Monument record MHG19110 - Farmstead - Balnacreig

NC81SW 53 8490 1328
A farmstead, comprising one unroofed building and an adjoining enclosure is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Sutherland 1879, sheet lxxxviii), and on the current edition of the OS 1:10560 map (1969).
Information from RCAHMS (AKK) 24 October 1995.

Building Remains, NC 84935 13264.
E corner of building remains of the longhouse farmstead of Balnacreig, set on a 6 degrees SE-sloping, heather-covered fall, towards a small, un-named, SW-flowing burn. A cleared area of short heather covers the broad rise between here and the corn-drying kiln remains of Feature 201 (above).

The farmstead remains are 32m long and 3.5m wide, and the outline has 4 internal divisions, dividing the internal area into 5 distinct areas; from the SE, lower end being 13m, 8m, 4m, 3m and 4m in length.

Large, single boulders mark the corners, and the lower gable wall is 1.1m thick, made of a single course of large boulders, 0.2m high. The 317 degrees-trending sidewalls are narrower, generally being 0.8m wide, but in places rather more spread, and the upper, NW gable end is 1.0m thick and survives to 0.6m in height. The upper two internal dividing walls are each 1.0m thick and 0.5m high, however the main central division is more substantial, surviving to 1.2m in height and is 1.0m thick. This division has a centrally placed, lintel-covered recess, measuring 0.4m x 0.4m built into the SE face, 0.3m above the floor level. Whilst possibly an original storage/shelf type feature, it is also feasible that it could have been built into the remains at a later date by shepherds/keepers on the estate.

A substantial outshot, centrally placed on the SW side, extends out for 5m on a constructed platform above the level of the heather-covered cleared area, and is 4m wide. Its walls are 1.0m thick and survive to 1.0m high, and, where well preserved, its sidewalls are steeply battered and internally rubble-filled.

There is an entrance to the main section, 3m to the SE of the outshot and also an entrance placed centrally in the 2nd section from the NW end, both situated on the SW sidewall.

Kale-yard, NC 84935 13264.
A kale-yard, attached to the NE side of Feature 206 (above), begins at a point 6.5m along the NE sidewall from the E corner, as a 1m thick, grass-topped, cobble stone dyke, retaining its elevated internal area, raised above the SE outfield area by 0.8m. It extends perpendicularly from the NE wall of the farmstead for 4m, then gently curves around to 284930 913293, before returning to join the NE wall, 3.5m SE of its N corner. <1>