RWE Innogy UK Limited
Circuit Breaker Housing at Mybster
Desk-Based Assessment
Document 1 | v4 24 November 2015
Mybster Circui t Br eaker Building D esk- Based Assessment RWE Innog yU K Limi ted Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing
Project no: B2028306 Document title: Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment Document No.: Document 1 Revision: V4 Date: 24 November 2015 Client name: RWE Innogy UK Limited Client no: Project manager: Rory McDonnell Author: David Bull File name: Mybster Circuit Breaker Building Cultural Heritage Desk-Based Assessment V0.4 23 Nov 2015.docx
Jacobs U.K. Limited
160 Dundee Street Edinburgh EH11 1DQ United Kingdom T +44 (0)131 659 1500 F +44 (0)131 228 6177 www.jacobs.com
© Copyright 2015 Jacobs U.K. Limited. The concepts and information contained in this document are the property of Jacobs. Use or copying of this document in whole or in part without the written permission of Jacobs constitutes an infringement of copyright.
Limitation: This report has been prepared on behalf of, and for the exclusive use of Jacobs’ Client, and is subject to, and issued in accordance with, the provisions of the contract between Jacobs and the Client. Jacobs accepts no liability or responsibility whatsoever for, or in respect of, any use of, or reliance upon, this report by any third party.
Document history and status
Revision Date Description By Review Approved
1 20/11/2015 Review David Bull Jonathan Dempsey
2 23/11/2015 Review David Bull Rory McDonnell
3 23/11/2015 Verification Maryanne Paterson
4 24/11/2015 Revisions based on verification David Bull Jonathan Dempsey
5 24/11/2015 Client review Karen Fox
6 25/11/2015 Revisions based on client review David Bull Jonathan Rory Dempsey McDonnell
RWE Innogy UK Limited 1 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Contents Executive Summary...... 4 Introduction...... 5 Legislation and Planning Policy ...... 6 Legislation...... 6 National Planning Policy Guidance ...... 6 Regional and Local Planning Policy and Guidance...... 7 Methodology ...... 9 Consultation...... 9 Data Gathering ...... 9 Study Area and Data Gathering ...... 9 Assessment of Effect...... 10 Importance...... 10 Effects on Setting...... 11 Magnitude of Impact ...... 12 Significance of Effect ...... 12 Limitations to the Assessment...... 13 Archaeological and Historical Background...... 14 Baseline Conditions ...... 16 Cultural Heritage Assets...... 16 Archaeological Remains...... 16 Unknown Archaeological Remains...... 17 Historic Landscape ...... 17 Potential Impact ...... 19 Assessment of Impacts...... 19 Proposed Mitigation ...... 21 Residual Effects...... 22 Conclusion ...... 23 References ...... 24
Tables
Table 1: Criteria for the assessment of the importance of Cultural Heritage Assets
Table 2: Magnitude of Impact on Cultural Heritage Assets
Table 3: Significance of Effect on Cultural Heritage Assets
Table 4: Summary of Cultural Heritage Assets forming the Baseline
Table 5: Significance of residual effect on Cultural Heritage Assets within the Study Area
RWE Innogy UK Limited 2 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Plates
Plate 1: View looking west of the 1901 shepherds hut now an ancillary building associated with a wind farm and Achkeepster, farmstead (Asset 1).
Plate 2: View looking south-east across the Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure (Asset 2).
Plate 3: View looking east showing the north-west corner of the Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure (Asset 2) and the modern break in the western enclosure bank.
Plate 4: View looking south showing the well-defined eastern enclosure bank of the Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure (Asset 2).
Plate 5: View looking north showing the intersection of the eastern enclosure bank and the internal division of the Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure (Asset 2).
Plate 6: View looking south-west showing one of two hollows which coincide with those shown on the Ordnance Survey Second Edition six inch to a mile Caithness-shire Sheet XXII map published in 1905.
Plate 7: View looking north-west from the southern end of the Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure (Asset 2) towards Achkeepster, farmstead (Asset 1).
Figures
Figure 1: Location of Proposed Development, 50m Study Area and Undesignated Cultural Heritage Assets
Figure 2: Location of Historic Landscape Types
Figure 3: Location of Designated Cultural Heritage Assets within 2km of the Study Area
Figure 4: Extract from Haldane’s map of the Drove Roads of Scotland (Haldane, 2008).
Figure 5: Extract from Roy’s Military Map of Scotland showing Spittle Hill but not the road to the west towards Thurso.
Figure 6: Extract from John Thomson’s Atlas of Scotland, 1832, naming Achateepster.
Figure 7: Extract from Ordnance Survey First Edition one inch to a mile Wick Sheet 116 map published in 1877, naming Achkeepster.
Figure 8: Extract from Ordnance Survey First Edition six inch to a mile Caithness Sheet XXIII map published in 1877 naming Achkeepster and showing Assets 1 and 2.
Figure 9: Extract from Ordnance Survey Second Edition six inch to a mile Caithness-shire Sheet XXII map published in 1905 naming Achkeepster and showing two irregular features between the road and the enclosure (Asset 2).
Figure 10: Extract from Ordnance Survey First Edition 25 inch to a mile Caithness Sheet XXII.1 map published 1877 which only shows the northern end of Asset 2, and Asset 3.
Appendices
Appendix A. Cultural Heritage Asset Gazetteer
RWE Innogy UK Limited 3 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Executive Summary
This report presents the results of a cultural heritage desk-based assessment and walkover survey undertaken to support the planning application for the proposed Mybster circuit breaker housing. As agreed with The Highland Council Historic Environment Team a study area was defined to include the proposed development and an area extending 50m in all directions from it, in addition a 2km study area for impacts on setting of nationally important designated heritage assets was also considered. Three non-designated cultural heritage assets were identified within the study area consisting of a post-medieval farmstead, a post-medieval drovers enclosure and a quarry. To mitigate the potential impact identified on the post-medieval drovers enclosure an archaeological earthwork survey and archaeological watching brief is proposed. Following the implementation of this mitigation residual impacts are considered to not be significant.
The potential impact on the setting of Ballone Broch, Knockglass Broch and Halsary Standing Stones, all of which are Scheduled Monuments, was also assessed. No potential effects on the setting of these assets were identified and no further mitigation is identified as required.
RWE Innogy UK Limited 4 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Introduction
RWE Innogy UK Ltd (RWE) seeks planning permission for a small scale single storey 33kv circuit breaker housing with new access onto the A9 and associated underground cables. The proposed development would form an ancillary element of the approved (but not yet built) Bad á Cheò Wind Farm (Planning Ref. 14/04554/S42). The proposed development site is located approximately 1km to the north of the Bad á Cheò Wind Farm site and immediately to the south of the existing Mybster substation, in Caithness (NGR ND1696 5160) (see Figure 1).
Jacobs UK Ltd (Jacobs) has been commissioned by RWE to undertake a cultural heritage desk-based assessment and walkover survey in support of the planning application. The cultural heritage desk-based assessment provides baseline information and an assessment of potential effects on archaeological remains, historic buildings and historic landscape types that may result from the proposed development.
RWE Innogy UK Limited 5 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Legislation and Planning Policy
Legislation
Scheduled Monuments are by definition of national importance and are protected by law under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 (as amended by the Historic Environment (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2011). It is a criminal offence to damage a Scheduled Monument, and consent (known as Scheduled Monument Consent) must be obtained from the Scottish Ministers before any works affecting a Scheduled Monument may take place.
Listed Buildings are protected under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended by the Historic Environment (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2011), and are recognised to be of special architectural or historic interest. Under the Act, planning authorities are instructed to have special regard to the desirability of preserving a Listed Building, its setting, or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses (Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act, Section 66(1)). Designation as a Listed Building confers additional controls over demolition and alteration through the requirement for Listed Building Consent to be gained before undertaking alteration or demolition.
