31957: ECC 27.1 Crobeag

Summary:

COW HOUSE (Crofting to Modern – 1850 AD to 2050 AD)
BLACK HOUSE? (Crofting – 1850 AD to 1950 AD)
Remains of a blackhouse, heavily modified, used as a byre

Location:

NB 39191 21055

Full description:

"This rectangular building, located in improved grazing at Crobeag, measures 15 x 8 metres and is orientated from north-east to south-west. It is constructed of mortared stone on three sides, with a fourth of prefabricated wood and corregated iron panels. Its roof and the upper half of its gable ends are also formed of corregated iron on a wooden frame, and all of the prefabricated panels are coated with red-lead paint. Internally the floor is concrete with a central drain that runs the length of the building before issuing through a door that has been forced through the north-eastern gable end. This building is lit by a small window in the south-western gable. In addition to the door in the north-eastern end there is also an entrance at the centre of its north-western (pre-fabricated) wall. Though possibly originally a blackhouse, the remains of this building have been heavily modified for use as a freestanding byre. Representing a phase of farming agriculture that relates to the Crobeag farm being bought by the current owners – the MacLeod family – the building in its current form has its origins in the 1950s or before." (Burgess 2004, 103-104)

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.