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MHG27788 - Township - Arnish

Summary

A well preserved and deserted township.

Type and Period (1)

Protected Status

Full Description

Centred on 597 481

A township comprising fourteen roofed, one partially roofed, three unroofed buildings and an enclosure is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire, Isle of Skye 1881, sheet xxv). Nine roofed, one partially roofed, fifteen unroofed buildings, three enclosures, a sheep dip and some field walls are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1988).
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 18 October 1996

An archaeological walkover survey of a single, distinct area of proposed planting of natural woodland regeneration was carried by M. Wildgoose at Coille an Torran, Raasay in 1999.

Site 1: Lying on a level, grassy plateau at the foot of the western flank of Meall Dearg Arnish, is a well preserved, deserted, township (see plan in report) consisting of the roofless remains of 16 well built stone structures. The ruins represent the remains of 10 houses and 6 byres, for the main part lying on a north-west to south-east alignment. A small enclosed well is centrally placed on the east side of the Township. A large roofless structure at the centre of the group has been converted to a sheep dip. This is now out of use.

Site 15: Lying just within birch woodland and 50.0m to the south-east of the Arnish to Torran path is a collapsed stone walled enclosure containing a ruinous stone byre. The enclosure, which has been robbed of much of its wall stone, measures 13.0m long by 9.0m wide over a wall which is 0.8m thick. A ruinous entrance, 1.1m wide, lies close to the centre of the north-east facing wall. Built within the enclosure and overlying part of its south-west wall is a ruinous byre which measures 5.0m long by 3.5m wide over walls 0.8m thick and 1.1m high. A narrow entrance lies at the south-east end of the north-east facing wall, directly opposite the entrance into the enclosure. <1>

Rassay Survey 2000 - J. Macdonald & J. Scott Wood.
The township of Arnish lies at the end of the public road from Inverarish. The township is in two parts. The lower part lies to the North and West of a flat area, which has been drained at one time but is now returning to marshland. The surrounding area is covered in birch and willow scrub interspersed with a few open spaces of grassland. The upper part is situated on a terrace at 90m OD on the west facing slopes of Meall Dearg Arnish.
The whole township consists of 30 structures. These range from the substantial remains of two co-joined cottages through various houses, byres and berns to vestigial remains of small enclosures and structures of unknown purpose. In the lower township the structures, which do not appear on the 1st OS maps, are more complete with windows and fireplaces. <2>

NGR adjusted based on 2009 vertical aerial photographs. <2>

Sources/Archives (3)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 5970 4823 (374m by 309m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG54NE
Geographical Area	SKYE AND LOCHALSH
Civil Parish	PORTREE

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (73)

Related Investigations/Events (2)

External Links (2)