The Town and Country Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 (as amended by the Historic Environment (Amendment) (Scotland) Act 2011) imposes a duty on local planning authorities to designate and protect ‘areas of special architectural or historic interest the appearance or character of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance’ as Conservation Areas. Designation provides control over demolition of unlisted buildings through the requirement for Conservation Area Consent, limit permitted development rights, and provides the basis for planning policies to further preserve and enhance the area’s special character.
National Planning Policy Guidance
National planning policy on a variety of themes is contained within Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) (Scottish Government, 2010). In terms of the impact of proposals on cultural heritage, SPP is focussed on: safeguarding historic assets through development plans and development management decisions; and promoting decision-making based on a clear understanding of the importance of heritage assets.
SPP highlights that the historic environment enhances national, regional and local distinctiveness and contributes to sustainable economic growth and regeneration. It also acknowledges that in most cases, the historic environment can accommodate change which is informed and sensitively managed. However, in some cases the importance of the heritage asset is such that change may not be possible. SPP contains a number of policies relating to various aspects of the historic environment, those relating to Listed Buildings, Scheduled Monuments and undesignated assets include: Listed Buildings - SPP requires planning authorities to have special regard to the desirability of preserving Listed Buildings and their setting, or any features of special architectural or historic interest which it possesses. Accordingly, there is a presumption against works that will adversely affect a Listed Building or its setting. Scheduled Monuments - SPP states that development which will have adverse effects on a Scheduled Monument, or the integrity of its setting, would not be permitted unless there are exceptional circumstances. Undesignated assets – SPP seeks to protect and preserve as far as possible undesignated historic assets including historic landscapes, routes such as drove roads and battlefields which do not have statutory protection.
In relation to preserving the above cultural heritage assets, SPP states that these sites should be protected and preserved in-situ where feasible. Where it is not possible to preserve archaeological assets in situ appropriate excavation, recording, analysis, publication and archiving would be required to be undertaken before or during development.
RWE Innogy UK Limited 6 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Scottish Historic Environment Policy (SHEP, 2011) and the Managing Change in the Historic Environment Guidance Note series (various publication dates), set out Scottish Ministers’ policies for the historic environment and provide a framework that informs the work of a range of organisations that have a role and interest in managing the historic environment. SHEP also states that the effect of proposed development on Inventory battlefields is a material consideration in the determination of a planning application (para 3.82) and that other public bodies should ensure that nationally important battlefields are given consideration within relevant strategies, plans and programmes (para 3.87).
Circulars and Planning Advice Notes (PANs) published by the Scottish Government provide further guidance on specific topics. Of relevance to cultural heritage is PAN 2/2011: Planning and Archaeology (2011) which accompanies Scottish Planning Policy, Scottish Historic Environment Policy and the Managing Change in the Historic Environment Guidance Notes, which together set out the Scottish Ministers’ policies for planning and the historic environment. PAN 2/2011 includes guidance on archaeological assessments and field assessments as well as arrangements for mitigation. It promotes the protection and preservation of archaeological sites and monuments, and their settings, in situ wherever feasible. Where preservation in situ is not possible, advice is provided on an appropriate level of excavation, recording, analysis, publication and archiving which should be carried out before and/or during development.
Regional and Local Planning Policy and Guidance
The Highland-wide Local Development Plan (HwLDP, 2012) is the land-use plan which will guide the development and investment in the region over the next 20 years. The relevant policies in relation to cultural heritage assets include: Policy 28: Sustainable Design; Policy 57: Natural, Built and Cultural Heritage; and Policy 69: Electricity Transmission Infrastructure.
The HwLDP has a number of supporting supplementary guidance notes, and those of relevance to cultural heritage assets include: Sustainable Design Guide: Supplementary Guidance (adopted January 2013); and Highland Historic Environment Strategy (adopted January 2013).
Policy 28 (Sustainable Design) of the HwLDP requires development to be designed with sustainability in mind. As such, developments will be assessed on a number of criteria including the extent to which they impact on designated areas of cultural heritage assets. Developments which are judged to be significantly detrimental in terms of these criteria will not accord with the HwLDP, except where no reasonable alternative exists, if there is a demonstrable over-riding strategic benefit or if satisfactory mitigation is incorporated.
Policy 57 (Natural, Built and Cultural Heritage) of the HwLDP allows development that has the potential to impact on features of local/regional importance if it can be demonstrated that it will not have an unacceptable impact on the natural environment, amenity and heritage resource. For features of national importance, development will only be permitted if they can be shown not to compromise the natural environment, amenity and heritage resource. Where there will be significant adverse effects, these must be clearly outweighed by social or economic benefits of national importance.
Policy 69 (Electricity Transmission Infrastructure) of the HwLDP requires proposals for overground, underground or sub-sea electricity transmission infrastructure (including lines and cables, pylons/ poles and vaults, transformers, switches and other plant) to be considered having regard to their level of strategic significance in transmitting electricity from areas of generation to areas of consumption. Subject to balancing with this consideration, and taking into account any proposed mitigation measures, The Highland Council will support proposals which are assessed as not having an unacceptable significant impact on the environment, including natural, built and cultural heritage features.
RWE Innogy UK Limited 7 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
The Highland Historic Environment Strategy Supplementary Guidance (2013) provides further information in regard to undesignated archaeological sites (e.g. those of local/regional importance) and states that where possible, archaeological sites and their settings should be understood and protected from harmful development. Where there is potential for an asset or its setting to be lost, the guidance states that consideration should be given to its significance and to the means available to preserve, record and interpret it in line with national policy (refer to Section 2.2 above).
RWE Innogy UK Limited 8 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Methodology
Consultation
Consultation was undertaken between RWE and Andrew Puls (Highland Council, Historic Environment Team) prior to the commissioning of Jacobs to undertake this cultural heritage desk-based assessment. The consultation identified the requirement to assess any potential impact on Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure (Asset 2). It was also noted that underground cable runs should, where possible, take advantage of existing breaks in the enclosure bank; and the cultural heritage desk-based assessment should reference droving and similar assets elsewhere. In response to this, the proposed development has been designed to minimise physical impacts on the drovers stance (please refer to Sections 6 and 7 for more details).
The Highland Council Historic Environment Team was further consulted on the 19th October 2015 to confirm the extent of the proposed study area; it was agreed as a 50m area around the planning application Red-Line Boundary, and indicative underground cable runs (see Figures 1 and 2) would be used. It was also agreed that the cultural heritage desk-based assessment would consider the potential effect of the proposed development on the setting of nationally important designated cultural heritage assets within 2km from the outer edge of the study area (see Figure 3). This assessment has been undertaken.
Historic Environment Scotland was contacted via email on the 27th October 2015 in relation to the assessment of the potential effects of the proposed development on the setting of nationally important designated cultural heritage assets, comprising Scheduled Monuments, Category A Listed Buildings and Gardens and Designed Landscapes. Jacobs stated that three nationally important designated cultural heritage assets were present within the 2km study area agreed with The Highland Council, comprising Ballone Broch (SM521), Knockglass Broch (SM561) and Halsary Standing Stones (SM5301) and that no effects on the setting of these resulting from construction and operation of the proposed development had been identified.
In response, on 6th November 2015 (HES Ref: AMH/521/10) Historic Environment Scotland noted that given the nature and scale of the proposal, the presence of other development in the vicinity and the distance to the monuments they did not at the time have significant concerns about the proposed development.
Data Gathering
This cultural heritage desk-based assessment has been undertaken based on the following standards and guidance: Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, 2014a Code of Conduct; Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, 2014b Standard and Guidance for Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment; Highland Council, 2012 Highland Council Standards for Archaeological Work; and Historic Scotland, 2010 Managing Change in the Historic Environment: Setting.
