31625: LSFH 25.2 Beinn Lobheir – BLACKHOUSE

Summary:

BLACK HOUSE (Post Medieval – 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
HOUSE (Post Medieval – 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
COW HOUSE (Post Medieval – 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
LONGHOUSE (Post Medieval – 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Blackhouse

Location:

NB 28444 16559

Full description:

"Constrcuted of stone and turf, the remains of this blackhouse are orientated from north to south and measure 5.5 x 4 metres standing to a maximum height of 0.8 metres. The southern downhill or byre end of this house has been truncated by the modern road line from Balallen to Eisgean. The remaining house end demonstrates no sign of any ‘greying’ (windows, chimney breasts, services etc) which, along with the general proportions of the structure and its location (outwith the current crofting township on the north shore of Loch Seaforth Head) suggest that it dates from the pre-crofting period. The only surviving feature internally is a recessed opening located at the east end of the north (head) wall. Measuring 0.4 metres wide and 0.5 metres high this feature bears some resemblance to a fireplace and flue, but shows no signs of a flue and is set off centre within the house, which is more in keeping with an ambrey or bible box." Part of: "The fragmentary remains of a blackhouse settlement can be seen along the line of the Balallen to Eisgean road where it turns to the east and runs parallel to the north shore of Loch Seaforth Head. Consisting of two blackhouses (25.2 and 25.4), a well (25.3) and cultivation features (25.1 and 25.5) the settlement is likely to date to the pre-crofting period as the focus of early crofting and later settlement is located to the south within the extents of the modern crofts immediately above the shore of the loch. The surrounding area was cleared a number of times from 1610 onwards (with the arrival of the MacKenzies) through to the early 1820s. When the site was visited for the 1st edition Ordnance Survey in the late 1840s no occupied settlement was recorded in the area. The preservation of these structures suggests that they probably relate to the last pre-crofting clearances in the area (1823?). The full extent of the settlement has been obscured by the construction of the modern road, and by stone robbing for the construction of the crofting phases structures located to the south on the loch shore." (Burgess 2004, 35-36 and 37-38)

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.