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Unst, Vatnagarth
Farmstead (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Unst, Vatnagarth
Classification Farmstead (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 313098
Site Number HP60SW 139
NGR HP 61094 03001
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/313098
- Council Shetland Islands
- Parish Unst
- Former Region Shetland Islands Area
- Former District Shetland
- Former County Shetland
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 (25 April 2010)
This farmstead is situated in semi-improved pasture in a large, roughly polygonal, enclosure carved out of the peaty moorland immediately NNE of the Loch of Vatnagarth. It measures about 15m from NNW to SSE by 4.5m transversely over rubble walls that still stand to wall-head height. There is a central doorway flanked by windows in the WSW side and two small windows in the ENE. The interior contains two compartments and fireplaces are built into the gable ends. To the WSW of the building there is a terrace overlooking a small sub-square enclosure. In addition, two subrectangular stone-walled enclosures are attached to the NNW and SSE ends respectively of the building. A two-compartment outshot attached to the NNW end of the building appears to overly the SE corner of the northerly enclosure.
The building is depicted roofed on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Shetland 1882, Sheet VIII), at which time additional outshots were present; these are not shown on the 2nd edition of the map (1902, Sheet VIII).
Visited by RCAHMS (DCC) 25 April 2010
Note
The farmstead of Vatnagarth lies at c65m OD some 300m N of the Loch of Vatnagarth and is situated in the unimproved hill ground above the head dyke of Sandwick township (HP60SW 51). The farmstead comprises the largely upstanding remains of an unroofed stone built L-shaped range aligned N-S with conjoined enclosures on its N and S sides. The farmstead lies within a large sub-rectangular enclosure of improved ground which has been subdivided into at least 3 fields. The remains of 2 rectangular structures and a possible planticrub are located in the southernmost field. The farmstead was sketched by June Owers in her survey of deserted settlements in Unst (1983).
A farmstead comprising one roofed L-shaped building, two enclosures and a field system is depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Orkney and Shetland (Shetland) 1882, sheet viii). A well is depicted to the E of the farmstead.
Information from RCAHMS (BRW) 23 September 2011