Reference was also made to The Scottish Archaeological Research Framework (ScARF), which was used to identify any research objectives to which archaeological remains within the study area could potentially contribute.
Study Area and Data Gathering
As agreed with the Highland Council Historic Environment Team (see Section 3.1) the study area was defined as per Figure 1. To populate the cultural heritage baseline within the study area the following sources of information were consulted: Pastmap for information from the National Monuments Record, including Inventory battlefields, Inventory Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland and Conservation Areas;
RWE Innogy UK Limited 9 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Cammore, the inventory of Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS); The Highland Council Historic Environment Record; Historic maps including Ordnance Survey maps (from 1850 onwards), and other historic mapping held by National Library of Scotland map library (visited on 20th October 2015); Written sources and historical mapping held by the National Archive of Scotland (visited on 27th October 2015); Historic Land Use Assessment data supplied by the RCHAMS; National aerial photographic collection held by the RCAHMS (visited on 20th October 2015); Written sources and historical mapping held in the Caithness Archives Centre, Wick (visited on 22nd October 2015); Published or unpublished national and regional archaeological research; and A literature review including relevant books, journals and other published and non-published material, including early parish accounts.
More details of the sources consulted can be found in Section 10.
In addition a walkover survey was undertaken by an experienced archaeologist of the study area on the 21st October 2015.
Assessment of Effect
Assessment of the effects on cultural heritage assets was undertaken taking cognisance of the following guidance: Scottish Planning Policy (Scottish Government, 2010) paragraphs 110-124 on the Historic Environment; PAN 2/2011: Planning and Archaeology (Scottish Government, 2011); Scottish Historic Environment Policy (SHEP) (Historic Scotland, 2011) Managing Change in the Historic Environment: Setting (Historic Scotland, 2010); and Standard and Guidance for Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment (Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, 2014b).
Importance
The importance of cultural heritage assets was assessed on a scale of ‘International’ to ‘Less than Local’ using professional judgement guided by the criteria presented in Table 1.
Table 1: Criteria for the Assessment of the Importance of Cultural Heritage Assets
Importance Site Type
International World Heritage Sites. World Heritage Sites inscribed for their historic landscape qualities. Historic landscapes of international value, whether designated or not. Extremely well preserved historic landscapes with exceptional coherence, time- depth, or other critical factor(s). National Scheduled Monuments (SMs). Category A Listed Buildings. Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes. Inventory of Historic Battlefields. Some undesignated sites assessed as being of national importance using the methodology given below.
RWE Innogy UK Limited 10 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Importance Site Type
Designated historic landscapes of outstanding interest. Undesignated landscapes of outstanding interest. Undesignated landscapes of high quality and importance, and of demonstrable national value. Well preserved historic landscapes, exhibiting considerable coherence, time-depth or other critical factor(s). Regional Category B Listed Buildings. Conservation Areas. Some undesignated sites assessed as being of regional importance using the methodology given below. Designated special historic landscapes. Undesignated historic landscapes that would justify special historic landscape designation and landscapes of regional value. Averagely well-preserved historic landscapes with reasonable coherence, time- depth or other critical factor(s). Local Category C Listed Buildings. Some undesignated sites assessed as being of local importance using the methodology given below Robust undesignated historic landscapes. Historic landscapes with importance to local interest groups. Historic landscapes whose value is limited by poor preservation and/or poor survival of contextual associations. Less than local Assets either already badly damaged, destroyed or whose historic value is too slight for inclusion in a higher class. Landscapes with little or no significant historical interest.
Many cultural heritage assets are not currently afforded any statutory protection through designation. For the purposes of assessment, these undesignated sites were assigned a level of importance using professional judgement supported by review of the following guidance: criteria used in Scottish Historic Environment Policy (SHEP) for the designation of SMs (Historic Scotland, 2011); and non-statutory criteria used in the designation of Listed Building categories (SHEP; Historic Scotland, 2011).
Effects on Setting
Based on the guidance provided by Managing Change in the Historic Environment: Setting (Historic Scotland, 2011), a three stage process was undertaken to assess the potential effect of the proposed development on the setting of cultural heritage assets: Stage 1: identify the historic structures that might be affected by the proposed development. - Pastmap was used to identify designated cultural heritage assets that might be affected by the proposed development, and modern Ordnance Survey mapping and on-line aerial photography was used to establish their intervisibility. No assets were identified as being intervisible with proposed development. Three assets Ballone Broch (SM521), Knockglass Broch (SM561) and Halsary Standing Stones (SM5301) were identified within 2km of the study area. Stage 2: define the setting of historic assets by establishing how the surroundings contribute to the ways in which the historic structure is understood, appreciated and experienced. - For the three designed cultural heritage assets listed above modern Ordnance Survey mapping and on-line aerial photography were used to define their setting. The setting of the three cultural heritage assets within the study area was defined during the walkover survey. Stage 3: assess how the proposed development would affect upon that setting.
RWE Innogy UK Limited 11 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
The intervisibility of the three assets identified within 2km of the study area and the proposed development was further assessed during the walkover survey and any effects on their setting considered. The effect of the proposed development on the setting of the three cultural heritage assets within the study area was assessed during the walkover survey.
Magnitude of Impact
Assessment of magnitude of impact from the proposed development on cultural heritage asserts was based on professional judgement informed by the methodology and criteria set out in Table 2. Unless otherwise stated, all effects identified are considered adverse.
Table 2: Magnitude of Impact on Cultural Heritage Assets
Magnitude Criteria
High Change to most or all key archaeological materials, such that the resource is totally altered. Change to key historic building elements, such that the resource is totally altered. Change to most or all key historic landscape elements, parcels or components; extreme visual effects; gross change of noise or change to sound quality; fundamental changes to use or access; resulting in total change to historic landscape character unit. Comprehensive changes to setting. Medium Changes to many key archaeological materials, such that the resource is clearly modified. Change to many key historic building elements, such that the resource is significantly modified. Changes to some key historic landscape elements, parcels or components, visual change to many key aspects of the historic landscape, noticeable differences in noise or sound quality, considerable changes to use or access; resulting in moderate changes to historic landscape character. Considerable changes to setting that affect the character of the asset. Low Changes to key archaeological materials, such that the asset is slightly altered. Change to key historic building elements, such that the asset is slightly different. Changes to few key historic landscape elements, parcels or components, slight visual changes to few key aspects of historic landscape, limited changes to noise levels or sound quality; slight changes to use or access: resulting in limited changes to historic landscape character Slight changes to setting. Very Low Very minor changes to archaeological materials or setting. Slight changes to historic buildings elements or setting that hardly affect it. Very minor changes to key historic landscape elements, parcels or components, virtually unchanged visual effects, very slight changes in noise levels or sound quality; very slight changes to use or access; resulting in a very small change to historic landscape character.
Significance of Effect
The significance of effects was assessed using professional judgement guided by a matrix of importance and magnitude, as shown in Table 3.
RWE Innogy UK Limited 12 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Table 3: Significance of Effects on Cultural Heritage Assets
Magnitude of impact High Medium Low Very Low Importance National Major Major Moderate Minor Regional Major Moderate Minor Negligible Local Moderate Minor Minor Negligible Less than local Minor Negligible Negligible Negligible
Limitations to the Assessment
The baseline data in this assessment is based on cultural heritage desk-based research and a walkover survey of the study area.
The data in sources identified in Section 3.3 was sufficiently detailed to enable a robust assessment of the magnitude of impact and significance of effect of the proposed development on the setting of designated cultural heritage assets. As a result the designated cultural heritage assets were not visited as part of this assessment.
