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MHG64497 - Hebridean long house - Allt Glaim na Criche, Tairbeart

Summary

The much degraded remains of a Hebridean long house and a smaller structure, also very ruinous, which has probably been a byre.

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

Raasay Survey 2000. Site 2: Close to the south bank of the Allt Glam na Criche, 4m east of the footpath to Torran and Fladda and 20m north of the school, lie the much degraded remains of a Hebridean long house and a smaller structure, also very ruinous, which has probably been a byre. Lying northeast-southwest on its long axis the house measures externally 15.OOm x 6.OOm with squared corners at the southwest end and a rounded bow end at the northeast. Some very large stones have been used in the construction of the southwest wall and in the curved northeast end. There are two breaks in the northwest wall, facing the burn, and either or both of these may have been an entrance. The whole site is densely covered with bracken and details in the interior are difficult to discern. There would appear to have been a small rectangular structure, 8.OOm x 6.OOm formed later in the southwest end by building a dividing wall across the house. Within this section a further curved dividing wall can be seen forming a D-shaped enclosure at the southwest end, 6.OOm long on the cord and 3.OOm across externally.

The very ruinous remains of an oval byre, 6.OOm x 4.50m externally, lie 2.OOm from the northeast end of the house. The dense bracken cover over this feature precludes the identification of any details or internal features. A rough boulder wall, averaging 0.80m in height, edges the south bank of the burn from just north of the byre and continues along the length of the burn on the other side of the footpath.

It is recorded that in June 1856 a fishing boat sank in the Sound of Raasay with the loss of six men, four of whom were from Fladday and two from Torran. One of these two was Malcolm MacKenzie, tailor, from Torran and local sources tell us that this house was the home of Malcolm MacKenzie. <1>

NGR adjusted based on 2023 vertical aerial photographs. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NG 5963 4877 (17m by 16m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NG54NE
Geographical Area	SKYE AND LOCHALSH
Civil Parish	PORTREE

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

External Links (1)