MHG55845 - Farmhouse and turbine house - Glensgaich, Fodderty
Summary
A farmhouse with adjoining turbine house at Glensgaich was visited during a walkover survey prior to a proposed hydro-electric scheme in 1999.
Type and Period (2)
- FARMHOUSE (Post Medieval - 1560 AD to 1900 AD)
- TURBINE HOUSE (Built 1904, 20th Century - 1901 AD to 2000 AD)
Protected Status
- None recorded
Full Description
A farmhouse with adjoining turbine house at Glensgaich was visited by C Dagg during a walkover survey prior to a proposed hydro-electric scheme in 1999. It was described as a substantial farm house, though now derelict and vandalised, with a small outhouse attached to the west providing stabling. It had been extended to the rear and this intruded into the northwest corner of the turbine house. The turbine house, built for a hydro-electric scheme dating to 1904 had been constructed of granite rather than local stone. It was empty apart from two central trenches corresponding to the points of inflow and outflow at the front and back, with a small stone plinth between the two trenches. The hydro-electric scheme had been constructed for Colonel Blunt Mackenzie and although it came near to bankrupting the estate it did supply electricity for the shepherds house at Glenskaich, Castle Leod and some of the crofts along the Heights. It was subsequently bought by the Ross-shire Electrical Company andthen taken over y the Grampian Electrical Company and finally the Hydro Board before falling out of use. <1>
This site was noted in ARCH's Heritage Along the Kyle Line project in 2011. The house was part of a crofting township that was occupied within living memory. After 1834 the area was cleared for sheep, and later used for grouse shooting. In 1904 the Cromartie Estate installed a hydro-electric scheme, which served Castle Leod, the Heights and Strathpeffer Spa. This fell out of use, but a new hydro project built in the 1990s was providing electricity into the grid in 2011. The house at the right was the converted turbine house for this new hydro scheme. A post-medieval date was suggested as well as a grid reference of NH 45852 60914. <2>
Sources/Archives (2)
- <1> SHG21516 Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Dagg, C.. 1999. An Archaeological Survey of a proposed Hydro-Electric Scheme at Little Wyvis, Strathpeffer, Easter Ross. Unaffiliated. 18/08/1999. Paper (Original).
- <2> SHG25822 Dataset/Database File: Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands (ARCH). 2010-2012. Heritage Along the Kyle Line. Archaeology for Communities in the Highlands (ARCH). Yes. MDB. Site 2.
Map
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NH 45869 60890 (34m by 13m) (2 map features) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NH46SE |
| Geographical Area | ROSS AND CROMARTY |
| Civil Parish | FODDERTY |
Finds (0)
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Investigations/Events (2)
External Links (1)
- http://www.archhighland.org.uk/heritage-along-the-kyle-line.asp (Link to ARCH project website)
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