Lady Jane's Cottage, Eglinton Country Park
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Lady Jane’s Cottage, Eglinton Country Park: Archaeological Excavation Data Structure Report by Liam Mckinstry and Thomas Rees issued 15th August 2017 RA17027 Lady Jane’s Cottage, Eglinton Country Park: Archaeological Excavation – Data Structure Report Quality Assurance This report covers works which have been undertaken in keeping with the issued brief as modified by the agreed programme of works. The report has been prepared in keeping with the guidance of Rathmell Archaeology Limited on the preparation of reports. All works reported on within this document have been undertaken in keeping with the Chartered Institute for Archaeologists’ Standards and Policy Statements and Code of Conduct. Signed ……………………………….. Date ….15th August 2017…. In keeping with the procedure of Rathmell Archaeology Limited this document and its findings have been reviewed and agreed by an appropriate colleague: Checked ……………………………….. Date ….15th August 2017…. Copyright Rathmell Archaeology Limited. All rights reserved. No part of this report may be copied or reproduced by any means without prior written permission from Rathmell Archaeology Limited. If you have received this report in error, please destroy all copies in your possession or control. This report has been prepared for the exclusive use of the commissioning party, unless otherwise agreed in writing by Rathmell Archaeology Limited. No liability is accepted by Rathmell Archaeology Limited for any use of this report, other than the purposes for which it was originally prepared and provided. Opinions and information provided in the report are on the basis of Rathmell Archaeology Limited using due skill, care and diligence and no explicit warranty is provided as to their accuracy. No independent verification of any of the documents or information supplied to Rathmell Archaeology Limited has been made. Quality Assurance Data Author(s) Liam Mckinstry Date of Issue 15th August 2017 Version 1.0 Commissioning Body None Event Name Lady Jane’s Cottage, Eglinton Country Park Event Type Excavation Event Date(s) July 2017 - August 2017 Rathmell Archaeology Code RA17027 OASIS Ref rathmell1-291498 Location United Kingdom : Scotland : North Ayrshire NGR NS 31299 42089 Parish Kilwinning Designation(s) None Canmore IDs Cottage (206579) 2017 Rathmell Archaeology Ltd, Page 1 of 30 RA17027 Lady Jane’s Cottage, Eglinton Country Park: Archaeological Excavation – Data Structure Report Contents Introduction .................................................................................. 4 Historical & Archaeological Background ........................................ 4 Previous archaeological investigations .......................................... 5 Project Works ................................................................................ 5 Findings ......................................................................................... 7 Topsoil and Upper Layers .................................................................................... 7 Lady Jane’s Cottage ............................................................................................ 7 Garden Features ................................................................................................. 9 Natural Subsoil ................................................................................................. 10 Material Culture ................................................................................................ 10 Discussion ................................................................................... 10 Conclusion ................................................................................... 16 Acknowledgements ..................................................................... 17 References .................................................................................. 17 Documentary ................................................................................................... 17 Cartographic .................................................................................................... 17 Contact Details ....................................... 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Appendix 1: Discovery & Excavation in Scotland ......................... 18 Appendix 2: Registers.................................................................. 20 Appendix 2.1: Context Register .......................................................................... 20 Appendix 2.2: Drawing Register ......................................................................... 23 Appendix 2.3: Finds Register ............................................................................. 24 Appendix 2.4: Sample Register .......................................................................... 25 Appendix 2.5: Photographic Register................................................................... 26 2017 Rathmell Archaeology Ltd, Page 2 of 30 RA17027 Lady Jane’s Cottage, Eglinton Country Park: Archaeological Excavation – Data Structure Report Figures Figure 1a: 1st edition Ordnance Survey 1860 (Surveyed 1856) .............................................. 6 Figure 1b: 3rd edition Ordnance Survey 1910 ........................................................................ 6 Figure 1c: 4th edition Ordnance Survey 1940 ......................................................................... 6 Figure 7: Plan of excavated area showing location of Lady Jane’s Cottage ........................... 8 Figure 2a: Site being opened up by machine. Cottage walls and demolition layer (009) visible. From the NW. ........................................................................................................... 11 Figure 2b: Volunteers from Kilwinning Heritage excavating the cottage. From the S. ........... 11 Figure 3a: View of the NW wall, [007] and [008]. From the WNW. ....................................... 12 Figure 3b: View of the SE wall, [007] and [017]. From the S. ............................................... 12 Figure 4a: View of the SW wall [007]. From the SW. ............................................................ 13 Figure 4b: View of Kerbs [013 & 014], Steps [011], surface [010] and drain (012). From the NW. ..................................................................................................................................... 13 Figure 5a: Close up view of surfaces [010] and (020). From the NE. ................................... 14 Figure 5b: Post Excavation view of the cottage & its associated features. From the SE. ...... 14 Figure 6a: Lady Jane’s Cottage from the SE. ....................................................................... 15 Figure 6b: Lady Jane’s Cottage from the NE. ...................................................................... 15 2017 Rathmell Archaeology Ltd, Page 3 of 30 RA17027 Lady Jane’s Cottage, Eglinton Country Park: Archaeological Excavation – Data Structure Report Introduction 1. This Data Structure Report (DSR) presents the results from the excavation works at Lady Jane’s Cottage in Eglinton Country Park, North Ayrshire. 2. The works were organised by Rathmell Archaeology Ltd. Kilwinning Heritage volunteers supported Rathmell Archaeology staff to deliver the works with the support of North Ayrshire Council, the landowner. The works were scheduled so that Guides from the International Guides Camp at Eglinton (Ayrwaves 2017) could visit the site, discover more about the estate and its archaeology, as well as taking part in some practical exercises. Historical & Archaeological Background 3. Lady Jane’s Cottage is an estate cottage (NGR: NS4821 0608, RCAHMS Canmore ID 206579, WoSAS Pin: 17710) which is known to have stood on the northern banks of the Lugton Water as it flows west beyond Eglinton Castle. The river at this point retains a strong meandering path suggesting it has not been canalised, unlike the stretch closer to the castle. 4. Historic Ordnance Survey mapping (from the 1st edition in 1860 – see Figure 1a) depicts the cottage, a bridge across the river and a monumental pillar to the north. This landscape remains consistent until the 4th edition (1940) at which time the cottage is no longer mapped (Figure 1c). The suggestion is that the cottage was demolished between 1910 and 1940, although at this time the bridge and pillar remained. 5. Photographic evidence (see Figure 2a and 2b) depicts a single storey brick-built structure with a thatched roof. Some of these images have been attributed with a date in the 1920s, suggesting that demolition may have occurred during the 1930s. 6. The cottage’s name makes reference to Lady Jane Montgomerie, the daughter of Hugh Montgomerie, 12th Earl of Eglinton and Eleanora Hamilton. She married Captain Archibald Hamilton in 1828 and died on 23 February 1860, without issue. Into her care was placed the two surviving grandsons of the 12th Earl after the death of her brother Maj-General Archibald Montgomerie on board ship off Alicante in 1814 (buried in Gibraltar). 7. The cottage is described as follows: "Near to the gardens, in a remote corner, more than half encircled by the river, a remarkably handsome cottage has been reared, and furnished, under the direction of Lady Jean Montgomery, who has contrived to unite neatness and simplicity, with great taste, in the construction of this enchanting hut. That amiable lady, spends occasionally, some part of her leisure hours, about this delightful cottage: viewing the beauties, and contemplating the operations of nature, in the foliage of leaves, blowing of flowers,