Laid Woodland Grant Scheme Archaeological Walkover Survey REPORT Site Number AN6 OS Grid Reference NC 4252 6029 NC 4204 5986 NC 4158 5885. Author Pete Higgins Date Produced 02/09/2010 Date revised 1 Summary Archaeology North Ltd were commissioned by Mark Banham to undertake a survey of the archaeological resource on three crofts at Laid on behalf of the crofters in advance of an application for a Woodland Grant. A walkover survey was carried out following a desk-based assessment of existing records. Substantial remains of farmsteads, enclosures and field systems were found, all apparently dating from the 19th century or later. Vegetation cover may have hidden other remains. Some buildings were in a reasonable state of preservation, and it is recommended that these, and an area around them, be excluded from the proposed planting scheme. Cover photograph is part of building LP7 COPYRIGHT Copyright of this report remains with Archaeology North Ltd. However, an exclusive licence is hereby granted to the client in all matters directly relating to the project. Should the client wish copyright to be assigned to them, Archaeology North Ltd will retain the right to be identified as the author of this report. 2 1. INTRODUCTION 1.1. The tenants of three crofts at Laid, Loch Eriboll, Sutherland, propose to plant parts of their crofts with native species woodland, and have been required to produce a report on the archaeological potential of the affected land as part of a process of applications for grant aid. The three tenants have agreed to bear the costs of this survey together, so the three sites have been investigated as one project. 1.2. The project, so far as is possible, identified and recorded the archaeological resource on the site. It comprised a desk-based assessment of the known archaeological resource, a walkover survey of the land, and the production and dissemination of this report. 2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 2.1. To minimise possible delays or costs to the developments. 2.2. To propose arrangements for the safeguarding of any archaeological features or finds identified. 2.3. To analyse and report on the findings of the investigations in line with local and national guidelines and requirements. 3. SITE LOCATION, DESCRIPTION, AND BACKGOUND INFORMATION 3.1. The sites lie within three crofts at Laid, on the western shores of Loch Eriboll. The crofts are centred at OS grid references NC4252 6029 (Site A), NC 4204 5986 (Site B), and NC 4158 5885 (Site C). All are situated to the east of the A838, on land sloping down to the shore of the loch. Morainic deposits are prominent on sites A and B, forming a ridge running more or less parallel to the shore and some 70 to 100m west of it. 3.2. The British Geological Survey shows: The superficial geology of site A to consist of a band of sands and gravels of raised marine deposits of Flandrian age near the loch shore, and undifferentiated till and morainic deposits inland of that. Along the shore is a band with no recorded geology. The underlying geology is Pipe rock near the shore and basal quartz member inland. The superficial geology of site B has not been mapped; the underlying geology is Pipe rock near the shore and basal quartz member inland. The superficial geology of site C consists of a band of sands and gravels of raised marine deposits of Flandrian age near the loch shore, but has not been mapped inland; the underlying geology is Pipe rock throughout. 3 3.3. Fieldwork was by Pete Higgins. Desk-based work and post-excavation work was by Pete Higgins, Sue Higgins and Anne Johnston. Figure 2 Figure 1: Loch Eriboll and the northwest coast 4 Site A Site B Site C Figure 2 The three crofts. Please note the boundaries of the sites are approximate only and should not be used to determine ownership. 5 Figure 3 Proposed planting areas 6 4. REGULATORY FRAMEWORK AND QUALITY ASSURANCE 4.1. This project falls outwith the main regulatory framework for development since it is occasioned by a grant application process. However, the project has been designed to fulfil requirements under the Scottish Planning Policy (SPP)1, Scottish Historic Environment Policy (SHEP)2, and Planning Advice Note 42 (PAN 42)3, and the policies of the Highland Council. 4.2. Archaeology North Ltd follows the Code of Conduct of the Institute of Field Archaeologists (IFA). Quality of work is assured both through adherence to the standards of the IFA and through internal monitoring. 