Achany Windfarm, , Underground Grid Connection Archaeological Evaluation

Catherine Dagg

for

ASH design+assessment 21 Gordon Street GLASGOW G1 3PL

Achany Windfarm, Lairg, Sutherland: Underground Grid Connection

Archaeological Evaluation

1.0 Background

This evaluation covers the proposed route of an underground cable connection between Achany windfarm at NC 5350 0250 and the Lairg Muir grid substation at NC 5875 0810. The object of the evaluation is to:

• Identify all previously recorded archaeological sites, areas of archaeological and historical interest lying in, adjacent to or in the vicinity of the proposed route • Locate any previously unrecorded sites or areas of archaeological or historical interest • Identify any areas surrounding visible archaeological sites where associated sub-surface features, structures or deposits may be located • Suggest minor adjustments to the route to avoid damage to these sites • Where re-routing is not possible or practical, propose mitigation measures such as further archaeological evaluation in the form of trial trenching before work commences, or an archaeological watching brief during ground breaking work

2.0 Methodology

2.1 Desk-Based Evaluation

The following data sources were consulted for this evaluation:

• Historic Environment Record (HER) for Region • Pastmap mapping, available online from RCAHMS • Old maps held by the Map library within the National Library of • Ketteringham, L 1997 A History of Lairg

2.2 Walk-Over survey

This was carried out on 15.4.09 and 17.4.09 in dry and clear weather conditions

3.0 Archaeological Background

3.1 Scheduled Ancient Monuments, Listed Buildings and Designed Landscapes

There are a number of sites with statutory protection in the Lairg area, notably The Ord, an important multi-period prehistoric ritual and domestic site. These are

2 protected by law from direct damage, except in exceptional circumstances, and from the negative visual impact of developments adjacent to although not within the Scheduled Area. The cable route does not pass through any Scheduled areas and as it is entirely underground it will not have a visual impact. There remains the possibility that minor associated features lie outwith the Scheduled areas, but these will be treated as individual sites.

The following Scheduled sites lie in the general area of the evaluation:

• The Ord, chambered cairns, cairns, settlements and field systems at NC 574 055 SAM ref no. 1812 This large scheduled area extends 1km N-S. Its nearest point to the proposed cable route is 150m to the north.

• ‘Twinners’ stone circle at NC 5822 0493 A small setting of stones on the west bank of the . The scheduled area forms a circle with a diameter of 25m, in which the visible stones are in the NW quadrant. The edge of the circle is 60m south of the proposed cable route.

There are several Listed buildings within Lairg village, but for the same reasons, there will be no direct impact from the cable route.

There are no gardens or designed landscapes within the evaluation area.

3.2 Recorded Archaeological Sites

The following sites are recorded on the Historic Environment Record:

1. Muirlands: kerb cairn at NC 5850 0700 HER ref MHG11996 Recorded variously as two hut circles with field clearance piles to the east and south on a prominent false crest, and as three cairns surrounded by a minor field system.

2. Muirlands Hut circle at NC 5856 0698 HER ref MHG9477 Recorded as a circular depression 8m from the cairn (Site no. 1)

3. Rhinamain Hut circle at NC 5838 0530 HER ref MHG11510 Recorded as on a knoll with, along a ridge to the SW, 5-6 field clearance piles

4. Rhinamain , possible cairn at NC 5838 0525 HER ref. MHG11843 Recorded as a circular stony mound on a ridge

5. Two Hut circles and field system at NC 5800 0490

3 HER ref, MHG12205, MHG33747 and MHG33746 Recorded as two hut circles, at NC 5801 0491 and NC 5805 0491 and a dozen field clearance piles

6. , Claonel, settlement at NC 5659 0454 HER ref. MHG48802 and MHG33760 Centre point of the pre-Clearance settlement of Claonel

7. Claonel, building at NC 56556 04311 HER ref. MHG48803 Recorded as one unroofed building as shown on 1st edition OS map

8. Bridge over Grudie Burn at NC 5526 0346 HER ref. MHG12192 19th century bridge

4.0 Historical Background

It has been suggested that the present-day Lairg was selected to be the site of the parish church due to the presence of a fortification or castle, built by William Freskin de Moravia 1st Earl of Sutherland in the 13th century. Wherever this castle may have been located, there is now no trace. The church was established in 1222 to serve the scattered population of the parish who lived in small townships on the higher ground around the present village. This higher ground was also the preferred settlement area of prehistoric peoples, and the hut circles and field boundaries of the Bronze and Iron Ages are frequently to be found in the same areas as early modern settlements. Beyond changes in house type, there was little change in settlement patterns from the Bronze Age until the clearances of the early 19th century.

