Monument record 79 - TIGH A'BHEANNAICH,LEWIS

NB03NW 5 0387 3790.

(Area NB 038 378) A number of very small hut circles formed of small blocks of stone laid loosely on the surface of the ground, which in places shows a depth of only a few inches of soil, are noticeable near 'Tigh a' Bheannaich' (NB03NW 1)
About 11' east of the church are the foundations of an oval structure measuring internally 10 1/2' E-W and 7' N-S, with faint indications of a partition across the middle; about 39' NW of the church on a rocky out-crop is a second, 5 1/2' in diameter; a third lies about 47 yds west of the church, 6' in diameter and another about 42yards from the building in line with the north wall shows the same internal diameter. In the last two examples the rocky outcrop is utilised to form one arc of the structure. Beside the third hut circle, on the rocks at a slightly higher elevation, is a small circular setting of stone 2'9" in diameter, with the enclosed area covered with small broken stones, said to be the site of a beacon. Another hut-circle lies 40' north of the last.
RCAHMS 1928, visited 1914.

These alleged hut-circles in the area centred NB 0387 3790 are as desribed by RCAHMS. They are all too small to be considered as dwellings and are probably rough shelters of indeterminate period.
Visited by OS (R L) 1 July 1969.

Indications of three small structures were noted close to the east and west sides of the teampall, as noted by the OS. Therer are also several small circular structures recorded in the vicinity of the site.
The teampall is situated on a small headland at Druim Bheannaich. The landward side of the headland to the east is partially bounded by Loch a Bheannaich, and partially by a well-built stone wall stretching from the south shore of the loch to Geodh' a' Bheannaich in the cliffs at the south end, and a less well built stone and turf wall from the north end of the loch to the cliffs on the north side of the headland. The entire area is thus cut off from Aird Uig to the east.
Barrowman 2005, 48

RCAHMS, 1928, The RCAHMCS 9th Report & Inventory: Outer Hebrides, Skye and the Small Isles, 23, No. 83 (Bibliographic reference). SWE5587.

Rachel Barrowman, 2005, Lewis Coastal Chapel-sites Survey 2004/5 (Unpublished document). SWE41095.