MHG27369 - Farmstead, enclosure and possible kaleyard, Sandaig (Allt Sanntaig), Rhu

Summary

Farmstead, enclosure and possible kaleyard or garden at Sandaig (Allt Sanntaig), Rhu

Type and Period (4)

  • FARMSTEAD (Post Medieval - 1560 AD? to 1900 AD?)
  • ENCLOSURE (Post Medieval - 1560 AD? to 1900 AD?)
  • KALE YARD? (Post Medieval - 1560 AD? to 1900 AD?)
  • GARDEN? (Post Medieval - 1560 AD? to 1900 AD?)

Protected Status

  • None recorded

Full Description

What may be a farmstead comprising two unroofed buildings is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire 1876, sheet cxxxv) and on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1974) although one of the buildings has only three walls.
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 19 August 1996

Sandaig, overlooking the sea to the south of the peninsula, was a significant settlement of at least eight sub rectangular features and several smaller structures possibly used for storage. It was surveyed in 2012 by Rough Bounds Archaeology et al.

Site 12. Substantial ruined building - walls to 13 /4 mtrs high facing sea to SW with large buttressing on SW and NE sides. Walls well built on seaward side, more degraded on landward side. No obvious evidence of windows and doorway central on SW side. The site is on or near a house once lived in by Alasdair MacMaister Alasdair, the warrior bard of the ‘45, who spent the last years of his life and died ca. 1770. His house, almost certainly built of turf, was destroyed after his death. Alasdair was to have been buried in Eilean Fhianain but the weather at the time was too stormy for the boat journey, so he was buried in Arisaig, the plan being to take his body to Eilean Fhianan at a later date. However this was not carried out and he lies in the graveyard at St Maol Rubha, Arisaig.

Another smaller building c. 5 x 5 mtrs just to NW of the large building and a low enclosure to the SW c. 10 x 10 mtrs with walls to ½ mtr and a natural dyke of bedrock forming the western wall. This last possibly a kale yard or garden. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 2012 aerial photographs <2>

1st Edition OS 6" <3>

Note; Smaller building not visible on aerial photographs so location approximate. (T. Blackie 18/2/19)

Sources/Archives (3)

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred NM 6560 8358 (26m by 20m) (2 map features)
Map sheet NM68SE
Civil Parish ARISAIG AND MOIDART
Geographical Area LOCHABER

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (1)

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