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MHG665011 - House - Balachuirn

Summary

A sub-rectangular structure measuring 14m x 7m situated on the hillside above and to the south of the modem, occupied house.

Type and Period (1)

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Full Description

A township comprising thirteen roofed, three unroofed buildings, four enclosures, some field walls and a head-dyke is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire, Isle of Skye 1879, sheet xxx). There are three rectilinear plots at the S end of the township which indicates the partial allocation of crofts.
Ten roofed buildings, one of which has an attached enclosure, ten unroofed buildings, four other enclosures, some field walls and the fragmentary remains of a head-dyke are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1988).
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 31 October 1996

The survey of Balachuirn, Balmeanach, Brae, Inbhire (Inver on OS 1:10,000 map) and the surrounding area was carried out by ACFA in April 1996 as part of a continuing programme of recording the physical remains of human activity on the island of Raasay.

Feature 8. House. A sub-rectangular structure measuring 14m x 7m situated on the hillside above and to the south of the modem, occupied house and below a rocky scarp. It lies roughly northwest-southeast on its long axis in an area of ground with 2 clearance cairns on it. The house bas been dug into the ground with the 'floor' lying below the surrounding ground height. To the south the wall has been built into the hillside. The walls are of dry-stone construction with double faces and rubble infill. They remain standing to a height of 1.1m at the tallest point in the southwest. The entrance lies in the north wall. There was no evidence of windows or fireplaces. A low setting of stones 2m long at about 3m from the west wall suggests some internal walling foundations. The interior contained some stone which was grass and bracken covered. From the rocky scarp at the west of the house, low rough stone walling runs past the southeast comer and continues on to the edge of the steep drop to the track, effectively cutting the house off from the area of cleared ground to the south. To the northwest of the house is a shallow sub-circular depression about 4m x 2m which was thought to be natural. Above the rocky scarp to the west a track has led up to an area of cleared ground with clearance heaps in it and some natural outcrop. It was not possible to determine rig in this area with any certainty. This area was bounded to the southwest by the large turf and boulder bank described earlier which is visible running across the hillside to the north. <1>

Ordnance Survey Mastermap <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 5541 4086 (11m by 10m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG54SE
Geographical Area	SKYE AND LOCHALSH
Civil Parish	PORTREE

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