32012: ECC 33.16 Cromore

Summary:

BLACK HOUSE (Post Medieval to Crofting – 1540 AD to 1950 AD)
HOUSE (Post Medieval to Crofting – 1540 AD to 1950 AD)
COW HOUSE (Post Medieval to Crofting – 1540 AD to 1950 AD)
LONGHOUSE (Post Medieval to Crofting – 1540 AD to 1950 AD)
Blackhouse

Location:

NB 40014 20701

Full description:

"Situated immediately to the south of the ‘Meeting House’ or chapel (47), the fragmentary remains of this blackhouse cover an area of 22 x 4 metres and are orientated from west to east. Only one section of the house remains standing, at its east end, measuring 3 x 4 metres. This has been re-used at some time after the dwelling has been abandoned perhaps for storage or as a loom shed. The remaining structures are represented solely by the northern wall of the house and fragments of the western end of the structure. All are constructed of stone faced walls with an earthen core. The length of this group of features (22 metres) is on the large side for blackhouses in the area, but it is possible that these fragmentary remains actually represent a house of ca 15 metres in length, with a separate barn towards its western end of ca 5 or 6 metres in length. Such a pattern would be typical of crofting phase blackhouses in the vicinity." (Burgess 2004, 125-126)

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.