Cladh Nan Sasunnach

NH06NW 2 0070 6595.

(NH 0070 6595) Cladh nan Sasunnach (NAT).

OS 6"map, 2nd ed., Ross and Cromarty, (1905)

'Cladh nan Sasunnach' is the name applied to 'some cairns, situate on the north side of Loch Maree, about half a mile north-west from the junction of Abhainn an Fhasaigh with Loch Maree. Sig:- "Burying Ground of the Englishmen".

Name Book 1875

Cladh nan Sasunnach, on the flat ground at the head of Loch Maree is supposed to be where the iron- workers of Loch Maree were buried but they were probably buried on Isle Maree. The burials on the Cladh nan Sasunnach were probably much older. 'There are indications of twenty-four graves, all with the feet pointed towards the east, and all covered more or less with large unwrought stones. There are head and foot stones more or less distinct to all the graves. A number of the graves were opened but no trace of the burials was found.

J H Dixon 1886

Cladh nan Sasunnach, a close group of 21 roughly rectangular mounds, average size 2.0m x 1.5m x 0.5m high composed of large unhewn stones. They have the appearance of rude gravestones, and this tradition is still known locally.

Visited by OS (N K B) 31 March 1965

NH 011 654 Between August and November 1996 a programme of assessment, survey and excavation was undertaken around Loch Maree, Wester Ross, and specifically on the early 17th-century ironworks at Fasagh. The work focused on the assessment of previously identified ironworking sites, topographic survey, geophysical survey, excavations, and test-pits in support of the geophysics.

Cladh na Sasunnach

NH 0070 6595 A graveyard, situated 620m NW of the ironworks, was investigated to establish the relationship between iron-making centres, accompanying settlement and burial practices of the area. The cemetery is positioned on a small flat step of land made up of glacial gravels adjacent to Lochan Cladh nan Sasunnach. Excavation was targeted on one of the 23 graves identified and represented by angular boulder cairns. Very little of the coffin survived and there was no evidence of any organic/inorganic human remains. The only remnants of the coffin encountered were iron nails and a small waterlogged fragment of wood at the northern end. Comparison between the nails discovered with the coffin and those found at the ironworks shows very few similarities especially with relation to degree of corrosion. However, this could be due to the completely different pedological horizons from which they were recovered.

An interim report on this work will be lodged with the NMRS.

Sponsors: Historic Scotland, Letterewe Estate.

J A Atkinson, M Donnelly, J Duncan, O Lelong and E Photo-Jones 1997