Condition

3
Boulder features
54500
South Ayrshire

Description

A46. Two arcs of boulders exist creating an approximately oval shape 10 m wide. The boulders are up to 1 m in size and may be dressed/quarried. This is, however, difficult to ascertain as they are limpet covered and the natural rock fractures in a regular fashion. ShoreUPDATE 06-10-15: In this location is the remains of a perfectly circular stone structure, with an external diameter of 4.3m and internal diameter of 3.1m. It is constructed with squared blocks of dense dark grey (igneous?) rock, bonded with shelly lime mortar. It survives to a height of one course, although there is evidence in the quantities of tumbled blocks which surround an fill the structure that it would have stood higher - probably until recently. Local information supported by documentary and map evidence suggest this is the remains of a ventilation shaft associated with a nearby coal mine. Bell-Rock Pit is marked on an 1816 plan of Prestwick very near to this site. Map evidence shows that this stretch of coastline has /is suffering from quite dramatic erosion, still evident today. This feature would have originally been located in the dunes. Dressed and carved stone is present across the foreshore in this area. Some of this may originate from the structure. Some from the former sandstone quarry behind the coast edge.

Location

234069.00
624535.00
27700
55.4863739
-4.6276116

Submitted photographs

Image Date Caption User
Detail of double ashlar construction 15/04/2023 Detail of double ashlar construction joannahambly
Detail of double ashlar construction
Shafts looking north 15/04/2023 Shafts looking north joannahambly
Shafts looking north
Shaft looking east towards sea bank 15/04/2023 Shaft looking east towards sea bank joannahambly
Shaft looking east towards sea bank
Pair of shafts, looking north 15/04/2023 Pair of shafts, looking north joannahambly
Pair of shafts, looking north
General view taken from coastal bank looking west 04/05/2023 General view taken from coastal bank looking west calanaisczas
General view taken from coastal bank looking west
Ventilation shaft and arc of stone of the second to the south taken from bank, looking west 04/05/2023 Ventilation shaft and arc of stone of the second to the south taken from bank, looking west calanaisczas
Ventilation shaft and arc of stone of the second to the south taken from bank, looking west
'Plan of part of the lands of Prestwick belonging to the Freeholders, 1814'. showing location of Bell-Rock pit and ruins of Bell Rock pans 06/10/2015 'Plan of part of the lands of Prestwick belonging to the Freeholders, 1814'. showing location of Bell-Rock pit and ruins of Bell Rock pans training1
'Plan of part of the lands of Prestwick belonging to the Freeholders, 1814'. showing location of Bell-Rock pit and ruins of Bell Rock pans
E.g. of perforated sandstone block in the vicinity of the structure 06/10/2015 E.g. of perforated sandstone block in the vicinity of the structure training1
E.g. of perforated sandstone block in the vicinity of the structure
E.g. of dressed stone block in the vicinity of the structure 06/10/2015 E.g. of dressed stone block in the vicinity of the structure training1
E.g. of dressed stone block in the vicinity of the structure
Looking S towards Ayre 06/10/2015 Looking S towards Ayre training1
Looking S towards Ayre
Looking N 06/10/2015 Looking N training1
Looking N
Closer view looking NW 06/10/2015 Closer view looking NW training1
Closer view looking NW
Looking SE. Sewer and base of rock armoured coast edge in background. 06/10/2015 Looking SE. Sewer and base of rock armoured coast edge in background. training1
Looking SE. Sewer and base of rock armoured coast edge in background.
Looking NW towards Bell Rock 06/10/2015 Looking NW towards Bell Rock training1
Looking NW towards Bell Rock

Submitted updates

Update id Date User
4492 04/05/2023 calanaisczas
2237 06/10/2015 training1
Tidal state Low
Site located? Unsure
Proximity to coast edge Intertidal
Coastally eroding? active sea erosion
Coastal defence Yes
Visibility above ground Limited visibility (partial remains)
Access accessible - difficult terrain
Local knowledge has local associations/history
Description A46. Two arcs of boulders exist creating an approximately oval shape 10 m wide. The boulders are up to 1 m in size and may be dressed/quarried. This is, however, difficult to ascertain as they are limpet covered and the natural rock fractures in a regular fashion. ShoreUPDATE 06-10-15: In this location is the remains of a perfectly circular stone structure, with an external diameter of 4.3m and internal diameter of 3.1m. It is constructed with squared blocks of dense dark grey (igneous?) rock, bonded with shelly lime mortar. It survives to a height of one course, although there is evidence in the quantities of tumbled blocks which surround an fill the structure that it would have stood higher - probably until recently. Local information supported by documentary and map evidence suggest this is the remains of a ventilation shaft associated with a nearby coal mine. Bell-Rock Pit is marked on an 1816 plan of Prestwick very near to this site. Map evidence shows that this stretch of coastline has /is suffering from quite dramatic erosion, still evident today. This feature would have originally been located in the dunes. Dressed and carved stone is present across the foreshore in this area. Some of this may originate from the structure. Some from the former sandstone quarry behind the coast edge.
Undertake limited clearance to clarify the structure. Survey the visible remains. Collate the historic evidence that interprets the site. Search the foreshore for any more industrial heritage remains being revealed through sediment loss.

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