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Alligin Native Woodland Creation Alligin Woodlands, Brybeg, Alligin, Torridon, Wester Ross SRDP Case No

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Alligin Native Woodland Creation Alligin Woodlands, Brybeg, Alligin, Torridon, Wester Ross SRDP Case No Alligin Native Woodland Creation Alligin Woodlands, Brybeg, Alligin, Torridon, Wester Ross SRDP case no. 4114380 Archaeological Evaluation Catherine Dagg For UPM Tilhill 43, Clachnaharry Road Inverness IV3 8RA Alligin Native Woodland Creation Alligin Woodlands, Brybeg, Alligin, Torridon, Wester Ross SRDP case no. 4114380 Archaeological Evaluation 1.0 Background This evaluation covers areas of proposed enclosure for planting and regeneration on the east side of the Alligin River, on croft hill grazing which is part of Torridon Estate, managed by the National Trust for Scotland. Previous archaeological work has identified a possible bronze or Iron Age site and shielings dating to the Early Modern period within or adjacent to the survey area, so there is considered the potential for further archaeological features or areas with archaeological potential to be located within or adjacent to the areas of proposed enclosure. The Forests and Archaeology Guidelines, produced by the Forestry Authority, recommend that: • No new planting should occur on archaeological sites. Normally an unplanted area should extend for at least 20m beyond the outermost recognised feature of the site • Where groups of archaeological features are close together they should be incorporated into a larger area of open space • Fence lines should not cross the archaeological site • Archaeological sites should not be used as a source for stone or other materials In addition, it is generally accepted that the best management practice for archaeological features is light grazing, to prevent the features from being obscured or damaged by vegetation growth within fenced areas even if the site is left clear of tree planting. Where the site is close to the perimeter fence, the fence line should be altered to exclude the site. 2.0 Methodology This evaluation consists of a desk-based evaluation, followed by a rapid walk-over survey, carried out on 29.10.09 in clear and generally dry weather conditions 3.0 Archaeological Background Only one archaeological site, recorded on the Historic Environment Record (HER), lies directly within the area of proposed planting: • Moine Mhor 4: stone setting at NG 8370 5880 HER ref. MHG29351 Three stone settings, located during a survey of shieling sites in 1992 by M. MacDonald One potentially significant site is located immediately outwith the proposed planting area: • Abhain Alligin: roundhouse at NG 8320 5850 HER ref. MHG34805 Substantial roundhouse some 14m in diameter over enclosing boulder wall c 0.6m high and spread to 1.2m, with an entrance to the SE. Located during a systematic archaeological survey of NTS lands carried out in 1998 by J Harden and J Wordsworth. This is the only hut circle, dating to the Bronze or Iron Age, located at Torridon so far. If correctly identified, it is an indicator of prehistoric activity in the area, and further contemporary sites may yet be identified. 4.0 Historical Background The small settlement of Brybeg, or Braebeg, appears to have been a small township in itself, a detached part of the larger township of Easter Alligin, or Inveralligin, which was located to the east of the mouth of the River Alligin. The estate map drawn up in 1837 shows approximately six buildings at Brybeg: three in a group where the present house is located and three occupying the higher terrace to the north. Improved ground and the enclosing dykes shown on this map are in the same location as dykes shown on the 1st edition OS map but obviously date to the Early Modern period. 1. Brybeg: 1837 Torridon Estate map. Brybeg township is in centre of image, with Alligin Shuas below to the left and the Abhain Alligin crossing from upper left to the bottom right corner The area of former cultivation named ‘the Coireanan’ probably dates to the late 18th and early 19th century: ‘There was an area above Braigh Beag they called the Coireanan, and they had it under potatoes. They used to carry creels of seaweed all the way up from Port a’Chaobaill (in Wester Alligin) there. The old men used to say that for every creel of seaweed they got a creel of potatoes out. But it didn’t last – after a few years the ground went bad’ (MacDonald 1996) Under the ownership of Alexander MacBarnat, who bought the estate in 1838 the old farmlands were re-organised as sheep farms and the small tenants shifted as long leases were given to incoming sheep farmers. Some clearance appears to have taken place at Inveralligin, probably around 1845 when the lands of Durries, Wester Corry and Inveralligin were let as one farm but tenant