Scottish Iron Works 25 inch scale mapped 1858

In The Economic history of the British Iron and Steel industry 1784-1878  (London, 1967) Alan Birch provides a list -Appendix II, p.389 of Iron Furnaces in Blast, July 1849. For the Scottish blast furnaces, I have located each one on the National Library of Scotland's digital maps website, First Series 25 inch to the mile maps - surveyed 1856, published 1860. The following are the captured images for the iron works (apart from Carron). More details will be added to help identify the sites, however the name of the iron works is shown in each image.  

Gartsherrie Iron Works

Gartsherrie Iron Works

Gartsherrie by Night - Caleb Robert Stanely 1853

Govan Iron Works - split over two maps.
 

Govan Iron Works circa 1850

Omoa Iron Works 

Glengarnock Iron Works

Glengarnock circa 1885

Blair Iron Works 

Shotts Iron Works

Dalmellington Iron Works

Muirkirk Iron Works

Dundyvan Iron Works 

Langloan Iron Works

Lugar Iron Works

Lugar Iron Works circa 1900



Garscube Iron Works -only one furnace in blast in July 1849. No rail connection shown, so may have been out of use by time of 1849 survey.

Clyde Iron Works 

Devon Iron Works 

Lochgelly Iron Works - in Fife, not covered by First Series 25 inch maps, so this image taken from First Series 6 inch to mile map. (Surveyed 1840s)

Forth Iron Works - in Fife, not covered by First Series 25 inch maps, so this image taken from First Series 6 inch to mile map. (Surveyed 1840s)

Kinneil Iron Works - on edge of map so some detail lost.

Coltness Iron Works

Eglington Iron Works

Monkland Iron and Steel Works

Calder Iron Works 

Carnbroe (Carnbrae?) Iron Works

Castlehill Iron Works

Chapelhall Iron Works

New Cumnock Iron Works

Summerlee Iron Works 

Early Irish Settlements in Galloway

Charles Thomas' 1967 map of early Irish Settlement in Galloway

Visting the Galloway Picts Project dig at Trusty's Hill, Gatehouse of Fleet last Friday, I asked Ronan Toolis (archaeologist in charge) if there might have been a connection between the site and Ardwall Island, which is visible from Trusty's Hill. Ronan was doubtful since he though the chapel on Ardwall Island was Anglian/ Northumbrian and so later than the period of occupation at Trusty's Hill.

Both sites were excavated by Charles Thomas (Trusty's Hill in 1960, Ardwall in 1964/5) and I was sure that Thomas had dated Phases I of the Ardwall chapel to the fifth century. I checked with Thomas' report on the Ardwall site in the Transactions of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society (3rd Series, Vol. 43) and found that he had suggested sixth century date for Phase I (but possibly fifth)...

I then read through a more detailed report Thomas had written for Medieval Archaeology Vol XI (1967) on the Ardwall site. This confirmed that Phases I and II were sixth and seventh century. The report also contained the above map showing possible  early Irish settlements in Galloway and Dumfries. These settlements could have introduced Gaelic into Galloway before the Gall-ghaidheil.

Thomas also included an illustration of a possibly Pictish (Type 2) style carving found on Ardwall Island.All very interesting...

Three ospreys at Threave, Castle Douglas 14 May

Three ospreys- one female on nest, male and other female in flight.

Monday 14 May 2012 Alistair junior took this photo of three opsreys at the Threave, Castle Douglas nest site. One female was on the nest, the other female and the male were flying around. This is very exciting, since until last week end, there was only the male at the nest.

Solitary osprey at nest, Threave, Castle Douglas 12 April

Visited the Threave, Castle Douglas osprey nest 12 April 2012. Four local RSPB members were there and some discussion about female osprey took place. I said my son had seen a pair of ospreys on the nest on 5 April. Today, again, only one (male?) osprey was at the nest.

Here is one of the photos he took of the pair on the nest. I assume they were a male and female.

Pair of ospreys Threave, Castle Douglas 5 April 2012

Castle Douglas osprey watch 10 April

Male osprey at Threave, Castle Douglas nest 10 April 2012

Went out to Threave castle nest site  10 April with my son and we saw the male osprey. We have not seen the female since 5 April 2012

Osprey feeding near Castle Douglas

Alistasir junior saw the male osprey feeding this morning Monday 9 April 2012. However, we have not seen the female osprey since 4 April.

Male osprey feeding near nest No. 2  Threave, Castle Douglas  9 April.

Flying osprey, Threave, Castle Douglas 2 April 2012

Osprey in flight Threave, Castle Douglas  2 April 2012

My son Alistair (junior) took these photos of osprey in flight Monday morning 2 April 2012.

Osprey in flight (2) Threave, Castle Douglas 2 April 2012