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MHG11914 - Pier - Ard Neackie

Summary

Early C19 rubble pier serving the Heilam-Portnancon ferry and later the lime kilns.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

Early C19 rubble-built pier. It served the Heilam-Portnancon Ferry across Loch Eriboll and later (c.1870) the limekilns (see MHG11911) immediately to the north.

The stone pier which served the ferry across Loch Eriboll to Portnancon was built in the early C19 by the Sutherland/Stafford family together with the Heilam Inn nearby. <1>

The kilns, pier and quarry were scheduled in 1978.

The house to the northeast (see MHG10181), kilns and pier were listed at Category B in 1984.

A rapid coastal zone assessment survey was conducted by GUARD in the Autumn of 1997 commissioned by Historic Scotland from the Viking and Early Settlement Archaeological Research Project based at the University of Glasgow.

Straddling the pebble and rock beach at the SE edge of the tombola is a dressed stone, mortared pier which measures 38 m long, 4.5 m wide and up to 2.5 m high. This was built in the early part of the el9th by the Sutherland/Stafford family to service the ferry which plied the width of Loch Eriboll to Portnancon on the west side (see Map 4; no 16). In the latter half of the century, this pier was also used to service the adjacent lime-kiln (Close-Brooks, 1995; 59). The structure is relatively sound, but has some vegetation in the form of mosses and grass growing on it which may eventually destabilise the fabric. There is also a small, stone boat-house at the landward end of this pier which currently houses fishing-nets and tackle. <2>

Early C19 rubble-built pier. It served the Heilam-Portnancon Ferry across Loch Eriboll and later (c.1870) the limekilns (see MHG11911) immediately to the north. At Portnancon is a corresponding long stone pier (see MHG25250). The pier is associated with the former Heilam Inn/Ferry House to the north. <3>

The site was reviewed by Historic Scotland in 2017 as part of the Dual Designation Project. The site was not visited and it was recommended that the site be descheduled but that the kilns and pier remain remain listed.

The site was descheduled in 2017. <4>

Sources/Archives (7)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 4470 5960 (24m by 23m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC45NW
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	DURNESS

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (2)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (2)