Kilchiaran Farm, Kilchiaran. View of rectangular courtyard from the North.

Description Kilchiaran Farm, Kilchiaran. View of rectangular courtyard from the North.

Date 1974

Collection Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu

Catalogue Number AG 6431

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies SC 742656

Scope and Content Cart shed, barn and byre, Kilchiaran Farm, Kilchiaran, Islay, Argyll & Bute The house and steading of Kilchiaran date from 1826 when a new farm with an Ayrshire tenant was established following the clearance of the old township of Kilchiaran. Its most distinctive feature is a semicircular inner cattle court about 58m in diameter. This shows the cart shed, barn and byre from the north. The farm's granary was probably above the cart shed. One of the reasons for having the granary on the first floor of a building was to protect it from being eaten by rats. Carts and farm machinery would have been stored in the open bays below. In 1826 cattle would have been transported from Islay in open boats. A visitor to Port Askaig in 1824 described the shore as 'covered with cattle; and while some were collected in groups under the trees and rocks others were wading in the sea to shun the flies.' Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

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