Limekiln Complex at Stewarton
Archaeologists from AOC clearing the frontage of the earlier kiln, section across charging bowl at top of kiln, Copyright AOC Archaeology Group
Staff from AOC Archaeology are currently undertaking a programme of fieldwork to expose and record a series of lime kilns at Draffen, on the outskirts of Stewarton, in advance of a housing development. To date, this has involved the clearance of vegetation from these substantial structures to expose their full extents. This process also revealed a stone dated '1803' built into the facade of one of the kilns. This kiln showed evidence of having been repaired during its working life, as a secondary frontage had been constructed when the original showed signs of slumping forward, presumably intended to provide a buttress against this to allow the kiln to continue in operation. The kilns are already described in some detail the WoSAS HER database under WoSAS Pin 22264, but as part of the current programme of fieldwork, they will be scanned using a laser to create a 3-dimensional record of the structures.
Archaeologists from AOC clearing the frontage of the repaired kiln, secondary arch visible in foreground supporting original frontage, Copyright AOC Archaeology Group