WoSAS Pin 66071
NS 5081 3684
At a bend on the River Irvine, about 1/2 mile East of Galston, high water levels of the past couple of years have exposed a landfill or rubbish tip. From the type of manufacture of glass bottles that have been washed out, or exposed, it would appear to date from c 1870. The exposed portion stretches for about 15 metres along the bank and appears to be about 1 metre below the current ground level either side of the bank. Over the past 100 years the river has changed its path, and the area of the tip would have originally been on solid ground. Among the exposed items, which appear to be domestic in nature, there are some large compound electric batteries made up of multiple cells, a large number of bottles used for medicine, carbonated drinks, alchohol, and some recognisable versions of commercial jars and bottles such as "Bovril", "Camp Coffee", and others, along with large amounts of kitchen and tableware. The state of preservation appears to be good as evidenced by a child's leather shoe, which was washed out complete.
Comparison with available historical maps does not show any indication of the area having been used as a tip, but it is noticeable that the course of the river on maps of the 19th century was considerably straighter than at present, suggesting it may previously have been canalised. It is possible that the material noted eroding from the bank may have been deposited behind a line of wooden posts driven into the bed of the river, in order to raise the ground level behind these artificial banks. It is possible that the river has got behind the line of posts and swept away much of the backfill material, before washing away the posts themselves and then eventually eroding any infill material that remains in its attempt to regain its natural course.
Information from Malcolm Coxhead, 28/03/11
Entered WoSAS (MO'H) 01/04/2011