The Dunaskin Experience

Abstract

The Doon Valley in Ayrshire, Scotland has been the scene of a fascinating industrial diorama of a once thriving and bustling power house of the industrial revolution; a region full of coal and iron mines, ironworks, brickworks, power stations all underpinned by a comprehensive infra structure of services, dominated by an extensive steam railway system. Dunaskin lies at the heart of this region. It is the main centre of activity of the Dalmellington and District Conservation Trust and is a site of European importance with its characteristic landscape dominated by the two towering chimneys, a legacy of the ironworks which once stood there. A brief history of the site is given. An interesting facet is the Spanish connection, incredibly with the very area in which the STREMAH97 conference is being held. Dunaskin is a museum in the making and second year students from the Glasgow Caledonian University, studying on the B.Sc. course in Computer Aided Engineering, have been working on a number of projects involving the restoration of and research on a range of potential exhibits in the museum's Engineer's Workshop which is itself a scheduled ancient monument. One of these project is the refurbishment of a rare horizontal gas engine which will be used to provide motive power for a Dickinson Lathe and a Swift Radial Drill. This project has already attracted a generous grant from the Carnegie United Kingdom Trust. The restoration and history of the Stonefield Gomba truck, which is a unique product of the immediate vicinity, is discussed. Much experience has been gleaned from the pilot year of this highly successful joint venture and the lessons learned by all parties from this are catalogued in this paper from the points of view of both the Dunaskin Museum and the Glasgow Caledonian University.