RWE Innogy UK Limited 13 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Archaeological and Historical Background
There is evidence of prehistoric ritual and ceremonial activity in the Bad á Cheò and Achkeepster area that includes upstanding monuments dating to the Neolithic and Iron Age periods. The design of the Neolithic structures appears to be unique to Caithness, and comprises arrangements of small stones aligned in multiple rows such as the example at Tormsdalev (MHG1286) approximately 2.8km south-west of the proposed development. There are also individual standing stones in the area such as Grey Stone at Mybster (MHG39372) approximately 800m north of the proposed development and the Scheduled Monument approximately 1.8km south of the proposed development at Halsary (SM5301). Late prehistoric activity comprises sophisticated stone built tower structures, dating from the late Iron Age (550BC – 560BC), including two brochs located approximately 1.5km to the west and 1.5km east of the proposed development at Ballone (SM521) and Knockglass (SM561).
The importance of Mybster and Spittle as a resting place for travellers in the medieval period can be inferred by the location of the site of St Magnus’ hospital (SM5413), 0.5km to the north-west of the village of Spittle and approximately 3.4km north of the proposed development. The placename Spittal is derived from hospital, but unlike modern hospitals medieval institutions were more akin to hostels, in this case perhaps providing shelter for pilgrims making their way to and from the shrine of St Magnus in Kirkwell. Spittle Hill, the highest point in the area and approximately 4km north of the proposed development has been a traditional meeting place where a yearly market was held until 1827 (Munro, 1834; MHG39789).
The continued use and development of the route roughly defined by the modern A9 between Latheron to the south and Thurso to the north includes the establishment of resting places such as the inns at Achkeepster, and later at Mybster crossroads, approximately 1.2km north of the proposed development. The 19th Century saw a concerted campaign of land improvement and road building by Sir John Sinclair of Ulbster, which included the building of a causeway across Causeymire, one of the more challenging sections of the route south. The broad structure of the areas modern landscape dates to this period of agricultural improvement including the development of crofts to the north of the proposed development, now largely abandoned, either side of the A9 at Mybster and Spittle.
Droving was a common practice throughout Scotland by which livestock including cattle and sheep were walked south to be sold at trysts or markets in both southern Scotland and England. By the middle of the 18th Century Caithness cattle were drove south mainly for sale at Crieff and Falkirk. William Defoe writing in about 1726 refers to many black cattle being bred in Caithness and sold to drovers, taken as far south as Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex (Defoe, 1724). Thomas Pennant in 1772 established that in good years the as many as 2,200 head of cattle were sold to drovers from the south (Pennant, 1772). Haldane’s map of Scottish drove roads suggests that Georgemas, south of Thurso and 1km east of Halkirk was a starting point for droves south from Caithness (Haldane, 2008; see Figure 4).
Contemporary writers criticised the poor quality of the beef cattle from Caithness when compared to those of other Highland districts and did not consider them the best of beasts for droving (Haldane, 2008). The relatively poor quality of Caithness cattle for droving may well explain the importance in the 18th Century of the Caithness export trade with Leith of barrelled beef, tallow, skins and hides, and the local demand for salt beef from Dutch herring boats which came in large numbers each summer (Haldane, 2008).
The cost of bringing a drove from Caithness to Carlisle, a journey of about twenty-eight days, was reckoned in the early-19th Century to be 7s 6d a head (Haldane, 2008). Droving that took place during the winter or early spring required cattle to be fed on hay was considered much more costly. Contemporary estimates put the cost at 10s to 15s more per head than the summer and autumn droves. On average animals from Caithness faced a four week journey to the south. Haldane quotes from a letter from the drover James Gunn of Braemore to Sir James Sinclair, whose beasts he had bought in 1743, suggesting that drovers taking Caithness cattle south were fortunate if all their beasts ‘held out to travill’ (Haldane, 2008). The prices obtained for Caithness cattle in the southern trysts was also frequently disappointing, reflecting their devaluation through deterioration in condition on the long journey south.
RWE Innogy UK Limited 14 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
An important factor on which the success of a drove south depended was the ability of the drovers to ensure the availability of sufficient wayside grazing for their cattle, with opportunities for undisturbed rest for man and beast as well as sources of food and water. These stopping places were known as stances, and without them the drove road would be useless, and form part and parcel of the drove road just as much as the route-ways themselves (Lowdon, 2014). The choice of these stances was dictated by the existence of pasture and water, while ten to twelve miles was the distance generally recognised in Scotland as the most that cattle could do in a day if they were to be in good condition on reaching market (Lowdon, 2014).
Stances were rarely defined by manmade enclosures with sheltered natural locations such as glens or corries being exploited. Livestock were allowed to graze freely, often too tired and hungry at the end of the day to wonder far. Drovers would usually sleep alfresco setting up camp alongside their livestock for their protection and to save costs. Only on occasion would inns have been available, or chosen by drovers (Lowdon, 2014). Haldane notes that the movement of thousands of cattle by ten mile stages from all parts of the north, east and west of Scotland by many and varying routes meant the existence of great numbers of stances through the Highlands. Until the middle of the 18th Century the drove stances were in most cases used without payment, the right of stance accepted by landowners by tradition and custom. The annual visits by cattle were seen as beneficial, fertilizing cultivated ground. However, as droves moved south the amount of open common decreased and enclosed land became more frequent reducing the availability of stances and their free grazing.
Towards the end of the 18th Century and into the 19th Century drovers were increasingly forced to pay for their right to stance. Known by drovers as grass mail, the cost varied considerably. There is documentary evidence of increasing litigation between landowners, drovers and the owners of cattle for the rights of the drover to free stances (Lowdon, 2014). Changes in agriculture and land management, principally the increasing enclosure of commons made it harder to make droving profitable. The development through selective breading of larger heavier cattle not suited to the rigours of droving added to the decline in the practise. For the livestock farmers of Caithness the introduction of the steam shipping made it considerably quicker and cheaper to take cattle south with no loss of condition for the cattle. Long distance droves from Caithness had largely ceased by the arrival of the railways.
RWE Innogy UK Limited 15 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Baseline Conditions
Cultural Heritage Assets
From the sources identified in Section 3.3 seven cultural heritage assets have been identified within the study area comprising three archaeological remains and four historic landscape types. A further three Scheduled Monuments have been identified within 2km of the development. A total of 10 cultural heritage assets have been identified as forming the baseline and considered in this assessment. The location of the assets are shown on Figures 1 to 3, and summarised in Table 4, with a full description provided in Appendix A, the gazetteer.
Table 4: Summary of Cultural Heritage Assets Forming the Baseline
Asset Site Name Importance Designation
1 Achkeepster Farmstead Local None
2 Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure Regional None
3 Achkeepster Enclosure Quarry (Site of) Less than Local None
18th – 19th Century Rectangular Fields Local HLT 1 None
20th Century Industrial Less than Local HLT 2 None
Rough Grazing Local HLT 3 None
20th Century Coniferous Plantation Less than Local HLT 4 None
SM521 Ballone Broch National Scheduled Monument
SM561 Knockglass Broch National Scheduled Monument
SM5301 Halsary Standing Stones National Scheduled Monument
Archaeological Remains
Halsary Standing Stones (SM5301), a Scheduled Monument, comprises a pair of standing stones located within an area of coniferous plantation. Standing stones were constructed throughout much of prehistory, but the majority are thought to have been erected in the Neolithic and Bronze Age periods (3000 BC to 1000 BC) and form part of the larger megalithic culture that thrived throughout much of northwest Europe. The exact function of these monuments is not known but interpretations vary from territorial markers to ritual locations. In consideration of its designation and its important contribution to our knowledge and understanding of prehistoric ritual activity the importance of these assets has been assessed to be of National importance.
