence as former bleachfields. These trenches sought to locate any remains of channels and hedges associated with later 18th century bleaching methods. No archaeological remains earlier than the later industrial use of the site were located. There was considerable evidence of ploughing, sand extraction and backfilling with clinker and cinder industrial waste.
Eight trenches were located around the N perimeter of the site at the NE corner of the development area. These trenches were located on the basis of map evidence to look for the site of Dalquhurn House and other buildings shown on the First Edition (1860) and Second Edition (1898) OS maps, and identified the foundations of a substantial sandstone dwelling showing an 18th century plan with ancillary buildings of 19th and 20th century date located to the north of the development site. The mansion house had been comprehensively demolished and only the foundations survived, scarred by the teeth of a machine bucket, presumably relating to the demolition of the structure. The associated driveways and garden areas were also identified by the evaluation excavations.
Further trenches were excavated in the extreme NE corner of the site, with the aim of identifying material relating to smaller buildings depicted in this area on historic maps, and also to investigate if there were any other substantial buildings that might represent an earlier Dalquhurn House. These trenches revealed that there had been considerable movement of earth, dumping and backfilling of industrial waste and general levelling of the site in this area. However, the topsoil in this area produced residual finds of 18th century date including mid 18th century pottery and glass indicating a well-to-do table.
Following this, a further phase of fieldwork was undertaken to fully expose and record the remains of Dalquhurn House, work that was completed in November 2007. Due to the former industrial use of the site, the ground level across the development area is to be raised, meaning that the foundations of the house will be preserved below this material. Moreover, Cordale Housing Association have indicated that the site of the house is to remain as open space within the development, and the presence of the former house will be marked on the ground. A watching brief has still to take place in the NE corner of the site to look for structures relating to the 18th century artefacts identified in this area, and the re-opening of the former mill lade will also be monitored to record details relating to its construction method.