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MHG12868 - Kyle of Tongue, Ferry House

Summary

This building is hexagonal and is constructed on a raised hexagonal stone-flagged and revetted platform.

Type and Period (3)

Protected Status

Full Description

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.

Described in the NMRS as a possible toll-house from information supplied by J Close-Brooks in 1985. This building is hexagonal and is constructed on a raised hexagonal stone-flagged and revetted platform and has a facetted roof which is also hexagonal and raised to a central point. This building was renovated in 1990 by Lyndall Leet (Beaton 1995, 90) and has been pebble-dashed and white-washed although original stonework can be seen around the windows and doors. It is currently being used as a residence and is in a good state of repair. There is an iron hook hanging over the front door, which the current tenant stated was used to hang a lamp to notify the ferryman at the west side of the Kyle that passengers were waiting on the east side. There is a re-used (Beaton, ibid) wrought iron gate carrying a double S (for Sutherland) design which closes off the drive-way to this building. Beaton describes this structure as a watch-tower, which gave shelter to those awaiting the ferry (ibid; 90). Although the structure seems sound and well cared-for, the platform on which it rests and the stairs which lead up to it are becoming overgrown with weeds and grass. <1>

Small octagonal ? Building on the edge of the land beside the causeway - HAW 4/2004

This is shown as 'signal house' on the 1st edition OS 6" map (Landmark version, c.1870)
JW 7/8/03

NMRS Notes:
NC55NE 30 5856 5861.
Classified by Close-Brooks as a ferry look-out. Info to RCAHMS 1985.

Sources/Archives (1)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 5852 5861 (30m by 30m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC55NE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	TONGUE

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