Monument record MHG53697 - Sheep Enclosure, Unapool, Newton

Summary

A very large drystone built enclosure for working with sheep, aligned roughly N/S.

Location

Grid reference Centred NC 2390 3178 (41m by 40m)
Map sheet NC23SW
Geographical Area SUTHERLAND
Civil Parish ASSYNT
Operational Area CAITHNESS SUTHERLAND AND EASTER ROSS

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

Depicted and marked as a fank on 1st edition Ordnance Survey mapping. <1>

Surveyed by the Assynt's Hidden Lives project in December 2009. A very large drystone built enclosure for working with sheep, aligned roughly N/S. It is close to the abandoned part of the township at Unapool, Newton (see HLP 67).
The enclosure is very solidly built of drystone rubble, with walls approx. 0.75m wide towards top and c. 1m at base. The walls stand to a maximum height of c. 1.4m and almost all survive to up to 1m high. All entrances are still clearly visible, including the low openings for sheep to pass through. The enclosure is sub-divided into four main rooms with an additional two smaller rooms surviving, attached to the outside of the enclosure at its NE corner. Traces of a further third room barely survive. The enclosure has been in use until quite recently as a modern concrete area has been inserted into the NE corner of Room A, and an iron tank for dipping has been added. <2>

Sources/Archives (2)

  • <1> Image/Map: Ordnance Survey. 1878. Ordnance Survey 1st edition 6 inch map: Sutherland. Digital.
  • <2> Text/Report/Fieldwork Report: Cavers, G & Hudson, G. 05/2010. Assynt's Hidden Lives: An archaeological survey of the the parish. AOC Archaeology Group and Historic Assynt. 01/08/2010. Digital. 68, p.94.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Sep 3 2010 12:44PM

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