32042: ECC 56.3 Torastay – Blackhouse and outbuildings

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)
BARN (Post Medieval to Crofting – 1540 AD to 1950 AD)
Blackhouse with barn

Location:

NB 38745 20040

Full description:

"Situated on the north-west facing slopes of Cnocan Biorach overlooking the southern shore of Loch Erisort the remains of this blackhouse measure 12 x 5 metres and are orientated from south-east to north-west. Standing to a maximum height of 1.5 metres the walls of this building are constructed of stone faces with an earthen core. A single entrance may be seen 3 metres from the north-western end of the north-east facing wall. Internally a partition is located immediately to the south of the entrance dividing the building’s internal space between the dwelling (to the south-east) measuring ca 7 x 5 metres and a byre area (to the north-west) measuring ca 5 x 5 metres. A second smaller structure may be seen to the north-west of the main building. This structure measures 3 x 5 metres and is built against the north-western wall of the main building. The purpose of this ancillary building is likely to be that of a barn. The phase of this blackhouse is uncertain, as its form is that which might be found to date both to the late pre-crofting and the crofting periods. The fact that this structure is very slightly longer that the average blackhouse of the early crofting period, and the presence of an entrance into the byre rather than the centre of the building, suggests an earlier rather than a later date for the original construction." (Burgess 2004, 138)

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.