Archaeology Notes

Event ID 645030

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/645030

HY42NE 3 47791 29239.

(HY 4780 2924) Howan (NAT)

OS 6" map, Orkney, 2nd ed., (1903).

Howan: A 17th century laird's house lying roughly E-W, forming part of the S side of an oblong courtyard, the N and E sides of which have also contained buildings, while on the W there has been a screen-wall containing an arched entrance. Although the other buildings and the screen- wall are ruinous, the greater part of the house, if little more than a shell, is entire. The oblong main block, two storeys and a garret in height, with a porch projecting from the S wall and housing the entrance and the staircase has attached to it at the E end, a smaller block, only one storey and a garret in height. The walls throughout are rubble-built, but those of the main block have freestone dressings. The gables are crowstepped, and the NW skewput bears the initials WD and MM. The E doorway in the N wall of the house is handsomely moulded and its lintel is inscribed and dated (1)6 AMICIS ET GENIO 8(?). This may be taken to be the date of the house. The single storey of the lower block has a fire-place, probably moved from another building, in the mutual gable. Its lintel bears asshield flanked by the initials RM and KN and the date 1(6)35.

RCAHMS 1946, visited 1930.

Generally as described by the RCAHMS, except that the lintel with the Latin inscription is over the inside of the S door.

Surveyed at 1/2500

Visited by OS (ISS) 14 October 1972.