31930: ECC 15.5/1.12 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 38596 21066

Full description:

"Situated on the south shore of Eilean Chalium Cille, the remains of this blackhouse are located 25 metres to the north of chapel 15.3 and 5 metres north of mausoleum 15.2. Constructed with stone faced walls with an earthen core this building is orientated from south-west to north-east and measures 16 x 6 metres. Standing to no more than 0.9 metres, its walls are ruinous and were heavily overgrown at the time of the survey. The structure is rectangular at its south-west (dwelling) end and apsoidal at its north-east (byre) end. An entrance can be discerned in the south-eastern wall, 7 metres from its north-east end. Internally the building is split into three rooms or chambers. Starting at the south-west (or dwelling end) of the structure are two cells of 5 metres each divided by a partition 0.6 metres wide. The third chamber, located in the north-east (byre end) of the structure is 4 metres in length and is separated from the central space by a wall 0.75 metres wide. The entrance identified in the south-eastern wall opens into the central space or cell, however, it is likely that at least one of the visible partitions is actually a later addition. This is the one towards the north-east forming the small space in the byre end of the house. This wall is likely to have been constructed either to shorten the house after a roof collapse (a common occurance at the byre end of a blackhouse) or during a phase of re-use, possibly for stick management. Externally, the fragmentary remains of two additional structures can be seen attached to the north-west wall towards its north-eastern end (2 x 5 metres) and between the entrance and the south-east wall’s north-eastern end (3 x 1.5 metres). These structures are likely to represent the remains of barns or similar storage structures, but have been heavily denuded or robbed. The remains of a Victorian grave slab may be seen, lying recumbent, between the north-east end of the house and the shore." (Burgess 2004, 89-90)

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.