Monument record 10337 - ECC 33.12 Cromore, Meal a' Charnan

Summary

Blackhouse

Location

Grid reference NB 40290 21290 (point)
Map sheet NB42SW
Island Lewis
Parish LOCHS, Western Isles

Map

Type and Period (4)

Full Description

"Situated on the high ground to the east of Cromore and to the south of Meal a' Charnan, the well preserved remains of this house measure 8 x 4 metres and are orientated from south-west to north-east. Standing to more than 1 metre high the walls are constructed of stone faces with earth cores and breached by a single entrance located 1 metre from the south-west end of the south-east facing wall. No internal features can be defined that would help in defining the internal division of space within the structure. It is constructed on a very slight slope that dips from south-west to north-east along the length of the building, suggesting that if it was ever occupied as a house the dwelling was at the south-west end and the byre was at the north-east end. If this was the case, however, it would suggest that the current entrance is a later feature as it would open directly into the dwelling - unheard of in blackhouse construction. The width of the entrance supports this, as does the general state of the south-easterly wall which seems to have been poorly constructed compared to the rest of the building. This suggests that the building has been re-used after its abandonment as a house, for stock control or storage." (Burgess 2004, 117)


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2004, Archaeological Survey and Evaluation of Eilean Chalium Chille and the Putative Site of the Seaforth Head Castle (Unpublished document).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  • --- Unpublished document: Chris Burgess, Northamptonshire Archaeology. 2004.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 28 2004 11:27AM

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