Monument record 2877 - NORTH TOLSTA, LEWIS

NB54NW 29.00 centred on 538 475

NB54NW 29.01 539 477 Crofting Township
NB54NW 29.02 539 473 Crofting Township
NB54NW 29.03 5362 4701 Smithy
NB54NW 29.04 5345 4738 Shieling-huts (Possible)
NB54NW 29.05 5356 4723 Shieling-huts (Possible)
NB54NW 29.06 5349 4792 Buildings; Enclosures
NB54NW 29.07 5375 4745 Township

'The principle portion of this village consists of a row of huts nearly in a straight line and placed at short intervals from one and other. They appear to have been built with an unusual degree of skill and attention to uniformity and equallity of dementions, and are erected with sods, their outer walls being faced with dry stones. At a short distance behind and nearly parellel to the above line of huts, are a number of low black looking one placed in promiscous groups, and are apparently much older and inferior looking the former (NB54NW 29.02).'
Name Book 1853, Book No.

At least two phases of crofting development are decernable from the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Island of Lewis Ross-shire 1853, sheet 8).
The 1st phase is an early linear crofting township (NB54NW 29.01) which has been destroyed by the creation of the present crofting field-system. NB54NW 29.06 and .07 may also be part of this early phase.
The second phase is represented by another linear crofting township which has been laid out abutting a straight wall or head-dyke (NB54NW 29.02). This crofting township provides the basis for the current township.
This is pattern of development is similar to other Lewis crofting township such as Bragar (NB24NE 33).
A head-dyke is also depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Island of Lewis Ross-shire 1853, sheet 8). It may represent the orginal pre-improvement township boundary. The head-dyke is not shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1974).
Information from RCAHMS (AKK) 5 March 1997.