Booley hut

The National Monuments Service's description

In rough upland pasture, located on a relatively narrow terrace on the lower N-facing slope of a rocky ridge, overlooking an expanse of boggy ground which stretches N from the base of the ridge. The ridge slope rises immediately to S, and falls away steeply 2m to N of the hut. This is one of a cluster of booley huts (MA096-034001- to MA096-034010-) associated with a field system (MA096-034----).
This booley hut consists of a subcircular area (5m N–S; 4.5m E–W) enclosed by a drystone wall (Wth 0.6-0.7m; H 0.65-0.9m). The wall is uncoursed and roughly constructed, utilising local, unworked stones and boulders. Larger stones and boulders are utilised in the basal courses, some of which are set on edge or upright in the inner wall face. The walls are partly slumped or collapsed, particularly on the external face, and the lower levels are largely moss-covered. There is an entrance gap (Wth 0.8m) in the centre of the W side, now partly blocked with collapsed stone. A small subrectangular annex is appended to the exterior of the booley hut on its E side. It shares its W wall with the hut and is defined on the N, E and S sides by drystones walls, reduced now to a low, collapsed moss-covered spreads. It is subdivided into two small spaces (each, 1.8-2m N–S; 1.2-1.5m E–W) –too small to have provided living space, but perhaps used for storage, or even to shelter a young animal.
This booley hut is located towards the western extent of the settlement, and is the most substantial and best preserved of the huts.

Notified to NMS by Michael Gibbons

Attached images:
MA096-034001-_01.JPG Booley hut viewed from S
MA096-034001-_01.JPG Booley hut viewed from W
MA096-034001-_01.JPG Annex on E side, viewed from NE
MA096-034001-_01.JPG Booley hut viewed from SW

Compiled by: Jane O’Shaughnessy

Date of upload: 19 December 2019