Description

A beer bottle found in the River Irvine below the Laigh Milton Viaduct during conservation works (1995-96). The raised lettering on the bottle indicates:

TURNER & EWING
KILMARNOCK
ESTABLISHED
1810
REGISTERED BOTTLE

It is believed the bottle may have been thrown into the river by a workman building (or maintaining) the railway or by a passenger on one of the many trains taking people on outings from Kilmarnock to Troon. The viaduct was closed to traffic in 1846. The bottle in all probability will date between 1810 and 1846.

For a detailed description of the conservation works click here.

For further information on the viaduct see http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=1243.

For a general description and images of early cast iron plate railways see https://tringlocalhistory.org.uk/Railway/c03_track.htm.

For a film of the restoration works click here.

For an article on the history of the Kilmarnock & Troon Railway written by John Yellowlees in the Scotman newspaper (dated 25 August 2022) click here).