Monument record 11471 - FEADAN LEITIR, LEWIS

NB33NW 43 3434 3609

What may be four unroofed shieling-huts annotated 'Ruins' are depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Island of Lewis, Ross-shire 1852, sheet 19), but they are not shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1972).
Information from RCAHMS (AKK) 5 November 1998.

An archaeological assessment was undertaken in advance of a potential windfarm development at Beinn Mholach and Arnish Moor. A total of 29 areas (over 100 individual sites) of archaeological remains were identified, most of which relate to post-medieval shieling practice, lazy bed cultivation, peat cutting, and to the 19th and 20th-century use of these upland areas. The proposed windfarm development involves two areas of peat moorland in the centre of Lewis. (GUARD 891).
NB 3434 3609
Feadan Leitir
Shieling group.
Full report lodged with the NMRS.
Sponsor: Dulas Ltd
J Hooper 2001
REPORT DATE: 17/06/2002


B081-083 NB 3434 3609
Feadan Leitir, three probably mounded structures
A group of four roofed shieling huts on the north bank of the Feadan Leitir, three of which clearly sit on mounds, are annotated as 'ruins' on the OS 1st ed map (1849-52). The fourth hut, lying slightly further to the north-west than the other three, lies within a larger cleared area. There is no indication of anything in this location on either the 2nd edition (1895) or current edition (1972) OS map. On the aerial photographs from 1989, two large mounds, plus four smaller ones and a number of other possible mounds, are visible.

B081 NB 34323 36076
B082 NB 34305 36099
B083 NB 34276 36117
On undulating ground on the north bank of the burn, two mounded structures were located, each with the ephemeral remains of what appeared to be the foundations of drystone shieling huts on top of them. The surviving stonework on top of B082 suggests a hut measuring c. 3-4m long by 2m broad, and aligned NE-SW. A third probable mound lay just to the north-west, but no structural remains were visible.
Hooper 2000, 20

Also listed in J Hooper 2001, 104

Janet Hooper, 2000, Lewis: Project 891 (Bibliographic reference). SWE41076.

Council for Scottish Archaeology, 2001, Discovery and Escavation in Scotland (Bibliographic reference). SWE41185.