Building record MHG56565 - Ruinous Croft and Associated Structures - Kilmaluag, Skye

The crofthouse and sub-circular stone enclosure appear on the 1st Edition OS Map, providing a construction date at latest of 1878. The crofthouse appears to be in use at this time, but by the creation of the 1903 2nd Edition OS Map, is abandoned. The small byre appears only on the 1973 5th Edition OS Map, at which time the crofthouse appears as in use once more. All structures were built primarily of stone.

A photographic record was taken by Jock Gordon in August 2012 as part of a condition on a planning application to demolish the structures in advance of a new house's construction. The photographs suggest that the crofthouse at some point was reused as an animal byre - the original doorways on the east side of the crofthouse were filled in, and a new entry was knocked through in the north-east corner. Iron chains and rings incorporated into the sealed doorways may have had a tethering purpose. This reuse of the crofthouse may explain the abandonment and reuse states recorded on the 2nd and 5th Edition OS Maps respectively.<1>

<1> Gordon, J., 2012, Photographic record: ruinous croft and associated structures, Kilmaluag, Skye (Image/Photograph(s)). SHG26108.