Unst, Smirgarth
Farmstead (Period Unassigned), Structure (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Unst, Smirgarth
Classification Farmstead (Period Unassigned), Structure (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 188661
Site Number HP60SW 45
NGR HP 61973 03210
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/188661
- Council Shetland Islands
- Parish Unst
- Former Region Shetland Islands Area
- Former District Shetland
- Former County Shetland
HP60SW 45 6198 0321
A farmstead comprising three unroofed buildings, one of which has three compartments, and two enclosures, one of which is incomplete, and one unroofed structure lying approximately 140m to the NE are depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Orkney and Shetland (Shetland) 1881, sheet viii). One unroofed structure and three conjoined enclosures are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:10000 map (1973).
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 6 February 2001
Field Visit (January 1970 - December 1991)
A survey of deserted settlements in Unst by June Owers. The survey includes photographs, sketches and historical information.
Field Visit (24 April 2010)
This farmstead stands on Qui Ness, situated on the S side of a trapezoidal enclosure. It consists of and L-plan range, open to the NW, both wings of the range largely reduced to grass-grown wall-footings. The E wing measures about 11.5m from N to S by 4m transversely overall, contains two compartments and is open-ended on the N. The S range measures about 9m from E to W by 3.5m overall. Its S side has been incorporated into a wall of a later enclosure wall and an entrance and two blocked windows are preserved in its fabric. There is a rectangular outshot attached to the N side of the wing.
The farmstead is depicted unroofed on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Shetland 1882, Sheet VIII).
Srp Note (27 September 2011)
A plan of Smirgarth was sketched by June Owers in her survey of abandoned settlements on Unst (1984).
Information from RCAHMS (BRW) 27 September 2011