Ballone and Knockglass brochs (SM521 and SM561) are the archaeological remains of stone built tower structures, dating from the late Iron Age (550BC – AD 560). Found mainly in the north and west of Scotland brochs can have a tapering profile and thick, usually hollow dry stone walls which can contain galleries, cells and a stairway, with guard cells at the entrance. In consideration of their designation and contribution to our knowledge and understanding of Iron Age architecture and settlement the importance of these assets has been assessed to be of National importance.
No archaeological remains from the prehistoric or medieval period have been identified within the study area.
Achkeepster Farmstead (Asset 1) includes the remains of a linear building with associated enclosures and early-20th century shepherd’s hut recently restored and converted into an electrical substation for Causeymire
RWE Innogy UK Limited 16 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Wind Farm. No early maps including Roy’s Military Map (see Figure 5) show any detail of Achkeepster although it is named on Thomson’s map of 1832 (see Figure 6). The remains of the farmstead seen today correspond to those depicted on the Ordnance Survey First Edition one inch to a mile Wick Sheet 116 map published 1877 and six inch to a mile Caithness Sheet XXIII map published 1877 (see Figures 7 and 8), with the later shepherds hut first appearing on the Ordnance Survey Second Edition six inch to a mile Caithness-shire Sheet XXII map published in 1905 (see Figure 9; Plate 1). The remains of farmsteads of this period are common within the wider landscape however there is documentary evidence to suggest Achkeepster as the location of an inn. Although there is no direct evidence that the archaeological remains associated with asset 1 are those of the inn there is potential for this asset to contribute to our understanding of post-medieval commercial and transport infrastructure, and has been assessed to be of Local importance.
Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure (Asset 2), comprises an earthen banked enclosure divided into two compartments of roughly equal size located approximately 80m east of Achkeepster Farmstead (Asset 1) (see Figure 8; Plates 2 to 6). The enclosure has been interpreted as a drove stance used to coral the livestock of drovers using the inn at Achkeepster. The enclosure is first depicted on the First Edition Ordnance Survey six in to a mile map published in 1877 and on all subsequent Ordnance Survey maps. 1946 and 1988 aerial photographs show the enclosure, with the latter photographs illustrating the loss of the north-east corner following the construction of the Mybster substation (see Section 10 for details).
As described in Section 4, drove stances were usually open areas of ground rather than formally constructed enclosures. The Highland Council Historic Environment Recorded (HCHER) records six sites under the monument type Drove Stance. Of these three, MHG10266, MHG56694 and Asset 2 (MHG18906), are morphologically similar seen as roughly rectangular double celled enclosures defined by low earthen banks and are described as being in similar condition. Asset 2 is the only drove stance enclosure recorded on the HCHER within Caithness. Given the rarity of formal drove stance enclosures, its association with other elements of the built infrastructure supporting droving and its contribution to our understanding of the seasonal movement of livestock from Caithness this asset has been assessed to be of Regional importance.
Asset 3, Achkeepster Enclosure Quarry (Site of) is the location of a quarry identified on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25 inch to a mile Caithness Sheet XXIII.1 map published in 1877 (see Figure 10). No evidence of the quarry was identified during the walkover survey on 21st October 2015 and it is likely to have been filled in during the construction of Mybster substation. Given that small quarries are common within the wider landscape and in recognition of its poor survival this asset has been assessed to be of Less than Local importance.
Unknown Archaeological Remains
While there are a number of extant archaeological remains dating from the Neolithic to the Post-medieval periods in the wider landscape, the use of the proposed development area as a stock enclosure with associated ground disturbance from the movement of livestock, previous construction activities associated with existing energy related infrastructure, post-medieval land improvement and the development of the A9, the potential for unknown archaeological remains within the study area is considered to be low.
Historic Landscape
Four Historic Landscape Types (HLTs) have been identified within the study area and are shown on Figure 2, and summarised in Table 4.
Areas of 18th to 19th Century rectilinear fields (HLT 1) form the north-west and centre of the study area. These are generally characterised by straight sided field boundaries enclosing irregularly shaped fields of moderate to large size with prominently modern post and wire fencing (Plate 2). While this historic landscape type provides evidence for development of the agricultural landscape during the Improvement era, it is of a common type and therefore has been assessed to be of Local importance.
Dating from the prehistoric period to the present historic landscape type rough grazing (HLT 3) has been identified within the study area which may include areas of heather moorland and rough grassland. Some areas of rough grazing are depicted on historic maps as uncultivated ground and remain so today. As a common
RWE Innogy UK Limited 17 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
landscape type in much of Highland Scotland this historic landscape type has been assessed to be of Local importance.
The east of the study area is characterised by coniferous plantation (HLT 4) and to the north existing industrial (HLT 2) historic landscape types both dating from the 20th Century. As these are a recent introduction into the landscape with limited time depth these historic landscape types have been assessed to be of Less than Local importance.
RWE Innogy UK Limited 18 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Potential Impact
Assessment of Impacts
This section describes the potential impacts on cultural heritage assets that could arise, in the absence of mitigation, from the construction and operation of the proposed circuit breaker housing, access track and underground cable runs. Potential impacts on cultural heritage assets are divided into two categories: Physical - damage to or destruction of assets occurring during construction. Activities presenting a risk during construction include top-soil stripping, foundation excavation, machine movement over vulnerable soft ground and temporary soil and construction material storage. Effects on Setting – changes affecting the setting of cultural heritage assets arising from construction and operation of the proposed development.
The impacts below have been assessed based on embedded mitigation comprising: Locating proposed access track to make use of an existing break in the earthen enclosure bank to minimise the loss of the bank enclosing Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure (Asset 2). The removal of approximately 12m of the earthen bank is required to allow appropriate visibility splays for the access track onto the A9; Locating of the proposed access track to retain the north-west corner of the Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure (Asset 2), minimising loss of the legibility of this asset; and Minimising the number of breaks required in the enclosure bank.
The proposed development would not have a physical impact on Achkeepster Farmstead (Asset 1). The setting of Achkeepster farmstead includes principle views south and south-west towards and including the Causeymire Wind Farm, views east which include the A9, partial views of Asset 2, and north-east towards infrastructure associated with SSE Mybster substation and associated pylons and overhead cables. Construction of the proposed development including ground disturbance for the laying of underground cables and temporary site compounds and fencing would introduce temporary visual impacts on the setting of the asset, introduce a source of construction noise, and obscure views east to the Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure (Asset 1; see Plate 7). This impact has been assessed to be of low magnitude and Slight significance.
During operation the continued presence of the circuit breaker housing and access track would introduce a new element into the setting of Asset 1. However, the presence of the SSE substation which is currently undergoing development to increase its size already forms an existing element in views north-east from the asset. Given that the relatively small scale of the proposed development in relation to the existing SSE Substation, it would form a minor addition and as such the potential impact has been assessed to be of very low magnitude of impact of Very Low and Negligible significance.
The construction of the housing and associated cable route would have a physical impact on the Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure (Asset 2). The construction of the cable route would remove 12m of the eastern earthen bank and 12m of the internal division. It was not possible to take advantage of existing openings in the bank, which are few and of no more than approximately 1m wide. In total the construction of the development will require the removal of 36m of the approximately 480m Drovers Enclosure bank. In addition, construction of the proposed development including groundworks for the laying of underground cables, and temporary site compounds and fencing would introduce a temporary visual impact on the setting of the asset. The impact has been assessed to be of low magnitude and Minor significance.
During operation the circuit breaker housing and access track will be seen in the context of the existing SSE substation. In addition as our ability to understand and appreciate Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure (Asset 2) is based on its physical form which will be largely retained, the impact on the setting of this asset has been assessed to be of low magnitude and Minor significance.
No impact is predicted on Achkeepster Enclosure Quarry (Asset 3).
