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MHG21356 - Township - Doire nam Fuaran, Torridon

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Full Description

A township comprising two roofed buildings, eleven unroofed buildings, one of which has a circular structure attached to one end indicative of a kiln barn, and an enclosure is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Ross-shire 1881, sheet lxxxi). Ten roofed and nine unroofed buildings are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1971).
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 1 May 1996

A walkover survey and desk-based assessment for the National Trust estate at Torridon was carried out by J Wordsworth and J Harden.

TOR173: Between the Alit Slugach and the Doire field dyke, some 80m down from its N-most corner, are a group of structures buried in the rhododendrons. They are the W-most part of the Doire na Fuaran townships and are marked on the 1837 estate map. They were probably cleared in 1845.
173a) The upper-most structure is aligned NNW-SSE and incorporates some large boulders from the spate flow of the burn. It measures c9.5m by c4m over walls c 0.7m thick and standing up to 1m high.
173b) Just 5m downslope is a smaller, lower structure aligned N-S, c6m by c3m over walls c0.6m thick, c0.3m high.
173c) About 8m downslope is a structure/enclosure of very large boulders, aligned N¬S, measuring c5m by c3m with a wee structure set in its NE corner.
173d) Some 10m downslope is a rectangular structure with rounded ends aligned ENE-WSW, with an entrance in its S-facing wall. It is c5m by c2.5m over walls c0.5m thick and standing up to 0.5m high.

TOR178: The townships known as a group as Doire na Fuaran was apparently cleared after 1845 to give an area of grazings to the sheep farm that was let at that time. It is said that the dyke which encloses the ground was built by those needing relief during the potato famine of the 1840s and early 1850s - a 'destitution' dyke. The north-west and south-east sides have been built traditionally. The north-east length across the 'top' of the area has been built as a Galloway dyke - and the census records there being one or more shepherds from Dumfries-shire after 1841.

TOR179: This area, along with TOR172, was known as Balnabruaich or Bank. It is marked on the 1837 estate map but was apparently cleared in 1845. The extent of this part of the township is very difficult to assess in the deep bracken, and no structures or dykes were recorded in this area on the 1st edition OS map. Nevertheless there is a significant turf (and stone?) dyke, with a ditch on its upper side, running across the area W-E and then turning north. This has a couple of other areas running south from it, more than c20m wide, their edges marked by low banks of stones. At the west edge of the area is a longhouse divided internally into three. The building has an enclosure in front of it at its east end. The structure is aligned WNW-ESE and is c15m by c4.5m wide over walls spread to c1m and up to 0.3m high. The enclosure is c16m by c40m. This area would benefit from a detailed EOM survey, particularly if the bracken is cleared first.

TOR180: This area is marked on the 1837 estate map but was apparently cleared in 1845. Part of the settlement is marked on the 1st edition OS map and each of the ruined structures and enclosures marked can still be found, along with others. The OS map only marks 5 structures and 2 enclosures, but the settlement is much larger than that, with small fields marked by tumbled stone and turf dykes, and at least 13 buildings and a grain drying kiln. Attempts were made to record the structures individually but when this was done there was no satisfactory GPS available (the US had not made enough satellites available). Tying the structures and enclosing dykes to the photos to a plan or map has proved very difficult/impossible. It has therefore been decided not to detail each structure in this record. However, now that GPS's are much more accurate, a rag' assessment should be undertaken, using a GPS and the records made in 1997, to fix the structures onto the map and produce a sketch of the area, and check the photos.
Ideally, the settlement should have a detailed EDM survey, particularly if the bracken is cleared first.

TOR181: This area, along with TOR1173, was known as Ballavioch. It is marked on the 1837 estate map but was apparently cleared in 1845. The settlement is clearly marked on the 1st edition OS map and each of the ruined structures and enclosures marked can still be found, along with a few others.
181a) This substantial rectangular structure with very square corners is aligned cN-S and measures c10m by c5m over walls made up of substantial boulders c0.8m thick and up to 0.3m high. Its N end is against the post & wire fence.
181b) Just S of 181a) is a sub-rectangular structure, aligned WNW-ESE, has an enclosure against its N side. The structure is c7m by c4m over walls spread to c1m and c0.4m high. The enclosure is irregular in plan and has maximum dimension c10m.
181c) W of 181b) is a very long rectangular structure aligned cN-S. It is apparently divided internally into 5 areas, though the S-most has been dug out, leaving this area as a rectangular stone-lined pit. The structure is c17m by c3m over walls c0.7m thick
and standing at the S end 1.5m high.
181d) Over the ridge and into the dip to the SE of 181b) is a rectangular structure aligned NW-SE with an enclosure attached to its NE side. It is sited c7m NW of an unnamed burn. The structure is c12m by c3m over walls c0.7m thick and up to c0.5m high. The enclosure runs up the hill and is roughly rectangular in plan, measuring c1 3m by c8m.
181e) West of 181c) is a trapezoidal structure, aligned cNW-SE. It is c12m by c 3m over walls spread to cl m and c0.5m high. The SE end is 3m wide, the NW end is only c2m wide. It is divided into at least two areas internally.
181f) Up hill and ENE of 1881b) is a rectangular structure aligned NW-SE with a sub-circular enclosure against its NW end. The structure is c11m by c4m over walls spread to c1m and c0.5m high. The enclosure measures c8m NW-SE and c6m NE-SW.
181g) Up hill and ENE of 181f) is a rectangular structure aligned NW-SE. It measures c7m by c3.5m over walls spread to c1m and c0.5m high.
181h) North of 181f), and between the post & wire fence and the dyke (TOR178), is an enclosure or broad structure c8m by c5m over walls spread to at least 1m and c0.6m high.
181j) This rectangular structure with rounded ends was possibly still roofed in 1875. It is located on the east side of the un-named burn, between the electricity power line and the fence behind the houses. Aligned NNW-SSE, it is c12m by c3m over walls c0.8m wide but only c0.3m high. It is divided internally into two areas.
181k) Immediately east of 18.1j) is another structure aligned WSW-ENE. It is a rectangular area of flat ground defined by a 'frame' of small angular stones which measures c7m by c3m.
181l) On the west side of the un-named burn, below the electricity power line and only c10m above the back fence of the east end of the council house area, is another hardly visible rectangular structure with rounded ends. Aligned cW-E it measures c7m by c3m over walls c0.7m wide but only c0.2m high. <1>

1st Edition OS 6" <2>

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Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 9016 5614 (466m by 453m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG95NW
Geographical Area	ROSS AND CROMARTY
Civil Parish	APPLECROSS

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