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Stronsay, Braes Of Howar
Settlement (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Stronsay, Braes Of Howar
Classification Settlement (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Greenie Brae
Canmore ID 3286
Site Number HY62NE 1
NGR HY 655 284
NGR Description HY c. 655 284
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/3286
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Stronsay
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
HY62NE 1 c. 655 284
(Area: HY 655 284) On the Braes of Howar a structure was exposed in levelling a stony mound to facilitate cultivation many years before 1928, on a site which used to be known as 'Greenie Brae' but is now occupied by curing sheds.
'It was stated by one of those who assisted at the demolition that the structure was circular or oval and carefully built. Within was a large hearth, about 10' long covered with a layer of fine ashes, and not far from the hearth was a single upright pillar beneath which a human jawbone was found.
Round the hearth small square stones of bluish material were set at irregular intervals as if for seats. There was also a stone tank (H Marwick 1927) formed of five flagstones, including one which served as the bottom. These were all so firmly cemented together with red clay (H Marwick 1927) that it was necessary to break them before they could be separated. A stone or clay cran (H Marwick 1927) or spigot which was taken out and retained by the then proprietor of the farm, plugged a hole in one of the end slabs.
Beneath the tank was a well-constructed drain running seawards. Bone refuse and ashes were in evidence almost everywhere.
(This site may be either a small pecked enclosure shown on OS 1st ed.at HY 6546 2851 or one of the two small green knolls mentioned by the Name Book as lying about 22 yds NW of the stonehouse which stood at HY 6552 2845)
OS 6" map, Orkney 1st ed., (1879); Name Book 1879; RCAHMS 1946.
No trace and no local knowledge of 'Greenie Brae' and no knowledge of any structure found.
Visited by OS (RL) 13 July 1970.
The exact location is in doubt, and it is unclear whether 'Greenie Brae' and 'Braes of Howar' refer to the same site, and whether either was a broch. Unfortunately both Cursiter and Marwick got their information second-hand. It seems certain however, that W of Whitehall Village, on or near the site of demolished curing sheds, there was one or perhaps two stony mounds, one of which contained a hearth a clay-cemented slab-formed cistern, and much occupation-refuse.
J Cursiter 1923; RCAHMS 1984.
Orkney Smr Note
This site may be either a small pecked enclosure shown on
1st edn. at HY 6546 2851 or one of the 2 small green knolls
mentioned O.N.B. as lying about 22yds NW of the storehouse which
stood at 6552 2845. [R1], OS index card.
(Broch) levelled down over 30 years ago. [R2]
?Whitehall ?Howar. Cursiter op. cit. cites a broch at
Whitehall. He never visited site but was informed by the late Mr
Sinclair of Whitehall and was satisfied it was a broch although
he could not exactly locate it. Marwick assumed to be at shore
in the field of Howar just to W of village but Cursiter pretty
certain it was not there. At all events there was a large mound
callled Greenie Brae. In it an old building, tank made of
clay-cemented slabs, fireplace etc. [R3]
Site occupied by curing sheds. Previously, in levelling a
stony mound for cultivation, were found structures, hearth 10ft
long within, slab-formed tank cemented with clay, drain, bone
refuse, ashes. [R4]
Information from Orkney SMR [n.d.]
