Monument record 10122 - LSFH 1.10 Garadh an Tighearna

Summary

Turf and stone wall

Location

Grid reference NB 28075 17785 (point)
Map sheet NB21NE
Island Lewis
Parish LOCHS, Western Isles

Map

Type and Period (4)

Full Description

"Starting at the noth-est shore of the unnamed loch (Loch Mhor?) to the east of Loch Beag this turf dyke runs for 60 metres to the east north-east before turning towards the north-east and running for 370 metres. Turning to the north north-east it runs for a further 170 metres before turning back towards the north-east. From this point onwards for another 270 metres it is mirrored by a drainage ditch on its east side, that issues into the Abhainn Chleiteir, where the dyke terminates against the west shore of that burn. At its east end where the dyke runs into the waters of the unnamed loch (Loch Mhor?) to the eeast of Loch Beag it is constructed of drystone. Turning west it runs for a further 4 metres into the water, partially cutting the neck of an inlet at the north end of the loch, Then there is a break of 4 metres (the mouth of the inlet) and the drystone dyke takes up again, running along the north shore of the unnamed loch for 5 metres before turning to the north as a turf dyke. The continued course of this dyke could not be followed as the heather growth was too heavy to allow its line to be established. This dyke is named Garadh na Tighearna. Garadh is presumably a corruption of the Gaelic/Norse word gary or geirridh (as in Timsgary or Garynahine) meaning cattle/stock enclosure behind the shore. Tighearna refers to a house (Tigh) and tends to suggest that the Garadh na Tighearna was the stock corral relating to a specific house or settlement in the vicinity, possibly that of the landlord or his factor/tacsman." Part of: "Stock grazing management field system; probably relating to pre-crofting or early crofting period summer grazing, consisting of a series of turf walls with some stone reinforcements around gateways and where the walls run across areas of bedrock." (Burgess 2004, 27-28 and 17)


Chris Burgess, Northamptonshire Archaeology, 2004, Archaeological Survey and Evaluation of Eilean Chalium Chille and the Putative Site of the Seaforth Head Castle (Unpublished document). SWE41054.

Sources/Archives (1)

  • --- Unpublished document: Chris Burgess, Northamptonshire Archaeology. 2004. Archaeological Survey and Evaluation of Eilean Chalium Chille and the Putative Site of the Seaforth Head Castle. Loch Seaforth Head Gazeteer.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Jul 14 2004 10:14AM

Comments and Feedback

Do you have any questions or more information about this record? Please feel free to comment below with your name and email address. All comments are submitted to the website maintainers for moderation, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible. Comments, questions and answers that may be helpful to other users will be retained and displayed along with the name you supply. The email address you supply will never be displayed or shared.