Monument record MHG54040 - Dry stone wall, High Road, Broadford, Skye

A dry stone wall was photographed by staff of NHS Highland in association with a proposed development at Broadford Medical Centre, Skye. In parts the dry stone wall has been replaced by a post and wire fence. It survives to roughly 4 courses, c.0.40m high. Parts are to demolished as part of the proposed development. <1>

The wall was photographed and surveyed again in 2011 as a part of a watching brief (and subsequent excavation) of the site of the new Broadford Medical Centre on the east side of High Road. It was noted that although of a drystone construction, mortar was present where repairs had been carried out in the past. The wall had functioned as a revetment and had become degraded in sections where stone had been forced out through pressure from behind the walls, including tree root action. Adjacent to the development site a splayed entrance to the field had been created comprised of a drtystone and lime-mortared construction. The wall here survived to a maximum height of 0.8m. The stone used for the gate pillars had been dressed in parts. Part of the wall was to be demolished to create the main access for the new medical centre. <2>

From historic map evidence, the wall would appear to have originally flanked the east side of the access road to the house known as 'Corry' on the OS 1st Edition 1:2500 map to the north. The house is now called 'Corry Lodge' (see MHG16771). IS-L 16/07/2012.

<1> Cameron, H, 09/2010, Photographs of drystone wall, Broadford Medical Centre, Skye (Image/Photograph(s)). SHG24981.

<2> Birch, Steven, 2012, Archaeological Evaluation at the site of the new Broadford Medical Centre, High Road, Skye: Data Structure Report, p.17 (Text/Report/Fieldwork Report). SHG25684.