Monument record 989 - UAMH GHRANTRAICH, USINISH, SOUTH UIST

NF 83SW 6 8423 3338 and 8425 3336.

(NF 8430 3337) Uamh Ghrantaich. End House (NR)
OS 6"map, Inverness-shire, 1st ed., (1880)

At the foot of a steep rock face, at NF 8423 3338, there are the mutilated remains of an earth house comprising three almost circular chambers, and two interconnecting passages. The entrance is in the north side of 'A' which is completely exposed, the latter measuring 3.0m in diameter and now only about 1.2m high. The passage leading from 'A' to 'B' is still underground and has a sharp bend in it. It is 0.7m high, 0.9m wide and 4.6m long. 'B' which is the best preserved of the three chambers, is 2.0m in diameter and is now completel enclosed showing corbelled walling; two cupboards in the northern wall and the entrance to the second passage, the latter 0.6m high, 0.5 wide and 1.6m long. 'C' is completely underground and only an estimated diameter of 2.5m can be taken. The overall height of the structure must have been about 2.6 metres.
Thirty metres SE of the earth house there are the scant remains of a hut circle, 6.0m in diameter, within a small enclosure (at NF 8425 3336). Surveyed at 1/10560.
Visited by OS (R D) 16 May 1965.

This earth house was not noted by the RCAHMS in 1915. Nor does Thomas refer to it at all, although he is one of the authories for its publication on the OS 6"map, 1880. Thomas recorded only two earth houses in this vicinity and these have been identified by the field investigator with Uamh Iosal - NF83SW 2 and with NF83SW 5
RCAHMS 1928; F W L Thomas 1870; Name Book 1876.

F W L Thomas, 1866-8, Proc Soc Antiq Scot, 165-8 (Bibliographic reference). SWE7733.

RCAHMS, 1928, The RCAHMCS 9th Report & Inventory: Outer Hebrides, Skye and the Small Isles, 116-18, Nos. 395 and 396 (Bibliographic reference). SWE5587.

Name Book (County), 1998, Name Books of the Ordnance Survey, Book No. 13, 51 (Unpublished document). SWE4254.