The settlements at the south end of consisted of Saval, on the hill to the NE of the church, Wester Lairg at the church and Easter Lairg, Milnclarin and Torroble, all east of the River Shin. Then, west of the river and SW of the Ord: Claonel, Gruids, Raonacloy and on the Grudie Burn to the west: Braemore.

The Lairg area was the first to be cleared, in 1807, although voluntary emigration had begun some decades before this. Saval Farm was added to the First Great Sheep Tenement, run by Atkinson and Marshall, two successful English sheep farmers.

In 1811 the Sutherland estate manager, William Young, wrote to the Marchioness suggesting that ‘a village be established at the Kirk of Lairg along the banks of Loch Shin close to the great road near the mill..’. The village, initially referred to as Milnclarin, absorbed many of the people removed from elsewhere in the district and by 1816 crofts had been laid out for families evicted from Easter and Wester Lairg, now part of the Great Sheep Tenement.

The Barony of Gruids was, in 1813, in the possession of Major Sir George Gunn Munro. He initiated some removals, clearing families to Claonal, but in 1821 decided

4 to sell this land and served notice to remove to the tenants of Claonal, Pitfure and Gruids. This was, unusually, met with violent resistance and the removals were only achieved with the help of the 41st Regiment of Foot from Fort George. The cleared land was turned into two sheep farms, and the townships which survived were lotted into crofts, although the holdings were too small to support the increased population.

The road from to Lairg (‘until recently only a footpath’) and on to Lochinver was constructed in 1820, funded by the Commission for Roads and Bridges in the Highlands

By the 1880s many of the sheep farms had been converted to deer forests. After 1894 the Highland Railway gave the village regional importance as the railhead for livestock.

The Hydro Electric scheme was built in 1954, raising the level of Loch Shin above the Lairg Dam by 11m.

5.0 Field Survey

5.1 Unrecorded Sites

No previously unrecorded visible sites were located within the area to be affected by the cable route during this evaluation.

5.2 Potential for Archaeology

For the most part, the cable route runs alongside the road, where there is little likelihood of unrecorded archaeological features surviving. Potential for sub-surface archaeological features is listed as follows:

1. Lairg Muir NC 5875 0810 to NC 5860 0798: Open, unimproved moorland with heather cover, contains recorded sites 1 and 2 Potential: high 2. Lairg crofts NC 5860 0798 to NC 5830 0788: steep slope of improved croftland Potential: moderate 3. Lairg village NC 5830 0788 to NC 5815 0726 developed village area with services running under roads and surfaced pavements Potential: low 4. Croftland from NC 5815 0726 to NC 5850 0605 Improved fields, the more northern previously ploughed, with modern housing along the road Potential: moderate-low 5. River east bank NC 5850 0605 to NC5828 0595: wooded steep bank down to river Potential: low 6. River west bank NC 5820 0598 to NC 5612 0598: rough pasture, contains Scheduled site ‘Twinners’stone circle’ Potential: moderate

5 7. Enclosed land from NC 5612 0598 to NC 5776 0594 Improved grazing although not ploughed, possibly an apportionment. Includes a large, probably glacial mound. Contains recorded site 5. Potential: high 8. Roadside from NC 5776 0594 to NC 5660 0553 Cable route adjacent to road crossing rough hill ground and dropping to enclosed croft land Potential: low 9. Claonel at NC 5660 0553 recorded centre of Claonel pre-Clearance township, but the road junction is disturbed ground with no visible surviving township features Potential: low 10. Claonel/Gruids Croftland from NC 5660 0553 to NC 5640 0500: poor fields separated by rubble stone dykes, probably the old in-bye ground of pre- Clearance township later laid out in croft strips. A substantial drystone dyke forms the south boundary. Contains recorded site 7. Potential: moderate 11. Gruids Wood from NC 5640 0500 to NC 5526 0346 The cable route runs alongside the road through coniferous plantation, ploughed and disturbed by root growth Potential: low 12. Braemore from NC 5526 0346 to NC 5455 0368 Former lands of Braemore pre-Clearance township, with evidence for field clearance in the form of stone piles. The cable route runs alongside the road where no such piles were noted Potential: low 13. Braemore Wood from NC 5455 0368 to NC 5410 0340 High, wet hill ground with sparse coniferous planting Potential: low 14. Allt a’Bhadain from NC 5410 0340 to NC 5350 0250 Open grassland with a number of natural knolls and ridges. The cable route runs along the north bank of the stream. To the south of the stream are old peat cuttings Potential: low

Only sections 1 and 7 are considered to have high potential for undiscovered sub- surface archaeological features

