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MHG66263 - Possible mill - Aird Torrisdale

Summary

A platform with tumble and structural elements visible in places.

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.

Cut into sloping ground on the south bank of a small stream is a platform with tumble and structural elements visible in places. This platform appears to have been revetted at the north side at the level of the stream-bed as it flows past, but this area has been obscured by undergrowth. Similarly there is an area of possible revetment at the south of the platform, at the level of the ground-surface of the platform, which is protecting against land-slip from the raised ground at the rear. This revetment is visible in two stretches (the other visible at the west), with land-slip or undergrowth obscuring any possible continuation in the area in between, and survives to two-three courses. The distance between the north and south areas of revetment is 3.5 m and the platform is up to 8 m long.

There is a further possible area of revetment at the east or seaward side of the platform. This is evident for only 1 m across and is one course high, with some tumble to the east of it. This latter feature may be step-constructed at this point to create a level surface in the area to the west. The only further structural element visible at this site is a small section of walling which runs from the north edge of the platform down-slope to the stream. There is another smaller stream which runs S-N across the east end of this platform. This site may be the very ruined remains of a mill - as evidenced by its proximity to two streams. However, there is no convincing evidence that either of these streams has been modified to effectively channel the water supply and so this identification remains extremely tentative.<1>

NGR adjusted based on 1999-2001 vertical aerial photographs. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NC 6813 6284 (16m by 14m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NC66SE
Geographical Area	SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish	TONGUE

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

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