An Archaeological Survey for the Kiachnish Hydro Scheme, Lundavra, Lochaber, Highland. For Hydroplan UK. May 2014. Jennifer G. Robertson MA PhD FSA Scot. MIFA Garden Cottage, Ardtornish Estate, Morvern, By Oban, Argyll, PA80 5UZ. Tel. 01967 421234. E-Mail [email protected] Kiachnish Hydro Scheme 1. Summary. Thirty archaeological sites, comprising a total of 48 monuments, were recorded in a desk-based and walkover survey for the Kiachnish Hydro Scheme, Lundavra, Lochaber, Highland. Most were associated with the agricultural landscape of either pre-clearance farmsteads or of the subsequent phase of sheep-farming, though a significant number were associated with the military road and its subsequent repairs and with a hydro-electric scheme, which provided the first water-powered public street lighting in Scotland. No scheduled ancient monuments or listed buildings are situated within the vicinity of the survey area. The archaeological sites with grid references, impact assessments and mitigations are summarized in Table 1 in Appendix A. 2. Introduction. An archaeological survey was undertaken on behalf of Hydroplan UK., along the River Kiachnish, Lundavra, Lochaber, Highland (OS 1:10.000 Sheets NN06NE and NN07SE), prior to the proposed construction of a hydro scheme. (See Fig 1: Location Map) Fig. 1: Location Map (Extract from OS Landranger 41 Ben Nevis) (© Crown copyright 2003. All rights reserved. Licence number 10044103) J.G.Robertson. Ardtornish. May 2014. 1 Kiachnish Hydro Scheme The proposed hydro scheme at Kiachnish consists of several alternatives: (See Fig. 4): a) i) Intake 2 on the River Kiachnish at NN 09746 66580. ii) A buried pipeline along the East side of the River Kiachnish from Intake 2 to: iii) Powerhouse 2 at approx. NN 09449 68646 b) i) Intake 1 on the River Kiachnish at NN 09437 68717 ii) A buried pipeline along the West side of the River Kiachnish from the Intake 1 to either: iii) Powerhouse 1a on the South bank of the River Kiachnish at NN 08869 70145 OR iv) Powerhouse 1 further downstream on the River Kiachnish at NN 07318 69331 c) i) Intake 2 on the River Kiachnish at NN 09746 66580. ii) A buried pipeline along the West side of the River Kiachnish from the Intake 2 to either: iii) Powerhouse 1a on the South bank of the River Kiachnish at NN 08869 70145 OR iv) Powerhouse 1 further downstream on the River Kiachnish at NN 07318 69331 Access will presumably be via the public road from Fort William to Lundavra and/or the forestry track leading from the A85 at Coruanan. The survey area consists of a narrow strip of ground, 50m either side of the proposed pipelines, an area 50m in diameter around the intakes and 100m in diameter around the powerhouses. The survey area lies on the metamorphic rocks of the Dalraidan and Moine complexes, including an outcrop of limestone, which presumably contributed to the fertility and long-term agricultural use of the area. It consists of sloping ground, rising from a height of 10m OD to 150m OD. Apart from the area on the East bank of the River Kiachnish and the uppermost part of the West bank, the pipelines run through a coniferous plantation, which have been part of a forestry programme since the 1960’s. Much of this area has been ploughed, planted and harvested and some areas have been replanted. An overhead electricity power line runs through the area northwards from Lundavra, crossing the River Kiachnish at approx. NN 09487 67862. 3. Working Methods. The survey consisted of a combination of a desk-based assessment and a rapid walkover survey. 3.1. Desk-based Assessment. The desk-based assessment consisted of the consultation of a variety of sources: 3.1.1. Sites and Monuments Registers. a) The National Monuments Record of Scotland (NMRS), held by RCAHMS, John Sinclair House, 16 Bernard Terrace, Edinburgh EH8 9NX, available on www.rcahms.gov.uk J.G.Robertson. Ardtornish. May 2014. 2 Kiachnish Hydro Scheme b) The Historic Environment Record (HER), held by the Highland Council Archaeology Unit, Planning and Development Service, Glenurquhart Road, Inverness, IV3 5NX, available on www.ambaile.org Five sites have been recorded within the survey area: 1. River of Kiachnish – enclosure at NN 0733 6933 (part of Site 30 ) NMRS Ref. NN06NE.12 (Canmore ID 117164) HER ref. MHG 26888 “An enclosure is depicted on the 1st Edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire 1873 Sheet clx) and on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1977).” 2. Dail nam Foraireach – farmstead at NN 0925 6934 (Site 27 ) NMRS Ref. NN06NE.15 (Canmore ID 117162) HER ref. MHG 26886 “Two farmsteads comprising a total of three roofed buildings, one unroofed building and three enclosures, are depicted on the 1 st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire 1873, sheet clx). One roofed, one partially roofed, one unroofed and one enclosure are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1977).” 