Monument record MHG11 - Buildings at Clais Bhreac, Ardtornish

Outline of one house cut by road immediately W of bridge, and probably another N of road. Period of occupation uncertain, not marked in 1755 or 1801; 1815 plan shows 3 houses but suggests recent abandonment. <1>

Two very dilapidated structures and a connecting wall were noted during a walkover survey at the north end of the Srath Shuardail plain, on the west bank of Allt na Claise Brice and just to the south of the bridge. These are presumably two of the three buildings recorded at Clais Bhreac in 1815. Subsequently the structures have deteriorated, probably under occasional flooding of the stream. A third building, recorded by Gaskell (<1>) as "immediately west of [the] bridge", and cut by the road, is no longer visible. The survey report recommends that the buildings be marked on the ground to avoid damage during road improvements.

Structure (a) is described as the SE corner of a round-angled rectangular building, probably orientated E-W. The remains of the south wall comprise a single course of stones, 2.10m long, 0.60m wide and 0.30m high, which turns eastwards for 1.80m before disappearing into hummocky ground.

Structure (b) is a rectangular outline of an earth and stone structure, c.6.20m E-W by 4.70m, situated to the north of structure (a). The western part is the best preserved, where the bank is 0.90m wide and 0.30m high.

Structure c). A low wall, 16m in length and consisting of a single course of stones and earth, connects the eastern end of the above structures. <2>

In August 2009, in advance of construction works for the new hydro scheme, an area was roped off to protect the rudimentary remains of this settlement as well as potential buried remains. It was noted that the area immediately adjacent to the existing road has already been disturbed by earlier road building. <3>