Monument record MHG48951 - Walled Garden, Raasay House, Raasay
Summary
Location
| Grid reference | Centred NG 54745 36636 (91m by 82m) |
|---|---|
| Map sheet | NG53NW |
| Geographical Area | SKYE AND LOCHALSH |
| Operational Area | ROSS SKYE AND LOCHABER |
| Civil Parish | PORTREE |
Map
Type and Period (1)
Full Description
A 16th century walled garden near Raasay house.
First mention of the garden appeared in 1549 by Dean Munro who commented that the then building was 'with a fair orcheratis'.
The garden was renowned during the victorian era for its vineries of ripened fruit, peach and hot houses. <1>
In 1786, John Knox on visiting Raasay House commented that it had 'an extensive and excellent garden'. This may be a reference to the walled garden. <2>
The structure appears on the 1st edition 6 inch OS Map and so dated to, at latest, 1882. Although other sources reference it to a much eariler date. <3>
The walled garden was potentially the site of the tower of Iain Ghairbh, Chief of Clan MacLeod of Raasay, as the phrase 'site of Torr Iain Ghairbh' appeared on both the 1st and 2nd edition OS Map. <3> <4>
Test pit excavation was carried out by AALS in January 2006 to locate the potenital remains of the tower of Iain Ghairbh. Whilst remnants of walls were uncovered, it was unclear whether these were a part of the tower. <5>
Sources/Archives (6)
- --- SHG24123 Dataset: RCAHMS. 02/2008. Annual update from Canmore. Digital. 276132.
- <1> SHG24310 Text/Publication/Volume: Miers, M.. 2008. The Western Seaboard: An Illustrated Architectural Guide. Paperback. p 250.
- <2> SHG23785 Text/Publication/Volume: Macleod N. 2002. Raasay: The Island and It's People. Hardback.
- <3> SHG23962 Image/Map: Ordnance Survey. 1875-1880. Ordnance Survey 1st edition 6 inch map: Skye. Digital.
- <4> SHG23418 Image/Map: Ordnance Survey. 1903-4. Ordnance Survey 2nd edition 25 inch map: Skye. Digital.
- <5> SHG22413 Text/Report: Martin Wildgoose. 2006. Raasay House Walled Garden: The Search for Iain Ghairbh's Tower (A report on four test pits). Archaeological and Ancient Landscape Survey (AALS). Yes. Digital.
Finds (0)
Protected Status/Designation
- None recorded
Related Monuments/Buildings (0)
Related Events/Activities (1)
Record last edited
Apr 9 2014 12:19PM
