Field system

The National Monuments Service's description

This field system covers an area of c. 300m N−S by c. 340m E−W. On the 1838 OS 6-inch map this area is shown as a large open space, with an irregular area enclosed at its W limits, a few isolated rectilinear fields on the S limits, and a number of rectangular houses bordering the road which defines the N limits of the area. On the 1930 edition an irregular-shaped area (c. 170m E−W; c. 100m N−S) of rough ground, spanning the NW and centre of the area, remains open, but the remainder of the area at SW, N and E is subdivided into a series of contiguous rectangular fields. The fields are bounded the drystone field walls (Wth 0.9-1m; H 0.5-1.7m), and are dotted with field cairns (MA072-127002-). Relict cultivation ridges are evident in some of the fields, some of which appeared to pre-date the clearance cairns. The field walls and cairns appeared to be 19th-century in date; the long, narrow fields in the E half of the area are reminiscent of Land Commission ‘stripes’. Land reclamation has taken place along the S limits of the area, and most of the field divisions here have been removed (pers. comm. R. Crumlish, 2017).

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 26 May 2021