RWE Innogy UK Limited 19 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
While the proposed development would be present within the 18th – 19th Century Rectangular Fields (HLT 1), the layout of this historic landscape type will be retained and only a very small proportion of it will be affected. This impact has been assessed to be of very low magnitude and Negligible significance. While the proposed development will continue to be present in HLT 1 during operation, as its layout of this historic landscape type will be retained, it will not impact on our ability to understand this cultural heritage asset this impact has been assessed to be of very low magnitude and Negligible significance.
No impact on any other historic landscape types is predicted.
Ballone Broch (SM521) is a grass covered mound concealing the remains of an Iron Age defended round house. Located west of a slight rise in a low lying landscape of Improvement era enclosure, its setting includes principle views of wide open vistas to the south-west towards and including Causeymire wind farm, modern conifer plantations north-west at Achlachan Moss and young broadleaved plantation to the east and south towards Mybster Farmstead and north towards Spittle. Given that the land rise and broadleaved plantation to the south-east and Mybster Farmstead to the south obscures views towards the proposed development which is approximately 1.1km north-west, no effects on the setting of this asset as a result of the construction or operation of the proposed development have been identified.
Knockglass Broch (SM561) is a similar grass covered mound with a small area of the outer stone wall construction visible. Positioned on a slight rise in an otherwise low lying landscape of Improvement era enclosure, principle views include open views to the south-west, north and north-east, coniferous plantations at Moss of Toftingall and Blackless Moss south and south-east, and smaller plantations and Knockglass farmstead to the west. As modern conifer plantations and the farmstead at Knockglass obscure views towards the proposed development 1.5km to the south-west, no effects on the setting of this asset as a result of the construction or operation of the proposed development have been identified.
Halsary Standing Stones (SM5301) are approximately 1.9km south of the proposed development and their current setting comprises a small clearing within dense 20th Century coniferous plantations. Given that all views north towards the proposed development are obscured by the dense 20th Century coniferous plantation it has been assessed that there will be no effects on the setting of this asset as a result of the construction or operation of the proposed development.
RWE Innogy UK Limited 20 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Proposed Mitigation
As noted above, the access track, circuit breaker housing, underground cable runs and temporary laydown areas have been designed to reduce impacts on cultural heritage assets by routing and locating the infrastructure to reduce the number of breaks required in the enclosure bank of Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure (Asset 2). In addition the access track has been located to make partial use of an existing break, minimising loss of the enclosing bank. This access has also been designed to retain the north-western corner, reducing impacts on the legibility of the enclosure.
The following additional mitigation is proposed subject to discussion and agreement with the Highland Council Historic Environment Team.
Prior to the commencement of construction of the proposed development it is recommended that a detailed survey is undertaken to make a record of the enclosure banks forming Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure (Asset 2). This should be undertaken based on the guidance provided with the Highland Council Standards For Archaeological Work (Highland Council, 2015: 3.24 - 3.28). The results of the survey will also be used to demarcate a 3m exclusion zone between the enclosure bank and the work area for the laying of the underground cable run to prevent accidental damage to the enclosure bank.
An archaeological watching brief is recommended during any ground breaking works associated with the proposed development, including but not limited to the construction of the access track, circuit breaker housing foundation, laydown area and laying of underground cables. This will include the recording of exposed profile sections of the enclosure bank to enable the recording of its construction methods.
Construction activity will be limited to the access track and laydown areas to limit impact on the Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure (Asset 2). However, if required appropriate measures to reduce the impact of machine movement within the interior of the drovers enclosure should be taken. This could include the use of bog mats within the work area for the underground cable run.
Where sections of earthen enclosure bank are required to be removed to allow the laying of underground cables these should be reinstated to the profile recorded during the topographic survey.
RWE Innogy UK Limited 21 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Residual Effects
After mitigation, the significance of residual effects on Asset 2, the Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure are predicated to be Negligible.
No measures are proposed to mitigate the impact on the setting of Assets 1 and 2. The significance of residual effects on all cultural heritage assets within the study area are presented in Table 5.
No measures are proposed to mitigate the impact on 18th – 19th Century Rectangular Fields (HLT 1). The significance of residual effect during construction and operation is predicted to be Negligible.
Table 5: Significance of Residual Effect on Cultural Heritage Assets within the Study Area
Asset Asset Name Importance Significance of Mitigation Magnitude Significance No. Effect of Residual of Residual (unmitigated) Effect Effect 1 Achkeepster, Local Construction - None Very Low Negligible farmstead Slight Operation – None Very Low Negligible Negligible 2 Achkeepster Regional Construction - Topographic Very Low Negligible Drovers Minor survey, Enclosure watching brief and protective measures during construction Operation - None Low Minor Minor HLT 1 18th – 19th Local Construction - None Very Low Negligible Century Negligible Rectangular Operation - None Very Low Negligible Fields Negligible
RWE Innogy UK Limited 22 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Conclusion
As agreed with The Highland Council Historic Environment Team a study area was defined to include the proposed development and an area extending 50m in all directions from it. In addition a 2km study area for impacts on setting of nationally important designated heritage assets was also defined. Within these study areas three archaeological remains, four historic landscape types and three Scheduled Monuments were identified.
To mitigate a potential impact on the post-medieval drovers enclosure an archaeological earthwork survey and archaeological watching brief is proposed. Prior to mitigation the significance of impact has been assessed to be Minor. Following the implementation of this mitigation residual impacts are considered to not be significant. A potential impact on the 18th to 19th Century Rectangular Fields historic landscape type has also been identified. While no mitigation is proposed, the residual impacts are considered to not be significant.
No potential effects on the setting of Ballone Broch, Knockglass Broch and Halsary Standing Stones, all of which are Scheduled Monuments, were identified and no mitigation is therefore proposed.
RWE Innogy UK Limited 23 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
References
Historical Maps Ordnance Survey 6” to the mile, First Edition, Caithness Sheet XXIII, published 1877
Ordnance Survey 25” to the mile, First Edition, Caithness Sheet XXIII.1, published 1877
Ordnance Survey 6” to the mile, Second Edition, Caithness-shire Sheet XXII, published 1905
Ordnance Survey 1” to the mile, First Edition, Wick Sheet 116, published 1877
Roy, W. 1747-55 Military Survey of Scotland, Sheet 38/2
Thomson, J. Atlas of Scotland, 1832
Aerial Photographs Lib Ref Sortie Date Frame Run / Photo Number NCAP-000-000-105-820 106G/Scot/uk/0070 09-May-46 3064 NCAP-000-000-105-821 106G/Scot/uk/0070 09-May-46 3063 NCAP-000-000-105-822 106G/Scot/uk/0070 09-May-46 3062 NCAP-000-000-105-431 106G/Scot/uk/0068 09-May-46 3289 NCAP-000-000-144-513 Ass/60988 07-May-88 152 NCAP-000-000-144-514 Ass/60988 07-May-88 153
Sources
Cameron, J., 1791. Halkirk. The Old Satistical Account. Caithness, Vol. 18, 53-122
Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, 2014a Code of Conduct.
Chartered Institute for Archaeologists, 2014b, The Chartered Institute for Archaeologists Standard and Guidance for a Historic Environment Desk-Based Assessment.
Craven, J.B., ed., 1886, Journals of the Episcopal Visitations of the Right Reverend Robert Forbes MA of the dioceses of Ross and Argyll, 1762 and 1770: with a History of the Episcoplal Church in the Dioceses of Ross, chiefly during the eighteenth century and a memoir of Bishop R. Forbes. London
Defoe, 1724, Tour through Great Britain
English Heritage, 2007, Understanding the Archaeology of Landscapes: A guide to good recording practice.
Glendinning, B., 2003, Causeymire Wind Farm, Haul Road Archaeological Assessment. CFA Archaeology Report No. 847
Haldane, A.R.B., 2008, The Drove Roads of Scotland. Birlinn
Historic Scotland, 2010, Managing Change in the Historic Environment: Setting
Highland Council, 2012, Highland Council Standards for Archaeological Work
RWE Innogy UK Limited 24 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Hooper, J., 2001, Achkeepster, Caithness Location of Proposed Windfarm: An Archaeological Assessment.
