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MHG44346 - Possible hut circle and/or sheep fold - Ledmore

Summary

A large possible hut circle and/or a later sheep fold near Ledmore.

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

A large possible hut circle and/or a later sheep fold near Ledmore.

(NC 2478 1182) Enclosure (NR)
OS 6"map, (1967)

A circular turf-banked enclosure 14.0m in diameter between the centres of a bank, containing little stone, spread to 3.0m with a mutilation in the SSW where the entrance may have been.
It is more likely to have been a sheepfold rather than a hut circle. Surveyed at 1:10560. (OS {F R H} 5 June 1962)
Visited by OS (J M) 9 July 1974; Visible on RAF air photograph CPE/SCOT/UK 180: 1372-3

NC 2478 1182. Almost certainly a ruined sheep-pen. In addition, Ledmore crofting settlement (NC 2458 1199) with, at NC 2450 1235, a probably associated series of inter-connecting banks. NC 2499 1208, a further series of inter-connecting banks, 0.2m high, which are probably associated with the crofting settlement and at NC 2485 1177 a large, recent field enclosure, with banks about 2m high, having a ditch about 1m wide on each side. <1>

An early modern sheepfold, primarily turf-built, as described by the previous authorities. The enclosures, banks, ruinous walls etc are probably associated with early modern land use.
Revised at 1:10,000.
Visited by OS (N K B) 1 & 2 September 1980.

224800 911800 Bad na Cleithe EB060: The hut circle was visited by A Welti and E Blackburn in 2013 as part of research for a dissertation on hut circles in Wester Ross. This was part of a degree course overseen by Aberdeen University. This circular structure sits on a knoll on a gentle north facing slope and has a very visible ring bank covered with rushes and grass, with a few stones discernable by prodding. There are forestry plantations within 200m of the site, and field boundaries in the surrounding landscape which is fairly flat and covered with grass and rushes. The Ledmore River meanders to the N and NW at a distance of around 200m. The site is 800m from fresh water Loch Borralan. Views from the site are panoramic inland with the mountain Suilven showing on the skyline to the NW. Inside the ring bank there seems to be a ditch, discernable in the NE arc otherwise the interior is grassy and flat. The inner diameter averages at 11.55m, outer diameter is 16.15m. The earth and stone bank appears to be constructed of a double skin of stones, but is much degraded by infestation of rushes. It is 1.6m thick with maximum height 0.6m. There is a burial cairn at a distance of 1000m on the N bank of the Ledmore River. It is possible that this structure is a ruined stell, not a round house as it seems to have been a massive structure, similar in dimensions to other stells in the area. <2> <3>

[Note: a database was set up as part of research for the dissertation and was subsequently expanded as an extension of the We Digs Project (see website link below). The full access database can be made available to enquirers/researchers if requested - contact HER for details].

GIS spatial data amended in 2019 to location as shown on 2009 Aps. <4>

Sources/Archives (4)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 2477 1182 (40m by 40m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC21SW
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	ASSYNT

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External Links (2)