3. Stirling-Tyndrum-Fort William – military road at NN 1000 6858 (Site 8) NMRS Ref. NN16NW.1 (Canmore ID 125580) HER Ref. MHG 28359 4. Kiachnish – power station (and lade) at NN 0899 7012 (Sites 22, 23 and 29) NMRS Ref. - HER Ref. MHG 24900 and 24901 5. Blar a’ Chaorchainn –bridge at NN 0995 6703 (Site 10) NMRS Ref. NN06NE.6 (Canmore ID 74594) HER ref. MHG 3180 HER: “A single arched mortared stone bridge was visited during field survey. It has a segmental arch constructed from tapered stones. The original bridge has had a modern wooden “cover” added with side rails, presumably as a means of protecting the original bridge.” (Ref. Shaw and McKee Site 56) Six further sites have been recorded within the vicinity: 6. Blarmachfoldach – township at NN 097 692 NMRS Ref. NN06NE.3 (Canmore ID 23563) HER Ref. MHG 4252, 54118, 54119, 54120, 54121 “A crofting township, comprising 48 roofed , two partially roofed and three unroofed buildings, is depicted on the First Edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire, 1873, clx). 23 roofed buildings, one partially roofed and 14 unroofed are shown on the current 1:10,000 map (1988).” 7. Allt Riasgaig – bridge at NN 0996 6868 NMRS ref. NN06NE.7 (Canmore ID 74595) HER Ref. MHG 3190 HER: “This bridge was noted during field survey. The single span arched bridge, formed of dressed stone blocks, was superseded by a wooden plank bridge. It is now covered with the addition of a modern iron road bridge, 3m wide. The latter two additions to the bridge are presumably to protect the original bridge from the demands of heavy vehicles.” (Ref. Shaw and McKee Site 47) J.G.Robertson. Ardtornish. May 2014. 3 Kiachnish Hydro Scheme 8. Glas Charn – structure, track at NN 0952 6669 NMRS Ref. NN06NE.17 (Canmore ID 142223) HER Ref. MHG 34665 “Site recorded during a survey undertaken in June and July 1998 in advance of the replacement of an electricity overhead line following ther pass along the steep-sided Allt na Lairige Moire and Allt Nathrach valleys, between Lundavra and Kinlochleven.” 9. Lundavra – enclosure at NN 0945 6637 NMRS Ref. NN06NE.13 (Canmore ID 117165) HER Ref. MHG 26889 “An enclosure is depicted on the First Edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire, 1873, clx) but not on the current 1:10,000 map (1977).” 10. Glas Charn – track at NN 094 665 NMRS Ref. NN06NE.18 (Canmore ID 142224) HER Ref. MHG 34666 11. Allt na Lairige Moire – enclosure at NN 095 663 NMRS Ref. NN06NE.19 (Canmore ID 142226) HER Ref. MHG 34667 3.1.2. Maps. a) Timothy Pont: Loch Eil and Loch Leven, c. 1583-96. b) Robert and James Gordon: Lochabyre, c. 1636-1652. c) Herman Moll: The West Part of Inverness Shire Lochaber with all the Territories west from it, 1745. d) William Roy’s Map of Scotland, 1747-55. e) Volume containing 42 plans of the Lordship of Lochaber exhibiting the different farms and tacks of the Duke of Gordon, 1767. (National Archives of Scotland, RHP 2494) 2494/7 Blarichirin [Blar a’ Chaoruinn] f) William Morrison: Plans and Estimates of the Expence of Inclosing the Farms within the Annexed Estates of Lochiel, Callart and Ardsheall, 1774: No. 35 Corwanan and No. 37 Lundavra. (In National Archives of Scotland E786/50) g) George Taylor & Andrew Skinner: The road from Edinburgh by stirling, continued to Fort William, 1776. h) John Thomson: The Southern Part of Inverness-shire, 1830. i) OS 1 st Ed. 6” Map Sheet: Inverness-shire clx, surveyed 1870, publ. 1873; j) OS 2 nd Ed. 6” Map Sheet: Inverness-shire clx, revised 1899, publ. 1902. k) OS 1:10,000 Sheets NN06NE and NN07SE, 1977. l) OS Explorer 392 Ben Nevis & Fort William, 2007. 3.1.3. Archives. a) National Archives of Scotland, Edinburgh: William Morrison Map (see above) Volume of plans of Lordship of Lochaber (see above) b) Fort William Library: William Morrison: Report of the Contents and Estimate Rents of part of the annexed Estate of Lochiel, 1772. (photocopy of) c) Lochaber Archives, Fort William: Census of Parish of Kilmallie 1841, 1851, 1861, 1881, 1891. Ordnance Survey Name Books. J.G.Robertson. Ardtornish. May 2014. 4 Kiachnish Hydro Scheme d) RCAHMS, Edinburgh: A.J Dunwell: “Archive from desk-based and field survey from Lundavra to Kinlochleven” an unpublished report for Turnbull Jeffrey Partnership and Scottish Hydro-Electric plc, 1998a. (see below 3.1.6) e) Claire Shaw and Kirsten McKee: “Glencoe WTW: Archaeological and Built Heritage Desk-based Assessment and Walkover Survey”, unpublished report for Scottish Water Solutions, 2009. (available on www.ambaile.org.uk ; see below 3.1.6) 3.1.4.