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MHG18885 - Farmstead - Dale Farm

Summary

A farmstead comprising an unroofed long building attached to an enclosure.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

Longhouse (ND 1410 5351). Dimensions: 20 x 5m. Rectangular structure formed by indefinite grass-covered walls 0.5m high. Orientation NW-SE.
R J Mercer, NMRS MS/828/19, 1995

A farmstead comprising an unroofed long building attached to an enclosure is shown on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Caithness 1876, sheet xvii). It is similarly depicted on the current edition of the OS 1:10560 map (1963), the building being shown with three compartments.
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 29 November 1995

An unroofed building within an enclosure was recorded here from 1872. On the ground it was defined as the stone footings of a ?turf-walled longhouse 22m long by 5m wide. The walls survive up to 0.5m high and are clay bonded. The MV end slopes downhill and is slightly narrower suggesting this might be the byre end of a traditional longhouse. It was possibly built at the beginning of the 19th century. To the north of the building and enclosure are the remains of a probable head dyke. It extends slightly further to the SE than illustrated on the OS map and may even have extended as far as Site 8, though this cannot be seen on the ground. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 1999-2001 vertical aerial photographs. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred ND 1408 5353 (43m by 48m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	ND15SW
Civil Parish	HALKIRK
Geographical Area	CAITHNESS

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Related Investigations/Events (1)

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