Monument record MHG995 - Township, West Shebster

Centred on 013 630

ND06SW 21.01 ND 0120 6331 Farmstead
ND06SW 21.02 ND 0098 6317 Farmstead; Rig; Cairn
ND06SW 21.03 ND 0142 6269 Farmstead
ND06SW 21.04 ND 0111 6247 Farmstead
ND06SW 21.05 ND 0143 6242 Farmstead
ND06SW 21.06 ND 0195 6268 Farmstead
ND06SW 21.07 ND 0113 6282 Farmstead
ND06SW 21.08 ND 0124 6274 Farmstead
ND06SW 21.09 ND 0157 6295 Farmstead
ND06SW 21.10 ND 0159 6305 Farmstead
ND06SW 21.11 ND 0161 6317 Farmstead
ND06SW 21.12 ND 0152 6346 Farmstead
ND06SW 21.13 ND 0182 6279 Farmstead
ND06SW 21.14 ND 0155 6282 Building
ND06SW 21.15 ND 0147 6264 Building
ND06SW 21.16 ND 0191 6283 Building; Structure
ND06SW 21.17 ND 0108 6257 Building

(Centred ND 011 634) West Shebster (NAT)
A depopulated settlement.
OS 6"map, Caithness, 1st ed., (1877) and 2nd ed., (1907)

In the area centred at ND 013 630 lies the remains of the deserted settlement of West Shebster which consists of about twenty small crofts, mostly each being one building and attendant enclosure. The remains vary in height from 0.3m to 1.3m. At the W edge of the settlement, at ND 005 632, are the remains of a corn-drying kiln. There are remains of lazy beds at various parts of the settlement. The last person left the settlement around 1864. (Information from W Forbes, Achiegullan Farm, Reay)
Visited by OS (R D) 17 November 1964

West Shebster is as described by the previous field investigator. The remains of another kiln occur in a building at ND 0120 6331.
Visited by OS (J B) 4 October 1981

A large township comprising thirteen farmsteads, four unroofed buildings, an unroofed structure, and a head-dyke is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Caithness 1877, sheet x). Twelve farmsteads, two unroofed buildings and the head dyke are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10,000 map (1987).
Information from RCAHMS (AKK) 12 September 1995