Monument record MHG12330 - Chicken Dhu Plantation

NC53NW 1 506 368.

Centred NC 506 368. An area of depopulation comprising the footings of five buildings and a subrectangular enclosure (probably a cattle fold) measuring some 28m by 10m. A few metres NW of it are two small subrectangular structures measuring 6m by 3m and 4m by 3m respectively All are formed by low boulder walls. W of them, and abutting the enclosing dyke, are the mere footings of a building measuring about 15m by 3m with a small (4m square) annexe at its NE angle. Some 14m NW of this, and outside the enclosure are the footings of another long building, about 20m by 4m, divided into two compartments. It has been destroyed by water erosion and was no doubt abandoned because of this. Part of the enclosing dyke on this side has also been washed away. At the S end of the area on the highest point is a small building, 12m by 4m with its NE gable standing to a height of 1.5m and containing a fireplace. The remainder of the walls are about 0.3m high. A more recent bothy has been built into the S end.
Visited by OS (JLD) 4 May 1961

A deserted township as described; no name is known locally. The circular feature shown at NC 5055 3685 is a ruinous sheepfold post-dating the township.
Visited by OS (NKB) 8 August 1980

A township comprising four unroofed buildings, one of which is a long building, a sheepfold and a ring-dyke is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Sutherland 1878, sheet liii). Five unroofed buildings, one unroofed structure, one circular enclosure and a ring-dyke are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10,560 map (1963).
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 3 October 1995