Monument record 11475 - LEWIS, AIRIGH A' CHREAGAIN

NB33NE 2 3526 3537

What may be two unroofed shieling-huts are depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Island of Lewis, Ross-shire 1852, sheet 19). What may be the location of three shieling-huts are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1972).
Information from RCAHMS (AKK) 24 September 1997.

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 3527 3537
Airigh a Chreagain
Shieling group.
Full report lodged with the NMRS.
Sponsor: Dulas Ltd
J Hooper 2001
REPORT DATE: 17/06/2002

B041-043 NB 3527 3537
Airigh a Chreagain, three unroofed, stone-built shieling huts.
A large and a smaller building are shown within a small enclosure on the OS 1st edition map (1849-52). In the Name Book, these are described as 'the ruins of a few shealings', their name signifying 'the shieling of the rocks'. No change is visible on the OS 2nd ed. Map. However, four, more scattered buildings are shown on the modern edition of the 1:10000 map (1972). On the vertical air photographs from 1989, one building, plus two smaller mounds, are visible, but the enclosure is not. Airigh a Chreagain lies on the south facing slopes of Beinn Mholach, within sight of Airigh Leitir.

B041 NB 35289 35367
On the higher east side of the knoll is a very elaborate shieling hut, measuring 4m long by 1.5m broad and aligned N-S. The walls stand to a height of 0.7m and are up to 1m in width, with a pronounced external batter giving it a rounded appearance. However, the internal angles are square. There are two slightly offseet doorways towards the north end of the long walls. Both entrance passages are very well faced. A small, square recess, at ground level is located in the north-west corner. Its opening is partly blocked by an upright slab and it has a paved floor. The southern half of the west wall is dominated by three shelves, set two courses above ground level, and separated from each other by a single course of stones. In the cetnre of the south wall is a probable fire place. Another possible cupboard, also at ground level, lies immediately to the east of this; currently it is on ly 0.1m high, although it is capped bya definite lintel. A rusty kettle sites in the middle of the floor.

B042 Nb 35261 35362
close to the base of the knoll and terraced into the slope so as to achieve a level floor is another N-S aligned shieling hut. The walls are very denuded, although they still stand up to 0.5m high in places and were clearly very well faced. The building measures 3m by 1.5m, across walls up to 1m thigh close to the entrances. It appears to be over similar form to B041, having a pronounced external batter and squared internal angles. The entrances are 0.5m wide and lie directly opposite each other. The north gable of the building seems to be built from a mixture of stone and turf, aalthough the other walls are largely stone-built.

B043 NB 35262 35373
the final shieling in thig group is located on the west side of the knoll. In contrast to the other two buildings, it lies along the contour (I.e. E-W) and, although of very similar form, is far less well preserved. It measures 4m by 2m over very wide walls, particularly on the downsloper (south side) although this may just be slumping. There is a single definite entrance,0.5m wide, right in the wouth-east corner, and the suggestion of a second one opposite it in the more dilapidated north wall. A single upright slab in the south wall might be the remnants of a cupboard.
Hooper 2000, 21

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.