Monument record 295 - AIRIGH NA BEISTE, LEWIS

NB33SE 8 365 343

Though the Name Book described 'Airidh na Beiste' as a farmhouse (shown roofed at NB 3654 3429, E of Allt Airidh na Beiste on OS 6" map, Ross-shire, 1st ed. (1852), sheet 19) OS 1:10,000 map, 1973 shows a scatter of some twelve small rectangular features on both sides of the stream, in the same area.
Name Book 1852.

A farmstead, comprising one roofed, one unroofed building and two enclosures, and a head-dyke are depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Island of Lewis, Ross-shire 1854, sheet 18). Fourteen unroofed building which may be shieling-huts are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1974).
Information from RCAHMS (AKK) 25 September 1997.

...…ten buildings about 25m apart resembling shielings, on a grassy patch on either side of a burn. Each was about 10x5m and the highest remaining walls about 2m, rounded at each end. Inside, most had still a cupboard in the wall and doors on opposite sides. No sign of fireplaces...
...…a larger building on the other, east side of the conifer plantation...
Peter Cunningham, 20.3.03

On the OS 1st and 2nd ed OS maps (1849-52, 1895) there are none of the shielings which must have given the area its name. However, on the current edition (1973), 12 unroofed buildings are shown, either side of Allt Airigh na Beiste. The north-south strip iof forestry which divides the shielings from the farmstead, is shown only on the 1989 verytical aerial photographs. On the earlier 1946 photos, one possible shieling and two enclosures are shown.
B065 NB 36603 34334
A hut close to the western boundary of the forestry, 4m x 2m aligned N-S. Curved southern gable, two opposed entrances 0.5m wide. Walls stantd to 0.7m high, except the north gable, which is 1m high, with roofing turves still in place.
B066 NB 36578 34337
a boat shaped hut, aligned N-S with a rounded southern gable, c. 4m x 2m, with two 0.5m wide, outwardly splayed entrances towards the south end of the long walls. Walls 0.7m high with a pronounced external batter.
B067 NB 36547 34331
N-S aligned hut, 4m x 2m, over walls up to 1m wide and 1m tall. More rectangular in shape, with a slightly curved southern gable. Opposed 0.5m entrances towards the south end of the long walls.
B068 NB 36556 34303
Boat shaped, N-S aligned hut, 4m x 2m, over 1.5m thick, 1.5m high walls. A door towards the south end of the west wall, with an opposing door in the east wall, now blocked. The southern downslope external face of the wall has a pronounced batter.
B069 NB 36570 34278
hut 4m x 2m, over wall c. 2m thick where visible, and 1m high, aligned N-S. Walls externally battered. Tumble obscures the interioir. Two opposed entrances at the south end of the long walls. Turf-banked external enclosure c. 4m x 14m,surrounds the area to the west.
B070 NB 36557 34259
N-S rectangular 5.5 x 2m hut, with a single 0.3m entrance off-centre in the east wall.
B071 NB 36545 45297
Boat-shaped hut oriented N-S, with opposed entrances towards the south end of the long walls. A large cupboard in the east wall to the north of the door.
B072 NB 36519 34280
Poorly preserved 3 x 1.5m hut, aligned N-S
B073 NB 36507 34293
Boat shaped hut 4m x 1.5m, with a narrowed southern end. Opposed entrances in the long walls, cupboard in the north gable, walls standint up to 7 courses.
B074 NB 36506 34326
Footings of a hut, 3.5 x 2m, with walls standint to 3 courses, aligned N-S, with opposed entrances at the southern end of the long walls
B075 NB 36529 34334
Rectangular hut, 4.5m x 2m, aligned N-S, opposed entrances to southern end of the long walls
B076 NB 36535 34350
Rectangular hut, aligned N-S, 5m x 2m
B077 NB 36573 34229
Boat-shaped hut 4m x 2m, walls standing to 1.4m high, aligned N-S, with opposed entrances towards the south end of the long walls.
Hooper 2000, 29-31

Also listed in J Hooper 2001, 104

Name Book (County), 1998, Name Books of the Ordnance Survey, Book No. 54, 14 (Unpublished document). SWE4254.

Janet Hooper, 2000, Lewis: Project 891 (Bibliographic reference). SWE41076.

Council for Scottish Archaeology, 2001, Discovery and Escavation in Scotland (Bibliographic reference). SWE41185.