5. METHODOLOGY AND ITS LIMITATIONS 5.1.1. Desk-based assessment. Available archival resources were reviewed and interpreted in context. The notable features found in this process are listed in gazetteer format below. Sources consulted comprised: The Highland Historic Environment Record (HER) The National Monuments Record of Scotland (NMRS) Historic Scotland’s databases of Listed Buildings, Scheduled Ancient Monuments and monuments proposed for scheduling Cartographic sources held at the National Library of Scotland Map Library Bibliographic references 5.2. Walkover survey. An experienced archaeologist examined the evidence on the ground. Records of archaeologically interesting features were made on pro-formae, and digital photographs taken. Grid references were obtained by a hand-held GPS tool (Silva Multi-navigator), supplemented where necessary by measurements from known fixed points. The sites were traversed in transects approximately 50m apart, ensuring all parts are scrutinised from a distance of 25m or less. 5.3. Fieldwork took place on 12 August 2010, in heavy rain and at high tide and 19 August 2010, in fair weather and at the ebb. Bracken cover was variable, but was high on parts of Site B, where it stood up to 2m. In these areas the walkover followed the tracks left by recent bracken spraying, and consisted largely of probing the ground with a pointed rod. This method has severe limitations, and features could have been missed. 1 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/02/03132605/0 2 http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/shep-july-2009.pdf 3 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/1994/01/17081/21711 7 6. RESULTS 6.1. Desk based assessment Historical background 6.1.1 Two settlements, Balloch Beag and Balloch Moir, are recorded in the vicinity of the site in Pont’s survey, conducted in the 1580s, although these names apparently refer to routes rather than settlements. Balloch Beag was a route to Port Chamuill to the north of Laid and the latter a route debouching in the southern end of Laid, possibly near Portnancon. Port Chamuill and Portnancon thus predate the Clearances. Balloch Moir may appear as an unnamed settlement on Thomson’s map of 1823, which also shows a ferry at Portnancon. 6.1.2 Laid itself was created between 1832 to 1835 to resettle tenants from congested settlements elsewhere, and to receive tenants cleared from the sheep farm established to the north, and from other locations in Sutherland. Laid at its height probably had more than 100 tenants, but this had fallen to 18 crofts by the 1880s. 6.1.3The pier, with its storehouse, were probably built in the mid-19th century, although Dagg, 20024, states that an inn, Heilam Inn, probably existed before the pier. The 1881 census records two households near the ferryman’s house, and these appear to be those shown on the 1st edition OS map. At least one of these houses was inhabited until 1917. These were recorded as LP6 in the walkover survey. 6.1.4 The 19th century storehouse at PortnanCon has been extensively modernised and is now a private dwelling; the pier is owned by the home owner. Both were recorded as LP5 in the walkover survey. Archaeological background 6.1.5 Evidence of human activity in the vicinity of the sites is scarce, although a souterrain (HER number MHG 39715) lies to the north, and an unusual wheelhouse (MHG 11598) to the west, both at considerable distances. 6.1.6 Table 1 shows the archaeological investigations and features recorded within or adjacent to the sites. 6.1.7 Only investigations EHG130, EHG 3085 and EHG 52926 were within, or partly within, the sites. EHG130 recorded several features within the sites, and these are shown on Table 2. The number given for each entry refers to the number of the site within the report on EHG130. Note that a number of the OS grid references given in the EHG130 report did not tally with those of this report. EHG 52926 is the photographic record of a now demolished building at PortnanCon (NGR NC 42431 60701). This site has been levelled and a new house built. It was not recorded in the walkover survey. EHG 3085 is another photographic record, but is not yet available on line. 8 Table 1. Previously recorded sites Canmore No. OS Grid reference Name HER No. Other references Type Description EHG130 NA GUARD 156, 1998 Centroid NC 4873 Investigation North Sutherland Survey: 6267 Coastal zone assessment Coastal survey NA Centroid NC 4290 Durness Crofters, Port EHG1033 C Dagg, 2003 6094 Investigation Chamuill, Loch Eriboll WGS evaluation NA Centroid NC 3682 Rhiconich and Loch Hope, 6209 Sutherland, Overhead Power EHG 793 C Dagg 2002 Investigation line Evaluation NA Centroid NC 4293 Proposed WGS, at Allt Port EHG 845 C Dagg 2002 6199 Investigation Chamuill, Loch Eriboll WGS evaluation NA Photographic survey of EHG 3085 Buidling recording building at Plot 1, Portnancon No further details available on line MHG 25250 84578 NC 4270 6030 Fishing station Pier and fishing stations, Portnancon, pier, store etc. Mid 19th Portnancon century.