Print

MHG27359 - Township - Egnaig

Summary

No summary available.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

A township comprising eight unroofed, two roofed buildings and a field-system is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire 1876, sheet cxlviii). Nine unroofed buildings are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1974).
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 22 August 1996

An archaeological assessment was carried out by J G Robertson in 1996 as part of an environmental impact assessment for a proposed Woodland Grant Scheme application. The assessment consisted largely of the detailed study of a single 1988 aerial photograph.

Site 23: A single rectangular building, marked on the OS Map, but obscured by woodland on the AP. May be associated with a small block of rig and furrow, visible in a clearing on the AP.

Site 24: Settlement. The settlement of Egnaig, situated on the southern slope of the peninsula, facing Eilean Shona across the North Channel. The settlement shares the historical associations of Glenuig, and Moidart in general, having been the refuge for the Jacobite poet, Mac Mhaighstir Alasdair, in hiding after Culloden. (Wood, 1950, 143)
Little can be detected from the AP, as this area is covered in woodland. However, a total of nine buildings is marked on the OS 1:10,000 Map: a single large subdivided building on the West bank of the stream, a row of four buildings arranged along the contour to the East of the stream , another row of three buildings running down the East bank of the stream and an isolated building further East. A few traces of rig and furrow can also be detected from the AP in clearings. However, there is probably a rather more complex range of monuments in this area and the whole site is worthy of detailed attention.

A visitor in the 1950's wrote of "many roofless homes and byres", while one house was still occupied by two elderly men. The contemporary photograph shows a house of mortared stone with rounded corners, a hipped roof and central chimney. (Wood, 1950, 142) The settlement also contained a cemetery, consecrated by the local priest to avoid carrying a smallpox victim across country to the usual burial ground on St. Finnan's Isle, Loch Shiel. (op. cit., 144-5) The same visitor also recorded stepping stones to Eilean Shona leading from the crofts at Egnaig and beside them a green mound, which marked the remains of an effort to mine tin. (ibid.)
Refs: Nine buildings marked on the OS Map, and traces of rig and furrow visible on the AP. Wendy Wood: Moidart and Morar, 1950, 142-145.
Recommendation: Ground inspection. In view of the likely range and number of monuments at this site a full field survey is recommended, before further tree growth obscures or damages the surviving remains. This may be enhanced by further documentary research, for example using early maps. Published works may also be helpful (Mad Mhaighstir Alasdair wrote a satirical poem about Egnaig).

A follow-up full walkover survey was conducted by Wordsworth Archaeological Services in 1996.

