WoSAS Pin 59691
NS 4396 8077
The remains of two red sandston structures are present 490m NE of the modern marker cairn on the Hill of Standing Stones. The structures are located just within an extensive patch of bracken, set in open heather moorland that is used for sheep grazing.
A pit, which measures approximately 10m by 4m, is set into the foot of a NNE-facing slope, with its long axis parallel to the bottom of the slope. The pit is open on its northern side - a ruined structure stands at the eastern end of the opening, and another at the western end. Both structures consist of blocks of red sandstone
The eastern structure (possibly a lime-kiln?) is oval in shape, and measures 2.0m by 1.8m. It is made up of fairly irregular blocks, and is raised up on its southern side, where it rests upon a grass-covered mound.
The western structure is made of larger and more regular blocks, and is better-preserved. It measures 3.0m by 1.3m. Its northern wall is straight, and several courses of stone survive there to a height of 70 cm. A few low stones continue the line of this wall partway towards the eastern structure. The back wall is curved. On the sides of the pit, adjacent to each structure, a few more stone are visible.
Evidence of possible limestone quarrying is visible in the immediate area. Just 40 metres to the south, a pool (NS 4397 8074) occupies a pit that is crossed by a wall-like rock formation. The pit is overlooked on its southern side by limestone outcrops, and may be the result of limestone quarrying.
Likewise, there are signs of small-scale quarrying along two lines of limestone outcrops (NS 4362 8053) that run E-W along the northern slopes of the Hill of Standing Stones. In addition, a large crescent-shaped pit is located 200m to the north of the red sandstone ruins, at NS 4403 8098.
The western structure in particular is well-preserved. The ruins lie just within an extensive patch of bracken, which has partly overgrown them. The usual east-west route that walkers follow across the moor passes about 200 metres south of this site, but the ruins themselves are in an inconspicuous location, and are not visible from that route. Visitors to this site are therefore likely to be infrequent.
Cameron, D.A., 07/07/09
A rectangular structure, annotated as an old lime kiln, is shown at this location on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map of 1862. This map also depicts an old quarry some 40m to the south, which would accord with D.A. Cameron's field observations. The fact that both the kiln and the quarry are annotated as 'old' suggests that they had fallen out of use before the mid-19th century.
Entered WoSAS (MO'H) 22/07/2009
Field Survey recorded the two kilns (3a), recorded by the SMR and an area of grassed over quarrying (3b) measuring 60m by 30m and 3m deep. A possible third kiln (3c), at NS 44003 80756, was also recorded. This third kiln (6m by 4m and 1m deep) is defined by grassed over banks 1m high, 1m wide and there is an opening on the north side.
Mudie, G., CFA Archaeology Ltd, 'Merkins Wind Farm, West Dunbartonshire: Cultural Heritage', 2011