Clay tobacco pipes thought to date from the 19th century have been found on land that once belong to an East Renfewshire tobacco merchant.

The pipes were unearthed by National Trust for Scotland archaeologists on agricultural land near Greenbank House in Clarkston.

The Georgian house was built in 1763 by Glasgow merchant Robert Allason.

Mr Allason made his fortune trading with Britain's American colonies, eventually owning land in the Caribbean.

Profits from trade in both tobacco and slaves allowed him to buy Flenders Farm and establish the house.

Recent ploughing in two fields disturbed a number of artefacts which included white glazed pottery, green bottle glass, buttons, one corroded coin and over 110 pieces of clay tobacco pipes.

All the pipes found were manufactured in Glasgow by companies including A. Coghill, Christie, J. Shaw, T. McLachlin and Alexander.

Trust archaeologist Derek Alexander said in a statement: "It is not unusual to find pottery and glass in fields, because artefacts like this were often dumped on farmland throughout the 19th century.

"However, it is unusual to find such a high concentration of pipes. We don't know if this is simply the result of dumping a load of farm refuse on the spot or whether it marks the area where ploughmen and farm labourers rested and smoked."