Series: Rathmell Archaeology Ltd unpublished report series

A programme of intrusive evaluation was carried over one day on the 13th January 2017 for Kerry Smith Architects in support of a single storey extension to the rear of a Category C Listed Building (with various internal and external alterations) at 57a South Street, St. Andrews, Fife KY16 9QR (Planning App: 15/03913/LBC). This Data Structure Report covers the monitoring works requested by Fife Council's Archaeologist who advises Fife Council on archaeological matters. In the course of the archaeological monitoring a linear stone feature was uncovered that most likely represents the 19th century extension to the main building. No significant archaeology of earlier provenance was encountered. The deep stratigraphy recorded within Trench 1 demonstrated that the area has been subjected to a long period of habitation and provides the potential for earlier anthropic activity to exist elsewhere in the surrounding area. As such it is the recommendation of Rathmell Archaeology Ltd that no further works are appropriate. The appropriateness and acceptability of our recommendations rest with Fife Council's Archaeologist on behalf of Fife Council.

A programme of archaeological building recording was undertaken in respect of a proposed building refurbishment at 100-106 John Finnie Street, Kilmarnock. The property comprises a 3-storey building built in 1876 and attributed to architect William Railton. The ground floor consists of commercial premises still in use as such, with vacant flatted tenement accommodation above. The 1st floor plan had been subject to much alteration, but the original room layout remained unchanged throughout much of the 2nd floor. Many original features had survived, though to varying degrees of preservation; amongst the features recorded were plaster cornices, bed recesses, fireplaces, and timber sash-and-case windows with associated timber panelling.

An archaeological watching brief was undertaken in support of construction work on land at 11 Kilmarnock Road, Mauchline, East Ayrshire. The works consisted of the monitoring of the excavation of 6 foundation pits in support of the construction of 2 garages. The excavation of the foundation pits was monitored to depths of between 0.25m and 0.75m; natural red sandstone was exposed within each pit at a maximum depth of 0.42m. No significant archaeological features, deposits or artefacts were uncovered during the course of these works. T Rees 2015

The oldest surviving structural elements at 14-16 Union Street was the early 19th century garden wall (first noted in Scott's map of 1805) which was noted where an emergency exit from Building 3 cut through it on its north facing elevation and the remains of the late 19th century Building 1 and 1a (first noted within the 1877 Ordnance Survey) within the basement level of 14-16 Union Street and later incorporated into Building 4. No traces of Building 2, which was noted in all the Ordnance Survey mapping from 1905 to 1931, was identified most likely because it had been completely demolished with the construction of Buildings 3 and 4 later in the 20th century (both first appeared in Ordnance Survey mapping from 1949-50). The early 19th century, east to west running, garden wall acted as a retaining wall for the gardens behind the houses on Forth Street with a series of north to south running walls dividing each houses garden plot. These walls survive in the present carpark areas behind Building 3 and the houses on Forth Street. Part of this wall may have been incorporated into the later 19th century structural elements making up Building 1 and 1a and in the stairwell at basement level exiting Building 3 onto the northern lane off Union Street though this is not entirely certain. It is unclear as to what function Buildings 1 and 1a served but the remains of the large stretch of window suggests it required good lighting so possibly it served as a workshop. As no trace of Building 2 was identified during the survey its function and form can only be guessed at but its proximity to Buildings 1 and 1a and a timber yard to the north (noted in Ordnance Surveys between 1877 and 1949-50) would suggest that it served some storage or industrial function.

The north western half of the site was confirmed to be sterile of archaeology however the half of the site above the break of slope contained several archaeological features. A series of shallow agricultural furrows. These were of uncertain date but probably indicate pre-improvement agriculture. These features overlay the outlying features of a stone lined kiln. Several fragments of early medieval pottery were recovered from the fill of the stone lined kiln. Taken as part of complex in the wider archaeological landscape the presence of these kilns suggests large scale agricultural production in the early medieval period. This is supported by the presence of a smaller, robbed out kiln, which may represent an earlier phase of occupation. Other smaller features were excavated and recorded but the mobility and truncation of sediments made them difficult to define.

Archaeological works carried out on behalf of Cullis's Amusements in support of development work (an extension at the rear of the property) on land at 18-20 Gallowgate, Largs (Condition 1 on Planning Ref: 16/01005/PP). The monitoring works focused on the excavation of the extensions building footprint and an exploratory trench excavated so as to locate existing services. These excavations uncovered a modern foundation gravel layer which had formed the yard behind Cullis's Amusements building which overlay disturbed natural subsoil layers. No significant archaeological features or artefacts were identified.

Archaeological monitoring was required by Mr H. Lynch in support of the construction of an extension at 1b Union Road, Linlithgow (Planning Ref: 0532/H/10). The archaeological works were designed to comply with planning conditions and to mitigate any adverse impact on the archaeological remains within the development area. In the course of the archaeological monitoring no significant archaeological remains were encountered.

Archaeological mitigation works were carried out in relation to the topsoil stripping of the line of the driveway and garage footprint at 2 Richmond Drive, Rutherglen. The archaeological works were designed to mitigate the impact on the archaeological remains within the development area. The mitigation works did not reveal any significant archaeological features or artefacts.

Archaeological monitoring was carried out in respect to the refurbishment of 3 King Street, Rothesay, Isle of Bute. This work identified no significant archaeological remains, and the exposed subsoil appeared to be free of any disturbance other than that which was obviously post-1900.

A programme of archaeological monitoring was carried out in support of the demolition of an existing extension and the erection of a new larger extension at 32 Main Street, New Abbey. No archaeologically significant deposits were uncovered during the course of this work and no anthropic material was recovered other than that which related to the modern (late 20th or 21st century) use of the site.