South Uist, Hairteabhagh
Blackhouse (19th Century), Bridge (19th Century)
Site Name South Uist, Hairteabhagh
Classification Blackhouse (19th Century), Bridge (19th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Eilean Dubh
Canmore ID 318889
Site Number NF81NW 3.11
NGR NF 82909 15164
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/318889
- Council Western Isles
- Parish South Uist
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Inverness-shire
Field Visit (30 June 2012)
This blackhouse stands on a terrace at the S end of Hairtebhagh, overlooking a burn immediately to the E and formerly cultivated ground beyond. Rectangular with rounded external corners on plan, it measures 7m from N to S by 3.8m within walls 1m in thick and up to 1.1m high, with a central doorway on the E. An outshot, measuring 2.9m from N to S by 5m overall is attached to the N end of the building, and both may overlie the remains of an earlier structure. In its current form, the building, which is depicted unroofed on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Inverness-shire (Hebrides) 1880, Sheet LVIII), represents a transition between long blackhouses without windows, e.g. NF81NW 3.10, and the later shorter cottages with windows, e.g. NF81NW 3.
Situated immediately NE of the cottage is a bridge (NF 82921 15172) which once carried a track across the burn that flows passed the cottage into Hairtebhagh. Its decking is no longer in place but its stone abutments still stand.
Visited by RCAHMS (GFG) 30 June 2012
