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MHG17770 - Farmstead - Raasay Forest, Raasay

Summary

A complex of at least three buildings about 50m to the north east of the burn.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

Farmstead: recorded during May 1993 ahead of felling mature trees. Full details are lodged with Dualchas, Skye and Lochaish Museums Service.
Sponsor: Forest Enterprise.
Dualchas 1994b

Three unroofed buildings are depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire, Isle of Skye 1881, sheet xxiv) and on the current edition of the OS 1:10560 map (1968).
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 17 October 1996

An Archaeological Survey of the townships of North & South Screapadal, with a survey of the surrounding area, on Raasay was undertaken by ACFA in 1997.

Feature 16; Farmstead. At the end of the firebreak, hidden under a tangle of fallen, but not all dead, trees is a complex of at least three buildings about 50m to the north east of the burn which is crossed down at the forest road by the recently repaired bridge.

Building 1 (NG 5786 4560) lying on an east-west axis has clearly had several alterations during its lifetime. As finally used it measures 10.5m by 3.5m with the moss (and tree) covered walls standing to a height of 0.8m as far as could be determined in the dense tangle of undergrowth: The east wall is rounded although the south east comer is squared off. There is evidence of an entrance about two thirds of the way along the south wall and the squared off west wall has the appearance of rebuild. The north wall has a distinct bell in its length, which is probably due to the pressure of tree growth or fall. No internal features could be identified in the undergrowth. The north wall of the building continues to the west at the same height and quality of build as the building remains. This may be the site of an adjoining building but the tangle of growth and fallen trees made this impossible to establish with any certainty. Alternatively the wall may surround a kitchen garden or kale yard and it did not appear to continue sufficiently far towards the bum to be an enclosure dyke.

Building 2 of this site measures 6.5m by 2.6m with the highest standing wall at 0.8m. It lies approximately 15 metres to the south of and parallel to, the first building. Both end walls of this building are rounded. It is so overgrown there is no evidence of doors or windows though the door may be on the north side as there is a clear area in the tumble in the middle of the north wall. The walls are approximately 0.6m thick.

Building 3 (at NG 5784 4554) is at right angles to the other two and is about 8.9m by 3. 1m. The walls at both ends are unusually square in this building, although the comers are rounded, and it stands to a height of over Im with a thickness of 0.6m. There are two internal features. At the south end of the building, running its full width of 1.2m, is an enclosed area which could only be described as a bed recess. This is comparable with the small chamber in Feature 14 above. Adjoining the recess is a sub circular feature measuring 1.6 metres in diameter. After discarding thoughts that this second feature was a still or even a kiln, as it is butted on to the outside wall, the survey team came to the conclusion that it is a later addition and is probably a lambing pen. Trees have so tumbled the walls that there is no evidence of a door, though this is most likely to have been on the east wall.

To the south west of the buildings, down towards the burn, is an area ofrig & furrow field cultivation. The group of buildings are recorded on the OS map. Local sources give a place name in this area 'Baile Mhic Thorcuill' which may be this settlement. <1>

Note: Site not visible on aerial photographs so location based on 1st Edition OS 6". (TB 9/10/26)

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 5786 4561 (42m by 62m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG54NE
Geographical Area	SKYE AND LOCHALSH
Civil Parish	PORTREE

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Related Investigations/Events (1)

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