Mull, Derrynaculen, Farmhouse And Buildings

Derrynaculen fank lies at the foot of a ravine on the N facing slope of Cruach nan Cuilean, some 200m S of Derrynaculen barn and farmhouse. It stands beside the site of the old road leading from Rossal to Craig,now mostly lost under forestry plantation. A stream runs along the W side of the fank, and much of the interior has become very boggy. Although the fank continued to be used into the 20th century, it is less regular in shape than most of those built when the farms were turned into sheep walks during the early part of the 19th century. Its walls are of dry-stone, rubble construction faced on both sides, and incorporates large, natural boulders in places.

The fank comprises four cells, the larger being on the N side, partially sub-divided by a curving spur of wall. Two smaller,semi-independent cells are appended on the S side with opposed entrances and a further cell formed by a spur of wall between the two at the S end. A concrete platform and sheep dip have been built subsequently into the S end of the SW cell.

The land slopes from S to N, so that the exterior height of the wall at the S end is only 0.8m, while at the NE corner it is 1.7m. Wall thickness is variable throughout the structure and is particularly thick where the SW corner of the larger cell is conjoined with the smaller westerly cell, at which point the fank wall attains its maximum overall height of 2m.

Clearly there is evidence of structural phasing here, and there is clearly different workmanship apparent in the extant build. The NE section of wall in the main enclosure is of particular quality and there is a clear contrast with the less well constructed cell to the S with which it is bonded.

Four shearing stools, measuring 0.6m x 1.3m, abut the S wall. These are of interest, as the stone construction is clearly visible, topped now with a thick covering of moss.

Information from Pennyghael in the Past Historic Archive