Monument record 11478 - LEWIS, GEARRAIDH AIRIGH BHRADHAD

NB33NE 7 3576 3756

What may be six roofed shieling-huts 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) 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 3579 3753
Gearraidh Airigh Bhradbhad Shieling group
Full report lodged with the NMRS.
Sponsor: Dulas Ltd
J Hooper 2001
REPORT DATE: 17/06/2002

B097-103
Gearraidh Airigh Bhradbhad, remains of five shieling huts, plus a number of other grassy mounds, probably representing earlier turf-built huts.
On the OS1st edition map (1849-52), five roofed shieling huts are shown in a line on the north bank of the Allt Airidh Bhradbhad, with a further hut on the south side of the burn. On the OS 2nd edition map (1895) and on the current edition of the 1:10000 map (1972), only the name, Gearraidh Airidh Bhradbhad, is given. On the most recent vertical air photographs from 1989, four mounds on the north bank of the burn are clearly recognisable. This is the most tucked away of the shieling groups, since the Allt Airidh Bhradbhad lies within a shallow gorge at this point. However, there are extensive views over the large basin leading eastwards to the sea several miles away.

B097 NB 35755 37564
A poorly preserved square shieling hut, measuring c. 2m x 2m and define dby a single line of large stones. There is no apparent entrance. The building is aligned NW-SE, its banked-up, downslope (SE) wall positioned right on the edge of the knoll on which it is situated.
B 098 NB 35779 37567
A low, predominantly hearther-covered mound, with a central hollow defined by sphagnum moss. The moss appears to have buried the stone footings of a building, lying on a NW-SE orientation. There is a possible entrance in the centre of the SW wall.
B099 NB 35792 37546
A very similar mound to B098, again with a few stones visible through the moss. These suggest the presence of a building, c. 3m long by 2.5m broad, on a NW-SE alignement.
B100 NB 35782 37538
A low, flat-topped mound lying just to the east of B099 and very close to the burn. It is larger in size than the other mounds on this side and, because there is no stonework visible, it may represent a turf-built enclosure.
B101 NB 35808 37531
The most southerly mound on the north side of the stream is topped by more substantial stone footings, which survive up to a height of four courses. These indicate a boat-shaped building, with a curved south end, similar to those found in the other large shieling groups. It measures c. 2.5m long by 1.5m broad, over walls up to 1m thick. There are two opposed entrances towards the SE end. Each is 0.5m wide and both appear to splay outwards. The depth of vegetation (reeds and moss) on the moound gives the impression that thi building has been sunk into the summit of the mound.
B102 NB 35801 37489
On the opposite bank of the Allt Airidh Bhradbhad to the rest of the group are the heather-voered south and east walls of an otherwise much denuded shieling hut represented only by a mossy outline. It would appear to have been a building c. 4m by 2m, positioned on a NE-SW alignment. A cupboard or fireplac3e is situated in the centre of the SW wall at ground level
B103 NB 35767 37516
On the same side of the burn as B102, is another, better-preserved shieling hut. It is on a similar alignment (NE-SW) and, though the NW wall is largly obscured by heather, reeds and moss, appears to measure c. 3m long by 2m broad. It stands to three courses high in places, with another two courses having clearly tumbled forward into the building comparatively recently. Both this collapse and the vegetation cover make it impossible to define an entrance. The structure seems to have squared internal corners.
Hooper 2000, 23-24

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.