Field Visit

Date 1993

Event ID 1168604

Category Recording

Type Field Visit

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1168604

There are extensive remains of a large un-recorded chambered cairn. The spread of stones of the cairn extends over a sub-circular area of approximately 30m in diameter. There are three upright stones (the largest being 1.40m long) and one fallen stone, of the peristaliths positioned on a ring of radius of about 12m with centre approximately 3m N of the chamber. Within the SW quadrant of the cairn there is a hollowed area about 6m across, possibly where a second chamber has been robbed (but see below).

The chamber is set within the SE quadrant of the cairn and is aligned approximately NE to SW. It is 5m long and maximum of 1.25m wide inside. There are seven wall stones set on edge, the largest being 2.10m long, 0.65m thick and 1.15m high above the present internal floor level, which is about 0.5m below the level of the surrounding cairn material. There are no capstones and there is no end wall visible at either end.

The cairn is located some 40m N of the true summit of Gallows Hill, the hilltop being nearly level. It is the highest hill around Stornoway and overlooks the harbour. The cairn is largely covered by thick undergrowth and an ancient hawthorn tree and is surrounded by young trees. In 1849 it had been ' lately planted with fir and ash' (ONB 1849)

The Mathesons, who owned Lewis in the 19th century, developed the Stornoway Castle grounds, in which Gallows Hill stands, planting trees and building a track which circles the hilltop, encloses the cairn and may have truncated the E edge of it. The hollowed area in the cairn may have been a borrow pit for this track. To commemorate the visit of King Edward VII on 2 September 1902 a drystone cairn 3.6m in diameter and 2m high, surmounted by a flagpole (now a rotting wooden stump) was built at the eastern limit of the chambered cairn, the stones almost certainly being taken from the latter.

This modern cairn is presumably at the same location as the (supposed) execution site. The Stornoway Trust, who drew our attention to the site, have copies of our drawings.

Sponsor: Outer Hebrides Archaeology

M R Curtis and G R Curtis 1993.