Lowden, R.E., 2014, To Travel by Older Ways: A Historical-Cultural Geography of Droving in Scotland. Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Glasgow
Mudie, G and Badger, S., 2004, Causeymire Windfarm, Achkeepster, Spittal, Caithness: Building Survey and Archaeological Watching Brief. CFA Archaeology
Munro, J., 1834, rev. 1840. Halkirk. The New Statistical Account. Caithness, Vol. 15, 68-82
Original Name Books of the Ordnance Survey. County of Caithness 1871. Book 4
Scottish Government, 2010, Scottish Planning Policy
Scottish Government, 2011, PAN 2/2011: Planning and Archaeology
Pennant, 1772, Tour in Scotland.
RWE Innogy UK Limited 25 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Plates
Plate 1: View looking west to the 1901 shepherds hut now an ancillary building associated with a wind farm and Archkeepster, farmstead (Asset 1).
Plate 2: View looking south-east across the Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure (Asset 2).
RWE Innogy UK Limited 26 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
North-west corner of Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure
Plate 3: View looking east showing the north-west corner of the Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure (Asset 2) and the modern break in the western encloure bank.
Eastern enclosure bank of Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure
Plate 4: View looking south showing the well-defined eastern enclosure bank of the Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure (Asset 2).
RWE Innogy UK Limited 27 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Internal enclosure bank of Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure
Plate 5: View looking north showing the intersection of the eastern enclosure bank and the internal division Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure (Asset 2).
Plate 6: View looking south-west showing one of two hollows which coincide with those shown on the Second Edition Ordnance Survey six inch to a mile Caithness-shire Sheet XXII map published in 1905.
RWE Innogy UK Limited 28 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Plate 7: View looking north-west from the southern end of Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure (Asset 2) towards Achkeepster, farmstead (Asset 1).
RWE Innogy UK Limited 29 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Figures
Note the location of the proposed development area is shown in red rectangle on Figure 4 and Figures 6 to 10.
Figure 4: Extract from Haldane’s map of the Drove Roads of Scotland (Haldane, 2008).
Figure 5: Extract from Roy’s Military Map of Scotland 1747-55 showing Spittle Hill but not the road south from Thurso.
RWE Innogy UK Limited 25 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Figure 6: Extract from John Thomson’s Atlas of Scotland, 1832, naming Achateepster.
Figure 7: Extract from Ordnance Survey First Edition one inch to a mile Wick Sheet 116 map published in 1877, naming Achkeepster.
RWE Innogy UK Limited 26 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Figure 8: Extract from Ordnance Survey First Edition six inch to a mile Caithness Sheet XXIII map published in 1877 naming Achkeepster and showing Assets 1, 2 and 3.
RWE Innogy UK Limited 27 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Figure 9: Extract from Ordnance Survey Second Edition six inch to a mile Caithness-shire Sheet XXII map published in 1905 naming Achkeepster and showing two irregular features between the road and the enclosure (Assets 2).
Figure 10: Extract from Ordnance Survey First Edition 25 inch to a mile Caithness Sheet XXIII.1 map published in 1877 which only shows the northern end of Assets 2 and 3.
RWE Innogy UK Limited 28 Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Appendix A. Cultural Heritage Asset Gazetteer
Undesignated Cultural Heritage Assets within the Study Area Asset Number 1
Asset Name Achkeepster, farmstead
NGR ND 1683 5158
Type Farmstead
Designation None
HER Reference MHG18917
Importance Local
Description A farmstead comprising one roofed, long building and two unroofed buildings, and four enclosures are depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Caithness 1877, sheet xxiii). A roofed building and two enclosures are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1976). Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 8 January 1996
The settlement of Achkeepster consists of the shepherd's cottage built in 1901, an extremely long, multi-compartmental building, aligned NE-SW, a well and a series of small enclosures. Allowing for the later construction of the cottage and its adjacent outhouse and the insertion of wire fences, the layout of the enclosures around the buildings seems to reflect that visible on the OS First edition. An inn is recorded at this location in documentary references.
A series of watching briefs, within and outside Achkeepster Cottage, were carried out in 2004. A survey of the group of buildings at this site was carried out. A building survey was also conducted of the shepherd's cottage prior to conversion into a sub-station associated with the windfarm at Causeymire. [1]
Bishop Forbes, having completed his crossing of the Causeymire to the south, ‘halted at Auchateebst, an Inn and took a Dram on horseback’. [2]
Hooper makes reference to an envelope addressed to ‘Mrs Greys, Achkeepster Inn’ dated 1853. [3]
The shepherds cottage was observed to have been sympathetically adapted for use as an ancillary building for the Causeymire wind farm. The remains of the farmstead/inn were as previously described. The setting of the farmstead at the time of the walkover survey includes principle views south and south-west towards and including the Causeymire Wind Farm, views north-east which include the A9, partial views of Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure, and north-east towards infrastructure associated with Mybster substation and associated pylons and overhead cables. [4]
References [1] Highland Council Historic Environment Record
[2] Craven, J.B., ed., 1886, Journals of the Episcopal Visitations of the Right Reverend Robert Forbes MA of the dioceses of Ross and Argyll, 1762 and 1770: with a History of the Episcopal Church in the Dioceses of Ross, chiefly during the eighteenth century and a memoir of Bishop R. Forbes. London
[3] Hooper, J., 2001, Achkeepster, Caithness Location of Proposed Windfarm: An
RWE Innogy UK Limited Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Archaeological Assessment.
[4] Jacobs cultural heritage desk-based assessment, and walkover survey 21st October 2015
Asset Number 2
Asset Name Achkeepster Drovers Enclosure
NGR ND 1696 5160
Type Drove Stance, Enclosure
Designation None
HER Reference MHG18906
Importance Regional
Description "Two conjoined enclosures, one of which contains cultivated ground, are depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Caithness 1877, sheet xxiii), but they are not shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1976). Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 23 November 1995
Hooper: Drovers Appear to have converged on this area before moving south; the enclosures on the other side of the road to Achkeepster were used as holding pens (Innes Miller pers comm).
This site was visited by D Glass in 2012. It was described as a stock enclosure adjacent to the A9 road and lying to the east of it. The Mybster electricity sub-station was immediately north of the site. The enclosure was in the form of a parallelogram of dimensions 154 metres by 67 metres. Earthen dykes contained the enclosure and divided it into two compartments of approximately equal size. The dykes had spread to a width of two to three metres and were reduced to a height of one metre or less. There were openings in the west and east walls of the northern compartment. [1]
A walkover survey was undertaken on the 21 Oct. 2015 in support of a cultural heritage desk-based assessment. During which the following observations were made.
