Monument record 14854 - Nether Holm, Lewis

NB 44 30 (centre) In Novemeber 1999 an archaeological evaluation of sites at Holm was carried out in advance of proposed construction of waste water treatment works. The evaluation involved palaeoenvironmental assessment of peat deposits, geophysical survey, topographic survey or trial trenching of five sites…
Nether Holm (Site 2) comprises seven blackhouses arranged along a street running NW-SE. Trench 3 (5 x 1.6m) was opened over the W long wall of Structure A, one of the least well-preserved buildings in the township. Excavation revealed a mid-brown humic silt clay containing frequent artefacts including iron, glass and white glazed ceramic; they sealed a cobbled surface within the interior. The long wall was up to 1.1m wide, and comprised an inner and outer drystone face and an earthen core 0.4m wide. The form of wall construction is typical of blackhouse architecture. The wall had been built in a foundation slot that extended for 0.6m from the inner face and had a depth of up to 0.15m. The artefacts recovered suggest a 19th centruy date for the last phase of occupation of the house. Evaluation of one of the most denuded structures within Nether Holm suggest the other structures probably have in situ deposits preserved in their interiors. (GUARD 851)
Sponsor: Harlow Crouch
MacGregor, G 2000, 101

NB 44 30 Observation of soil stripping in the area of the waste water treatment plant, centred on NB 445 307…The outfall trench cut through the remains of the lower end of a blackhouse in the township of Nether Holm, centred on NB 446 308. This showed the full sequence of construction and post-abandonment collapse of the house, and demonstrated that, despite limited surface evidence, the lower levels of these houses are well-preserved with excellent survival of organic materials. After abandonment, substantial walls were built on either side of the village street, which was ultimately stone paved. No features pre-dating the blackhouse village were identified.
Sponsors: Christiani and Neilsen Ltd, George Leslie Ltd, Halcrow Crouch
Knott, C M 2000, 101-2

These ruins are still visible above ground. They are also represented on the 6" 1st ed OS map sheet (1849); shown as 5 houses and 3 other structures, all roofed and aligned either side of the trackway. This evidence suggests that this township is post clearance. The number of lazy beds in the general area suggests an earlier township possible located in the vicinity of Holm Farm and that these later buildings are possibly associated with the farm.
K.Murphy(Archaeologist CnES) 01/12/2020

Council for Scottish Archaeology, 2000, Discovery and Excavation in Scotland (Bibliographic reference). SWE41184.