Monument record MHG56858 - Fireplaces and possible building - Eilean an Tighe, Loch Eilt

The 1st edition 6 inch OS Map depicts an unroofed, square structure on the island, potentially indicating the presence of a house. The map survey data dates to c.1843-1882, however as the building is marked as unroofed, this would suggest that it was already abandoned and a ruin at the time of the survey and is therefore likely to be of an earlier date.

On the island of Eilean an Tighe (potential translation: 'House Island') there are the remains of five fireplaces. The site was visited by M Hoole, K Hoole, F Maddison, T Hoole and P Hoole on the 9th of August 2014. At this time the remains of two fireplaces stood facing each other on an SSW-NNE aligntment on the southern side of the island. Three more fireplaces stood in a line across a WNW-ESE alignment. The central of these three was slightly larger, had a small extended wall on the southern side extending to the right hand side of the fireplaces and had a well finished smooth back wall. The other four fireplaces had rough rubble backs of a much lower quality finish. The stones were held together by lime mortar. Each fireplace had a large lintel stone across the hearth, some of which were of a very substantial size. Althought the name of the island translates as 'house island' there was no evidence of any stone walls between the fireplaces. Potentially the walls were made of a different building material which have not survived. The fireplaces were varied in size but were roughly 1.5 x 2.5m in width and height, and 0.5-1m in depth. <1>

<1> Hoole, M, 2014, Photographs of fireplaces on Eilean an Tighe, Loch Eilt (Image/Photograph(s)). SHG26575.