31582: LSFH 26.11 Loch Seaforth Head – BLACKHOUSE

Summary:

HOUSE (Crofting – 1850 AD to 1950 AD)
BLACK HOUSE (Crofting – 1850 AD to 1950 AD)
COW HOUSE (Crofting – 1850 AD to 1950 AD)
LONGHOUSE (Crofting – 1850 AD to 1950 AD)
Blackhouse

Location:

NB 27927 16610

Full description:

"Located on the north shore of Loch Seaforth Head this blackhouse measures 20 x 5 metres and is orientated from west to east. Constructed of stone faced walls with earth cores it stands to a maximum of 1.3 metres tall and has a single entrance at the centre of its north wall. Internally there is a later partition that separates the byre to the east from the house to the west. This partition is built of stone and mortar and has a flue and hearth in its west side. The eastern, byre, end of the house shows extensive signs of re-building and latterly of truncation. This is likely due to collapse at that end, as it sits above the west shore of a stream that runs from north to south from Sideval down to the shore of the loch. There is no sign in the immediate vicinity of a barn (crofting blackhouses in this area tend to have a separate barn close by) but this house is within 50 metres of the small structure/bothie (26.14) which may have acted as its barn." (Burgess 2004, 54)

References:

Chris Burgess, Northamptonshire Archaeology. 2004. Northamptonshire Archaeology Archaeological Survey and Evaluation of Eilean Chalium Chille and the Putative Site of the Seaforth Head Castle. Part No Loch Seaforth Head Gazeteer.

Acknowledgement:

Information provided by Western Isles Council Sites & Monuments Record, January 2006.