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MHG18781 - Farmstead, Bad Na H-Achlaise

Summary

The later of two farmsteads at Bad na h'Achlaise

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

NC12SW 8 122 209

A farmstead comprising two unroofed buildings beside a field is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Sutherland 1878, sheet lxx). One unroofed building of four compartments and some field walls are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10,000 (1992).
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 14 September 1995

An archaeological desktop and walkover survey were undertaken by Historic Assynt in 2015 in an area of proposed woodland expansion in Glencanisp, Lochinver, Sutherland.

Site 16: Bad na h'Achlaise; FC category B. The later of the two farmsteads at Bad na h'Achlaise this site consists of a two compartment dry-stone house that still stands to 1.7m along most of the north, west and south walls. Its method of construction and design suggest an early to mid nineteenth century date, which may suggest this was ashepherd's house. The south wall shows signs of serious subsidence while it was still occupied and it has been given a large supporting buttress to the west and a reinforcing outer wall to the south. Part of the original roofing material survives in patches along the top of the south wall. The east wall is largely fallen but the entrance to the northern compartment is still obvious. A doorway in the dividing wall between the two compartments has been roughly blocked and part of the east wall of the southern compartment appears to have been demolished to create an entrance. Both modifications may relate to a period after the house's abandonment when the site was possibly used as a fank. <1>

This is the later of two farmsteads at Bad na h'Achlaise and was surveyed by members of Historic Assynt in 2016. Thie site consists of a N - S aligned, two compartment, dry-stone house which largely survives to 1.70m high, suggesting that the roof was supported on the walls rather than on crucks. The house corners are neatly rounded on the exterior but squared internally. The walls are 0.70m thick and largely very well built, although the south gable has obviously begun to fall outwards and been heavily buttressed to the west and south. Part of the original roofing material survives on top of the buttressed south gable. The northern room is 5.5 x 4m and the southern room 4,70 x 4m. The style and construction methods suggests that it was built in the first half of the nineteenth century most probably as a Shepherd's house.

A number of structures lie to the south and east, The easternmost is 6 x 2.20m internally and built in an identical manner to the house. It seems to be a contemporary outbuilding. The adjoining structures are much more roughly built, single thickness walls and together with modifications to the house suggest that the whole complex was turned into a fank - probably in about 1870 when a new Shepherd's house was built at Cnoc an Each in the neighbouring valley. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 1222 2092 (40m by 40m)
Map sheet	NC12SW
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	ASSYNT
Unitary Authority	HIGHLAND

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

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External Links (1)