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MHG66056 - Settlement - Inverhope

Summary

An extensive deserted settlement.

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

A rapid coastal zone assessment survey was conducted by GUARD in the Autumn of 1997 commissioned by Historic Scotland from the Viking and Early Settlement Archaeological Research Project based at the University of Glasgow.

Located on a plateau overlooking the mouth of the River Hope is an extensive deserted settlement. This is comprised of at least five structures strung out N-S along a narrow terrace between steep slopes down to the shore at the west and up to the hinterland at the east. The most northerly structure in the complex is represented by rectangular stone foundations measuring 10 m by 3.5 m externally. The walls are 0.75 m thick, stand to one course high and consist of rough quartzite and limestone blocks. There is no obvious entrance and no visible internal features. There is not a great quantity of tumble in the area, so this may have been a turf structure on stone footings. These remnants are heavily covered in moss, bracken and heather.

Approximately 45 m to the south of this is a possible rectangular structure which measures 6 m N-S by 2.5 m. These remnants are similar to the first in that they are characterised by rough stone blocks, one course high with little tumble evident. Some sections of the walling are missing. Walling is evident below the heather and bracken at the south, east and west and, although the W wall curves to the north, there is a gap in this area and the wall does not link with the east side. There is stone evident by probing below the turf at the north end. The walls of this structure are 0.7-0.8 m wide and stand to 0.2 m high at the east and 0.4 m high at the W. These foundations are heavily overgrown with moss, bracken and heather.

Located approximately 27 m to the south of this (at NC 4791 6174) is a possible corn-drier. This building is 7 m N-S by 4 m and is constructed from quartzite blocks standing three courses high. The north end has squared corners and the south end is rounded. This S end would appear to be the bowl of the corn-drier and, although much obscured by tumble, the semi-circular outer face and the interior circular face are partially visible. The bowl is up to 0.5 m deep though filled with tumble so it would have been higher and deeper. Again this site is covered with moss, bracken and heather. The most southerly element of this complex is a longhouse and enclosure. The longhouse is 22 m long N-S by 5 m over walls 1 m thick and rarely surviving higher than 2 courses (0.5 m). There is a large quantity of tumble at the W of the structure and at either gable-end as well as around the central dividing wall. There are two possible entrances, leading into either compartment, in the west wall and one leading into the north compartment in the east wall. Little else of the structural detail can be ascertained.

There is a large, irregular shaped enclosure which abutts this longhouse at the east side. This covers an area approximately 18 m N-S by 11 m. The enclosure-wall utilises bedrock outcrops to the E and the wall survives in places up to 3-4 courses (1 m ) high though reduced to one course in patches. There is a pathway through the enclosure which runs through gaps in the walling and this may be contemporary. Alternatively this may be a post-abandonment sheep-track with the walling deliberately levelled. This trackway runs intermittently from Inverhope House at the south, past all the structures here described. There is also a clearance-cairn on the slope to the west of the longhouse but no other signs of cultivation. This structure and its environs are heavily covered with moss and bracken and sheep-grazing in the area is having a detrimental effect on the remains.

There is one further structure to be considered in conjunction with those already mentioned above. This lies on the shingle beach down-slope from the nucleus of the settlement (at NC 4786 6175) and is characterised as a rectangular, mortared stone ruin measuring 11 m N -S by 5 m. The walls stand to a maximum height of 1.1 m, although some parts have been reduced to one course, and are 0.6 m wide. There is an internal dividing-wall creating two similar-sized compartments and a possible entrance in
the W wall leading into the north compartment. This ruin is clearly being eroded at high tide and during storms. At the south of the settlement (at NC 4790 6182) is a stretch of stone-and-turf field dyke which runs N-S for c 32 m, is 1.5 m wide and 0.5 m high. This dyke has mostly tumbled down and has been cut by sheep tracks. This would appear to be the most southerly element of the deserted settlement and should be surveyed with it. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 2009 vertical aerial photographs. <2>

Roys Military Survey of Scotland, 1747-55 <3>

Sources/Archives (3)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 4789 6188 (59m by 131m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC46SE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	DURNESS

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

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