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MHG23303 - Farmstead, Allt na Criche, Breakachy Burn, Urchany

Summary

Ruined farmstead, kiln and enclosures at Allt na Criche, Breakachy Burn, Urchany

Type and Period (3)

Protected Status

Full Description

A farmstead comprising two unroofed buildings, one of which has an attached enclosure, and a short length of wall is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire 1876, sheet x). An unroofed circular structure attached to the building may be a horse-gang. The building, the enclosure and further lengths of wall are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1975).
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 14 May 1996

The North of Scotland Archaeological Society (NoSAS) undertook an archaeological survey of Urchany in 2015.

Site V60; Allt na Criche settlement. The C19th settlement west of the Allt na Criche consists of extensive enclosure walls, a building, and a sunken area with perhaps a pond. On the estate maps covering this area there is no settlement shown until 1838. In the 1841 census there are three people living at “Aultnacrich”: Donald Mackay, agricultural labourer, Mary Mackay, and a 14 year old boy Finlay, presumably their son. We know from newspaper adverts that Urchany was used for sheep farming at this time. The settlement of two, possibly three, buildings lies at the northern upper end of a large enclosure bordered to the west by a stone dyke. A kiln, presumably corn-drying, lies just to the south of building A, with evidence of raised ground and walls between the two, suggesting that the kiln may have been part of a barn contiguous with the other buildings. <1>

1st Edition OS 6" <2>

NGR adjusted based on 2009 aerial photographs. <3>

Sources/Archives (3)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 4562 4547 (30m by 26m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH44NE
Civil Parish	KILMORACK
Geographical Area	INVERNESS

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (1)