5.3 Impact on Archaeological sites

5.3.1 Sites with Statutory Protection

There will be no direct or indirect impact on the Scheduled Ancient Monuments

5.3.2 Recorded sites

1, 2 Muirlands: kerb cairn at NC 5850 0700, Hut circle at NC 5856 0698 Occupying a level terrace are four circular features, visible as low grassy mounds with regular depressions standing out from the surrounding heather. These are not obviously cairns or hut circles but would appear to be contemporary with the surrounding field system. Approximately 6 conical field clearance piles and a stony bank are spaced along the edge of the terrace. Another clearance pile is at

6 the bottom of the slope above the field boundary and another possible pile is in the lower field. An old trackway, recorded on the 1st edition OS map, curves around the base of slope. (Photos 1-4) The cable route appears to run below the crest of the terrace and will therefore not directly affect any of the visible features. There remains the possibility of associated sub-surface associated features and deposits

3, 4 Rhinamain Hut circle at NC 5838 0530, possible cairn at NC 5838 0525 The hut circle occupies a separate knoll to the NE, while the field clearance piles appear to arrange in two rows, one on the top of the ridge consisting of four low heather covered mounds and at the base of slope to the north a row of three more. Immediately to the west of these runs a recently inserted water main (Photos 5-7) The cable route, originally planned to be adjacent to the water main, now follows the field boundary to the west, skirting round the property adjacent to the road. While no visible features of this settlement will be affected, there remains the low possibility of associated sub-surface associated features and deposits

5, Two Hut circles and field system The hut circles are prominent grass-covered structures occupying level ground to the west of the road junction. These are marked on the 1st edition OS map, with the field system shown as being to the SE, but there are also field clearance piles and possible field boundary rickles to the north, adjacent to the embankment of the road. Some of these may be contemporary with what appears to be a truncated early modern enclosure north of the road but it is most likely that this ground was under cultivation during both time periods. The cable route curves south away from the road to skirt a large, prominent natural knoll and therefore crosses the area of field clearance piles and stony rickles.

6, Gruids, Claonel, settlement at NC 5659 0454 The residual features of this pre-Clearance township are probably scattered through the crofts, but no features lie along the cable route. The cable route passes along the roadside where the ground is already disturbed

7, Claonel, building at NC 56556 04311 This building survives as low, grass-covered footings 40m SE of the road. At this point the cable route passes along the NW side of the road and will not affect this structure or any associated features.

8, Bridge over Grudie Burn at NC 5526 0346 An attractive single-arched rubble bridge probably dating to 1820 and the construction of the road. (Photos 15-16) The bridge is unlikely to be damaged by the insertion of the cable route, nor should there be a visual impact.

7 6.0 Conclusions and Recommendations

Sites 1,2,3,4,5, although not directly on the route of the cable, all have minor associated features which may be affected and the surrounding area of each site has the potential for sub-surface features or deposits which may be damaged or destroyed during ground breaking work.

An archaeological watching brief during excavation along the sections passing these sites will allow any such features or deposits to be quickly identified, evaluated and recorded while minimising delay to the project.

A watching brief is therefore recommended for these three locations

Catherine Dagg 2, Ruigh’Riabhach Scoraig Peninsula Dundonnell Wester Ross IV23 2RE Tel: 01854 633 337 23.4.09

8 Photographic Record (digital)

Photo no. Site no. Description Angle of view 1 1,2 Furthest NE of four circular structures showing From SW internal mounds and depressions 2 1, 2 View over level terrace with four circular structures From NW visible as low grassy mounds on brow immediately in front of trees. Old trackway runs round slope on right 3 1, 2 Field clearance piles and circular structures From NE 4 1, 2 View up slope to site on brow From SSW 5 3, 4 General view over area of field system. Pale line in From E front of trees on upper left is water main 6 3, 4 View along ridge to knoll containing hut circle From SW (Behind pole) Four low mounds run from in front of the pole to centre right along the top of the ridge 7 3, 4 Two low mounds, one with gorse bush, of more From S northern row 8 5 Two hut circles visible as grassy raised circles in top From W right. Rushy area on left has part of field system 9 5 Detail of two hut circles From W 10 5 Eastern of two hut circles From N 11 5 Western of two hut circles with large natural knoll From E behind and embankment of road on right 12 5 Field clearance north of hut circles From E 13 5 Embankment of road to right and natural knoll centre From E back with area of field system in foreground 14 5 Field clearance pile adjacent to knoll From NE 15 8 1820 bridge over Grudie Burn From S 16 8 1820 bridge over Grudie Burn From S

9