Monument record 24 - TOM NA GEODHA, EILEAN MOR, FLANNAN ISLES

NA74NW 3 7231 4690

(NA 7231 4680) 'The Bothies of the Clan MacPhail' - Two drystone structures, 30' apart, the larger of which is similar in type to that on the "Pigmies' Isle" (NB56NW 4)
The larger building has a total length of 27 1/4' and consists of a passage some 2' wide and high, which passes through an oval chamber 6' by 4 3/4' by 2 3/4' high at the W end, a central rectangular chamber 8' by 8 1/2', covered with a beehive roof 6' high, and containing an aumbry in the N wall, and expands at the E end as a lobby 4 1/2' by 3 1/4' by 2 3/4' high.
In the smaller building a short curved passage 3' broad and 3' high swings round on the N and opens in a chamber, with rounded ends, that measures 10 1/2' by 3 1/2' by 5 1/2' high, and is covered with a beehive roof. On the S side there is a passage 18" by 3'2" by 2'8" high, and where this opens off the main chamber a flagstone 4" thick and 18" square projects within the main chamber.
RCAHMS 1911, visited 1928; F L W Thomas 1870; M Stewart 1933

Two beehive-type shielings generally as described. A hearth c 0.5m square exists in the central chamber of the larger shieling 'A' and there are the probable remains of a third chamber to the right of the entrance. A wall of upright slabs commencing in front of the shielings runs SE to the edge of a geo to cut the promontory on which the site stands. Just outside this wall is a well. (See NA74NW 2). The name "Bothies of the Clan MacPhail" could not be confirmed.
Visited by OS (R D) 16 July 1971

Two unroofed shieling-huts, which are annotated as Ruins and attached to a length of wall, are depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Ross-shire, Island of Lewis 1854, sheet 47). Two black dots annotated as Old Shielings and part of the wall are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1972).
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 25 June 1997

F W L Thomas, 1866-8, Proc Soc Antiq Scot, pl. 32, fig. 13 (Bibliographic reference). SWE7733.

RCAHMS, 1928, The RCAHMCS 9th Report & Inventory: Outer Hebrides, Skye and the Small Isles, 30, No. 106 fig. 76 (Bibliographic reference). SWE5587.

M Stewart, 1933, Ronay, 53 fig. 13 (Unpublished document). SWE12804.