Settlement cluster

The National Monuments Service's description

On a narrow shelf, on the E-facing slope of a ridge overlooking a narrow upland valley in the Bricklieve Mountains. Remains comprise a cluster of at least six small rectangular houses (SL040-079002-; SL040-079004-; SL040-079005-; SL040-079006-; SL040-218----), a possible structure (SL040-079004-), associated with a lime kiln (SL040-079008-) and a rectilinear pattern of fields in which traces of ridge and furrow cultivation are visible. The houses are visible as low sod-covered wall footings and are almost identical in size (11m x 4.2m) and plan, typically sub-divided into two or more, usually three, rooms. The core of the settlement consists of a row of three houses. The houses are aligned E-W and arranged in a N-S row, dictated by the contours of the terrace. The most northerly of the three is the largest (14.2m E-W; 4.2m N-S) in the settlement and is separated from the middle house by a gap of 10m. A small rectangular enclosure or garden-plot (17m N-S; 14m E-W) (this is indicated on the 1914 OS 6-inch map) fills most of the intervening space (21m N-S) between the middle house and its neighbour to S. At the NW corner of the rectangular plot is a small sunken subrectangular feature (6m N-S; 2m E-W), possibly the remains of a small shed or lean-to (SL040-079004-). A field-wall extends upslope to W from the NW end of the southern house. Abutting the S side of the wall, 21m W of the house, slightly recessed into the slope, is a ruined limekiln (SL040-079008-). It appears as a small circular area (1.6m N-S; 1.55m E-W) enclosed by a ruined stone wall (Wth 1m; H 0.5m) with an opening (Wth 0.6m) at SE. Another house (SL040-215----) is located 25m to NW of the limekiln, in a natural dip at the top of the ridge. A gap of 9.5m separates the southern house of the cluster of three houses from a rectangular field (27m N-S; 10-2m E-W) subdivided into two roughly equal plots. From here the terrace swings to SW curving around the 'nose' of the ridge. A sub-rectangular depression may indicate the location of another possible house (SL040-079006-) and beyond this to the SW are the foundations of another house (SL040-79007-) with an associated garden plot (14m NE-SW; 11m NW-SE). Although this is located c. 50m SW of the main cluster (SL040-079002-, Sl0040-079003, SL040-079004-) it is clearly part of the same settlement. To the N of the main cluster of houses, the terrace continues for c. 150m to N ending at a rising slope. It expands in width and has been subdivided into a row of large square fields (c. 30-40m N-S; c. 30-40m E-W) with evidence of cultivation ridges. The settlement is not marked on the 1st ed. OS 6-inch map (surveyed 1837) and appears to have been abandoned by then. While it is impossible to date this settlement a date in the 18th century would not be inconsistent for such remains.

Compiled by: Paul Walsh

Date of upload: 17 January 2012