page_title: Monkcastle, North Ayrshire
section_title: Monkcastle fireclay mine
hierarchical_section_title: Monkcastle, North Ayrshire / Industry and transport / Minerals / Monkcastle fireclay mine
caption_attribution_description: English: A view of the embankment of the incline plain Monkcastle fireclay mine railway. Dalry, Ayrshire, Scotland.
context_page_description: Monkcastle, sometimes known as Old Monkcastle formed a small estate in the Parish of Kilwinning, North Ayrshire lying between Kilwinning and Dalry on the A737. The property was originally held by the Tironensian monks of Kilwinning Abbey and was probably the site of the abbot's country retreat. The 17th-century Monkcastle is a category B listed ruin, although it has been consolidated and stands next to a private house, constructed from the converted old home farm buildings. The 19th-century mansion of Monkcastle House is nearby, and is also category B listed. The castle may have been used as a dower house or retreat.
context_section_description: Until 1945 the Douglas Firebrick Company Ltd had its works located where the Wilson Car Auction company now trades (2010). A double track narrow gauge railway, working through a gravity driven 'cable and pulleys' system ran from the works to the fireclay mine on the lands of High Monkcastle.
  The surface of the inclined plane railroad was paved with firebricks, for employees to walk up the tracks to get to the main Dalry to Kilwinning road where they could catch a bus. The small brick structure gave them shelter from the weather, while they waited.
caption: A view of the inclined plane railway's embankment
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