Highland Archaeology Services Ltd Bringing the Past and Future Together Archaeological Survey Bruan Free Church, Caithness Desk-based Assessment and Standing Building Survey Report Bruan Free Church, Caithness: Report September 2014 Archaeological Survey Bruan Free Church, Caithness Desk-based Assessment, and Standing Building Survey Report Report No. HAS140913 Site Code HAS_BFC14 Client Kraft architecture + research Planning Ref 07/00045/FULCA OS Grid Ref ND 31350 39575 Date/ 04/11/14 revision Author Lachlan Mckeggie Summary A desk-based assessment and photographic survey were undertaken to record the former Free Church at Bruan, Caithness, and structures and features nearby that might be affected by redevelopment of the church to form a dwelling house. This report presents the results of this work. 2 Bruan Free Church, Caithness: Report September 2014 Contents Aims and objectives ................................................................................................................................................ 4 Location .................................................................................................................................................................. 5 Legislation and Policy ............................................................................................................................................ 7 Background ............................................................................................................................................................. 7 Desk Based Assessment ......................................................................................................................................... 8 Survey ................................................................................................................................................................... 12 Feature 1: Boundary Walls .............................................................................................................................. 13 Feature 2: Bruan Free Church ......................................................................................................................... 14 Feature 3: School House .................................................................................................................................. 20 Feature 4: 20th c. Building footings .................................................................................................................. 26 Conclusions and Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 27 Appendix: Photography ....................................................................................................................................... 28 Illustrations Figure 1 Project location (general) ........................................................................................................................ 5 Figure 2: Site location and layout as supplied by client. ........................................................................................ 6 Figure 3: Sites identified in Desk Based Assessment ............................................................................................. 7 Figure 4: Section from the 1st edition 1:2500 scale OS map ................................................................................ 10 Figure 5: Site with Features as found. .................................................................................................................. 12 Figure 6: Plan, Feature 2 Free church ................................................................................................................... 15 Figure 7: Plan Feature 3 Old School House ......................................................................................................... 21 Figure 8: Plan Feature 4 modern structure ............................................................................................................ 25 Figure 9: Camera Points ....................................................................................................................................... 30 Figure 10: Rectified photo Feature 2 SW wall ..................................................................................................... 30 Figure 11: Rectified photo Feature 2 NE wall ...................................................................................................... 31 Figure 12: Rectified Photo Feature 2 NW gable .................................................................................................. 31 Figure 13: Photo with measurements SE gable (composite photograph, not rectified) ........................................ 32 Figure 14: Rectified photo Feature 3 NE wall. ..................................................................................................... 32 Figure 15: Rectified photo Feature 3 SW gable .................................................................................................... 33 Figure 16: Feature 3 NW wall .............................................................................................................................. 33 Figure 17 Free Church as existing: architect’s drawings .................................................................................... 34 Figure 18 School house as existing: architect's drawings .................................................................................... 35 Plate 1: Old School house inside (BFC14_74) ....................................................................................................... 4 Plate 2: Feature 1 Drystone wall, W of entrance (BFC14_003) .......................................................................... 13 Plate 3: Feature 1 Wall, SE of Entrance (BFC14_005-009) (Composite) ............................................................ 13 Plate 4: Graffiti inside E gable wall (BFC14_264) ............................................................................................... 14 Plate 5 Free Church: E Gable from S (BFC14_120) .......................................................................................... 16 Plate 6: Free church: SW facing wall (BFC14_51) ............................................................................................ 16 Plate 7: E door in SW Wall with original woodwork above (BFC14_250) .......................................................... 17 Plate 8: The NW Gable (BFC14_27) .................................................................................................................... 18 Plate 9: Feature 2 NWall (BFC14_22) ................................................................................................................. 18 Plate 10: Inside church S wall with plaster (BFC14_245&246) ........................................................................... 19 Plate 11: Feature 2 inside showing fire place and plaster at lower level (BFC14_262) ....................................... 20 Plate 12: Feature 3 SW Gable (BFC14_52) .......................................................................................................... 22 Plate 13: Feature 3 SE facing wall (BFC14_54&55) ............................................................................................ 22 Plate 14: Blocked doorway behind fire place in NE gable (BFC14_62) .............................................................. 23 Plate 15: Feature 3 Lean too (BFC14_193) .......................................................................................................... 23 Plate 16: Feature 2 NW wall (BFC14_214&215) ................................................................................................. 24 Plate 17: Feature 3 Roof on inside of structure (BFC14_85) ............................................................................... 24 Plate 18: Feature 4 NW wall (BFC14_89) ............................................................................................................ 26 Plate 19: Feature 4 inside with metal railing (BFC14_96) ................................................................................... 27 3 Bruan Free Church, Caithness: Report September 2014 Acknowledgements Background mapping has been reproduced by permission of the Ordnance Survey under Licence 100043217. Project drawings are reproduced courtesy of the client. Aims and objectives The objectives of the proposed work were to: Examine and establish the nature and extent of any features of archaeological significance that would be affected by the proposed development, and to record these to professional standards, in line with current legislation and policy. Minimise any possible delay or cost to the development by anticipating archaeological requirements as far as possible, timetabling and integrating archaeological recording work with the project, and dealing with any issues arising quickly and efficiently. Plate 1: Old School house inside (BFC14_74) 4 Bruan Free Church, Caithness: Report September 2014 Location The site comprises ground around Old Bruan Free Church, Caithness at approximate grid reference ND 31350 39575. Figure 1 Project location (general) From OS mapping, reproduced under Licence. Not to original scales 5 Bruan Free Church, Caithness: Report September 2014 Figure 2: Site location and layout as supplied by client. 6 Bruan Free Church, Caithness: Report September 2014 Legislation and Policy The common principles underlying international