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MHG56854 - Lime kiln - Gobh Alltan, Loch Mullardoch, Kintail

Summary

A possible lime kiln near Loch Mullardoch in Kintail.

Type and Period (1)

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Full Description

This site was visited and photographed by R Spencer-Jones of NOSAS on the 7th of May 2014. He described the site as:
"On the south facing slopes at the western end of Loch Mullardoch, above the dwelling at Gobh-alltan is a kiln built into the southern aspect of a small knoll. The bowl of the kiln, 3-4m diameter, is lined with stone and is well preserved. There is a sill at the bottom of the southern wall, probably representing the outlet of the kiln." <1>

Several circular stone-built structures were identified on land exposed by low water at the top west end of Glen Cannich by Glenn Wilks, a walker, on the 29th June 2021. Following notification to Historic Environment Scotland, four members of the North of Scotland Archaeological Society and Mr Wilks visited this area on 27th July 2021. Their aim was to survey these structures and to obtain material for carbon dating before the waters of the loch rose again. Other structures in the area were surveyed and also on a followup visit.

Kiln. A kiln was identified in 2014 and revisited by Roland Spencer-Jones of NOSAS on 10th August 2021.
It is set into the south facing base of a small knoll that stands abruptly amongst the gentle north-sloping ground south of the Amhain Sithidh river and 100m west of the north-flowing Allt a Chair Aird at the west end of what was Loch Lungard, now subsumed into Loch Mullardoch. The surrounding ground is now covered with heather and rough moor but shows evidence of numerous drainage channels. There is no evidence of other buildings or structures associated with the kiln, nor is there evidence of a track to the top of it.

The bowl of the kiln, 2.5m diameter at the current top of the ruined walls, is lined with stone and well preserved. There is a sill at the base of the southern wall, probably representing the outlet of the kiln. The back, ie north wall of the kiln stands to 1.6m high, the south wall stands 0.8m. It’s not clear what sort of kiln this was. It’s squat structure built into the side of a hillock might suggest a limekiln, but that implies carting in limestone, probably from the east. It’s possible that it could be a corn-drying kiln, which in turn implies the cultivation of grain in this area. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NH 0866 2895 (6m by 6m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NH02NE
Geographical Area	SKYE AND LOCHALSH
Civil Parish	KINTAIL

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