Site No: 23 & 24
Site name: Egnaig
Description: As is discussed above and in Jennifer Robertson's report, this was one of the major settlements in
the WGS area. The majority of the buildings probably date to the early/mid 19th century when 6 households were recorded in the 1841 census. The dwelling houses were probably 24/1, 24/6, 24/8, 24/9 or /10, 24/13 & perhaps 24/18. Apart from the later mortar building 24/9, none of the buildings had gables or chimneys. The central chimney of 24/1 was a replacement for the 'hanging lum'which would have been used in the other dwelling houses.
24/1(23) NM 6635 7455 This originally drystone building measuring 8m by 5m and aligned E/W has had a later mortar render. It has 2 windows and a doorway on the S and the walls stand to 1.7m in height. In the centre of the house a mason built mortared chimney stack has been built to a height of 3m. The roof raggle on this stack defines the line of the roof which was presumably thatched. This was a dwelling house and probably the one still occupied when Wendy Wood visited Egnaig in the 1950s.
24/2 NM 6634 7454 Lying to the SE of 24/1 is a drystone walled building also aligned E/W. It measures 6m by 3m with walls 1.3m high. It has no windows and was probably a barn or a byre.
24/3 NM 6632 7458 This building was built against a rock to the NW of building 24/1. It contained thre chamberes respectively from the N 1.75m by 2.3m, 2m by 3.3m and 3.5m by 3.3m. The first and last chambers were lean to structures and they were all interpreted as stores.
24/4 NM 6627 7457 A small pier or jetty can be seen extending into the bay at its S end. It was not measured.
24/5 cNM 666 747 On an isolated terrace well above the main settlement area are the footings 0. high for a turf walled building 4m by 3m and aligned NE/SW. Its precise location is unclear and it possibly formed part of Aultgill settlement. It is set in an area of birch and bracken rich grassland significantly different to the adjoining oak dominant woodland.
24/6 NM 6620 7475 Isolated from most of the buildings was a round ended drystone structure measuring Ilrn by 5m with walls up to 2m high. It was aligned approximately E?W and had windows and a door on its S side. To the S of this building was an area of former rig cultivation now colonised by alders.
24/7 NM 6617 7480 Between buildings 24/4 & 24/6there are two level platforms partly revelled with stones. The most prominent measured 6m by 3m though the precise boundaries were uncertain because of a later slump of material from above. This may be a charcoal burning area as there is slight evidence for oak, hazel & ash coppice in this area.
24/8 NM 6605 7481 A round ended drystone building l lm by 4m aligned almost E/W. It has a doorway and two windows on its S side. Another structure 1.5m by 3m abutted the E end. Shown as roofed in 1873.
24/9 NM 6599 7483 This is a rectangular mortared stone building measuring 12m long. It was unclear if it was gabled with chimneys because the building was poorly preserved. The walls stand up to 2m high. There is a doorway and two windows on the S side and a smaller window on the N side. Shown as roofed in 1873. 24/10 NM 6599 7483 Records on this structure did not survive. It lies immediately SE of building 24/9 and was another round ended drystone structure. It may have been a barn connected with 24/9 or its immediate predecessor
24/11 NM 6598 7482 A drystone structure 2.5m by 5.5m with a ?entrance in the S.
24/12 NM 6597 7485 A drystone shed or store 3m by 3m with an entrance on the W
24/13 NM 6595 7484 This is one of the best preserved buildings at Egnaig. It is a round ended drystone building 10m by 5m aligned E/W with walls 2m high. The entrance is from the N and there are windows both in the N & S walls. The E end has partially collapsed
24/14 NM 6592 7484 Drystone structure with rounded corners measuring 8m by 3m aligned NW/SE with walls up to 1.5m high. Doorway on the E & a small window at the S
24/15 NM 6591 7481 Drystone structure with rounded corners measuring 9m by 4m and aligned NW/SE. The walls are up to 1.8m high. The doorway and windows are on the E side.
24/16 NM 6595 7478 Aligned N/S, records of its measurements were destroyed
24/17 NM 6591 7475 Lies on the W bank of the burn. It measures 8m by 4m with walls up to lm high and 0.6m thick. It is aligned NNW/SSE. The walls are partially collapsed, possibly because of the effects of a large birch tree on the W side. The remains of another building 4m square and 0.3m high appear to lie immediately to the N. This may be the remains of an earlier turf walled building on the same alignment and it has footings varying in width from 0.75m to lm.
24/18 NM 6594 7474 A round cornered drystone building lies here measuring 9m by 5m. It is is aligned E/W with an entrance on the S. The walls are up to lm high and 0.7m thick. The N & S walls have largely collapsed , possibly because of the effect of a hazel growing within the building and a birch immediately outside on the S.
24/19 NM 6594 7472 A drystone structure measuring 2m by 6m aligned N/S has been built close to the shore. The walls up to 0.75m high form a chamber lm wide internally. This has been interpreted as a kelp kiln and it was probably in use during the early part of the 19th century during the Napoleonic War. 24/20 NM 6602 7468 This building now measures 9m by 4.5m and has clearly been shortened by at least 2m and possibly more. It has been partially robbed so that it is nowhere more than 0.5m high. The W wall is 0.7m thick, the E wall 0.65m 7 the N wall 9.5m
24/21 NM 6584 7484 A round ended building 3m by at least 8m long that has been altered by the addition of a square ended extension opening to 6m in width. This would appear to be a roofed building later converted to an animal fold.
Recommendation: This was clearly a major settlement as has been discussed above. Ideally all the buildings should be cleared of intrusive or potentially intrusive vegetation.. This may have to be done in consultation with conservation interests. These sites are potentially interesting as sites for public display. However the difficulties of access may make this less attractive.
Any trees that are trimmed or felled here should have their rings counted as this would give interesting information on the rates of regeneration after abandonment. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NM 6590 7464 (906m by 495m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NM67SE
Civil Parish	ARISAIG AND MOIDART
Geographical Area	LOCHABER

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Investigations/Events (0)

External Links (1)