The enclosure is clearly visible as upstanding earthworks matching the description provided by the HER and D Glass 2012. The north-west corner has a modern opening which appears to be the result of vehicle movement/erosion over the earthwork enclosure bank approximately 2.5m wide. The north-east corner is missing, with modern drainage associated with the Mybster substation which has resulted in the loss of approximately 20m of the northern enclosure bank and approximatly15m of the northern end of the eastern enclosure bank. A levelled/removed section of the eastern enclosure bank was noted approximately 3m long to the north-east. The eastern enclosure bank is well preserved and well defined. There is a narrow approximately 1m wide opening in the internal division to the east of the internal division 3m from its interconnection with the eastern enclosure bank. A similar sized opening was also noted at the eastern end of the southern enclosure bank. The western enclosure bank appears to be less well preserved than the eastern bank. A number of narrow <0.5m openings were notes, which appear to be related to modern drainage. Two irregular features between the road and the western boundary of the enclosure depicted on the Second Edition Ordnance Survey six inch to a mile map of 1905 correspond with waterlogged hollows identified during the walkover
RWE Innogy UK Limited Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
survey. A small area of rubble stone was observed which appears to be roadside dumping rather than associated with the enclosure. There is a noticeable reduction in the level between exterior and interior of the enclosure, either deliberately created to provide additional shelter for livestock or as a result of livestock erosion. The enclosure boundaries were observed to be of earthen or possibly turf built construction with no areas of stone walling. [2]
References [1] Highland Council Historic Environment Record
[2] Jacobs cultural heritage desk-based assessment, and walkover survey 21st October 2015
Asset Number 3
Asset Name Achkeepster Enclosure Quarry (site of)
NGR ND 16915 51690
Type Quarry
Designation None
HER Reference None
Importance Less than Local
Description A small quarry noted on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 6 inch to a mile Caithness Sheet XXIII map published in 1877 [1] and named as ‘quarry’ on the Ordnance Survey First Edition 25 inch to a mile Caithness Sheet XXIII.1 map published in 1877 [2]. The quarry could not be seen during the walkover survey undertaken on the 21 Oct. 2015 and is likely to have been filled in as part of the construction of Mybster substation. [3]
References [1] Ordnance Survey First Edition 6 inch to a mile Caithness Sheet XXIII map published in 1877
[2] Ordnance Survey First Edition 25 inch to a mile Caithness Sheet XXIII.1 map published in 1877
[3] Jacobs cultural heritage desk-based assessment, and walkover survey 21st October 2015
Designated Cultural Heritage Assets within 2km of the Study Area Designation SM521 Reference
Asset Name Ballone Broch
NGR ND16195280
Type Broch
Designation Scheduled Monument
RWE Innogy UK Limited Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
HER Reference MHG192
Importance National
Description Broch (NR) (remains of) OS 1:10,000 map, (1976)
This is a large, grass-covered mound concealing remains of broch. It measures 135ft E-W by 123ft transversely and is about 12ft high. It has been considerably broken into and robbed on NE side.
RCAHMS 1911
This large mound, approx. 39m in diameter, almost certainly contains the remains of a broch. NE side of mound has been quarried away and considerably reduced by construction of a road. At bottom of N slopes is a course of stones, possibly the remains of a broch wall. On S slopes, further sections of possible walling are discernible.
Resurveyed at 1:2500. Visited by OS (N K B) 10 November 1965
A quarried broch-mound generally as described by previous field investigator. The 'mound-on-mound' effect common to Caithness brochs with outworks in discernible on W side. The walling noted by previous OS field surveyor, in S slopes and at base of mound in N cannot be identified, but there are traces of wall of an outwork at foot of mound in W.
Visited by OS (J M) 10 April 1982
'Broch', Ballone, Mybster. Subcircular grass-covered mound with a mound on mound formation visible on the SW side.R J Mercer, NMRS MS/828/19, 1995 [1]
No further information. [2]
The asset is located to the west of a slight rise in an otherwise low lying landscape within an area of Improvement era enclosure consisting of stone walled field boundaries. The principle views to and from the asset include wide open vistas to the south-west towards and including Causemire wind farm, views north-west towards the modern conifer plantations at Achlachan Moss and young broadleaved plantation to the east, south towards Mybster Farmstead and north towards Spittle. [3]
References [1] Highland Council Historic Environment Record
[2] Historic Environment Scotland
[3] Jacobs cultural heritage desk-based assessment 2015
Designation SM561 Reference
Asset Name Knockglass Broch
NGR ND17615329
Type Broch
Designation Scheduled Monument
RWE Innogy UK Limited Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
HER Reference MHG190
Importance National
Description Broch (NR) (remains of) OS 1:10,000 map, (1976)
This is a conical grass-covered mound 12-13ft high and containing ruins of a broch. It is 120ft in diameter from E-W by 95ft transversely. It has been broken into for a short distance on NE.
RCAHMS 1911, visited 1910
As described by the RCAHMS, except that there is now no evidence that it is a broch.
Resurveyed at 1:2500. Visited by OS (N K B) 8 November 1965
The mound is as described by RCAHMS (1911). All that is visible of the broch itself is a small extent of the outer wall-face, 1m in length and 0.3m high, halfway up in the S side of the mound.
Visited by OS (J M) 10 February 1982
'Broch', Knockglass. Subcircular grass-covered mound showing several phases of facing wall on the SE axis. The top contains a central depression.
R J Mercer, NMRS MS/828/19, 1995 [1]
No further information. [2]
The asset is located on a slight rise in an otherwise low lying landscape within an area of Improvement era enclosure consisting of modern post and wire fencing. The principle views to and from the asset include open views to the south-west, north and north-east. 20th Century conifer plantations at the Moss of Toftingall, Blackless Moss, smaller plantations and Knockglass farmstead to the west are also prominent in view south, south- east, south-west and west. [3]
References [1] Highland Council Historic Environment Record
[2] Historic Environment Scotland
[3] Jacobs cultural heritage desk-based assessment 2015
Designation SM5301 Reference
Asset Name Halsary Standing Stones
NGR ND17734966 and ND17644923
Type Standing Stone
Designation Scheduled Monument
HER Reference MHG1273 and MHG1598
RWE Innogy UK Limited Mybster Circuit Breaker Housing Desk-Based Assessment
Importance National
Description This monument consists of 2 standing stones which have been left in clearings in a forestry plantation. The S stone is a grey schistose slab, now split vertically into 3 portions and leaning slightly to the SE. It faces NW-SE and measures 1.4m high by 0.8m to 1m broad and 0.4m thick. The stone sits in a hollow about 0.3m deep and a number of packing stones are visible around the base.
The N stone is about 0.6m high, 0.7m broad and 0.3m thick. This stone is set in a low and ill-defined mound. The two areas to be scheduled measure 10m in diameter, to include the stones and areas around both stones in which traces of activities associated with their erection may survive, as shown in red on the attached map.
These monuments are of national importance for their potential contribution to an understanding of prehistoric ritual beliefs. The stones are set in thick peat and significant archaeological remains may survive in the area around the base of both stones. [1] ND14NE 2 1773 4966. (ND 1773 4966) Standing Stone (NR) OS 6" map, (1959) A standing stone, 2ft 6ins high, 2ft 4ins broad and 11 ins thick. Name Book 1871. About 1/4 mile S of ND14NE 3 are two stones, either or neither of which may be a standing stone. That nearest the road is a round pillar about 1ft 6ins in diameter, standing 1ft above ground level and visible for another 10ins below it. The second stone lies horizontally about 35ft to the E. It is 3ft 10ins long, 2ft 11ins broad and 4ins thick. RCAHMS 1911, visited 1910. A standing stone facing N-S and measuring 0.6m high, 0.8m broad and 0.4m thick. The RCAHMS (1911) do not seem to have seen this stone, probably having misread the map, and initially mistaken ND14NE 3 for ND14NE 2. In the area 1/4 mile S of ND14NE 3, at ND 1765 4899, is an upright stone which bears a marked resemblance to the RCAHMS's description of a 'round pillar' but there is no trace of the horizontal stone to the E. This is a natural boulder. At ND 1750 4902 are another two stones which also bear a resemblance to the RCAHMS description. These, however, occur within an old roadside gravel pit and are not antiquities. Surveyed at 1:10,000. Visited by OS (I S S) 23 March 1972. No change to the previous field report. Visited by OS (N K B) 6 December 1982. [2] Modern conifer plantations and the farmstead at Knockglass obscure views towards the proposed development to the south and south-west. [3] References [1] Historic Environment Scotland
[2] CANMORE website Royal Commission on Ancient and Historic Monuments Scotland
[3] Jacobs cultural heritage desk-based assessment 2015
RWE Innogy UK Limited