lotters and cottars stayed and the general population trend at Inveralligin was to rise, absorbing tenants removed from elsewhere. It is likely at this date that Brybeg was cleared and replaced by a shepherd, a new house being built on a N-S alignment as shown on the 1st edition map of the 1870s. The earlier houses of the township are not recorded, even as roofless buildings, on this later map. Apart from the main dwelling house and byres, only one other roofed building is shown, adjacent to the river and with an attached enclosure. The amount of improved or arable ground is decreased to only the area south of the house. At this date there is no public road; the earlier track to Diabaig passes through Alligin Shuas. Brybeg may have been converted to a croft in the 1880s, when one Finlay MacDonald, formerly of Alligin Shuas, is recorded as tenant. His family held the croft until the 1930s. The present house, on the site of the former croft house, appears to date to the 20th century although the original house may be at its core. The Infants burial ground recorded on the 1st edition OS map and visible as a low, bracken- covered mound to the east of the Brybeg access road, is one of several on the west coast, thought to be used for the burial of infants who died at birth or before they could be baptised. They probably date to the mid-19th century, a period of poverty, overpopulation and high infant mortality, and were generally located at the edge of settlements, without any associations with chapel or church sites. The location at Brybeg indicates that during the mid-19th century this spot was peripheral to the settlement and cultivated ground and that after the short-term success of sheep farming, Brybeg itself was no longer occupied. 5.0 Gazetteer of Archaeological Sites The following sites were located during the walk-over survey: 1. Building footings at NG 8336 5827 The rectangular earth and rubble footings of a probable dwelling house aligned down the slope and measuring 5.5m by 2.5m. This is likely to be one of the pre-improvement houses of Brybeg. 2. Building at NG 8337 5825 Rough dry rubble walling, slightly curved and utilising a large natural boulder at its east end, measuring internally 2.4m by 1.5m. This is likely to have been a store, pen or hen house associated with the pre-improvement settlement. 3. Stone setting at NG 8344 5831 A collection of about 21 medium-sized stones, spread over 2m NW-SE and 3m NE-SW. This is not structural, nor is it likely to be field clearance. The most likely interpretation is a peat stack base, as there is what appears to be the face of former peat cuttings to the NNE by 10m. (Photos 1, 2) 4. Stone setting, possible building footings at NG 8348 5828. Medium to large stones set to form a rough rectangle measuring 4m by 2m and aligned NW-SE may be the footings of a structure. (Photo 3) 5. Building at NG 8347 5839. Sub-rectangular with one straight and one rounded gable, aligned NW-SE. Rubble walling stands to a maximum height of 2m. Internal dimensions 2m by 4m. This structure is recorded on present mapping. It stands adjacent to a small watercourse but is of unknown function. (Photos 4, 5) 6. Stone settings at a. NG 8343 5845, b. NG 8337 5846, c. NG 8337 5848. Occupying the summit of knolls, three settings of medium-sized stones a. Oval, aligned NW-SE and measuring 4m by 2m and has the most visible stone kerb of the three (Photos 6, 7) b. Oval, aligned E-W and measuring 5m by 2.5m (Photos 8, 9) c. Circular, diameter 1.5m with 5 visible stones, otherwise marked by heather and bracken (Photo 10) These obviously form a group with the same function, but do not easily fit into any category of archaeological feature. The careful construction on prominent knolls may suggest some form of kerbed cairn, but were they placed further from the township and near a larger watercourse they would appear as typical shieling structures. Given their proximity to an important area of cultivation, it is most likely that they were some form of potato clamp, constructed on high points for drying and drainage. 7. The Coireanan: enclosures, centred on NG 8343 5858. The rubble dyked enclosures are more extensive than as marked on modern mapping. Apart from the main large rectangular enclosure, which extends up onto the talus slope, there are three smaller enclosures attached to the west and sections of walling running off in several directions. Within the enclosures only one field clearance pile was noted, the stones cleared from the ground all presumably having been consumed into the dykes. The ground now shows no evidence for improvement, having reverted to the same vegetation as the surrounding area (Photos 11, 12) 8. Enclosure, centred on NG 8357 5855 A small, oval, level area between the talus slope and a knoll is enclosed by rubble walling.
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