Monument record 3913 - NORTH GALSON, LEWIS

NB45NW 58.00 centred on 443 589

NB45NW 58.01 4420 5930 Township
NB45NW 58.02 4470 5890 Crofting Township
NB45NW 58.03 4490 5850 Crofting Township
NB45NW 58.04 4456 5932 Farmstead

The present crofting township of North Galson is situated between the North and South Galson rivers extending for a distance of 1km inland from the coast.
At least three phases of development of North Galson are depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Island of Lewis, Ross-shire 1853, sheet 2), similar to other townships in Lewis (eg. North Bragar, Barvas and Arnol).
The 1st phase is the scattered township, extending inland from the coast occuping the area of fertile arable ground.
The 2nd phase is the development of a linear crofting township.
The 3rd phase is the crofting arrangement laid out along roads which has, for the most part, survived to the present. Part of this 3rd phase to the south of the present trunk road (A857), may not have been finished and has failed. The present settlement is concerntrated to the N of the main road.
No field-system to the N of the main road is shown with the 3rd phase, however the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1974) shows a field-system unlike that seen at the other crofting townships on Lewis. Instead of the long narrow strips or crofts, North Galson has wide rectangluar fields often sub-divided.
Information from RCAHMS (AKK) 7 April 1997.