Monument record MHG30919 - Chaiginn

Chaiginn, or Caygyne on the 1508 charter. The name means, 'the walled path' and is a very old Gaelic word given to a path passing through a settlement, walled to prevent driven livestock from straying onto the surrounding arable land. The site comprises a substantial dwelling, still with lintels intact and last occupied by a shoemaker in the early 20th century. This building is surrounded by the footings of several low rectangular structures, field walls, field clearance with runrig and circular shieling sites on the hill above, a possible kelp kiln and associated stone jetty and fish trap built on an adjoining natural reef.
(See Acts of the Lords of the Isles 1336-1493, Munro JM & RW, Edin 1986: Scottish History Society, 4th series, Vol 22;
Origines Parochiales Scotiae [Bannatyne Club] 1855;
Thornber lain, Dail na Cille, The Field of the Church, privately printed 2000.)

Site reported by Iain Thornber, 6/1/2002
JHooper, 13/5/2002