31923: ECC 1.9 Eilean Chalium Cille

Summary:

HOUSE (Post Medieval – 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
BLACK HOUSE (Post Medieval – 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
COW HOUSE (Post Medieval – 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
LONGHOUSE (Post Medieval – 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
Blackhouse

Location:

NB 38395 21020

Full description:

"Situated above the southern shore of Eilean Chalium Cille on slight east facing slopes, the remains of this heavily ruined blackhouse measure 12 metres from west to east and 5 metres from north to south. This structure has opposing entrances in its north and south walls 4 metres from their northern ends. The walls of this structure have collapsed into its interior, which has been further obscured by episodes of clearance of small stones. The result is that no internal features can be defined. There is evidence that this house has been shortened at its east (byre) end. Originally it seems that the building had an apsoidal end (making the structure 14 metres from west to east) that was abutted by the adjacent enclosure (1.10), but at some point during the occupation of the site the byre was shortened by two metres and a new linear wall was constructed. As is the case elsewhere in the Lochs area of Lewis this house has no attatched barn. It is likely that the house (1.11) located on the south-east side of the abutting enclosure (1.10) was originally constructed as a barn." (Burgess 2004, 83)

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.