Rousay, Munzie

This farmstead, which is situated in moorland close to the foot of the NW flank of Moolie, comprises the remains of a dwelling orientated E and W, a second, smaller, building immediately to the S, a third, even smaller structure directly to the E, all three set at the N end of a trapezoidal enclosure. Rectangular on plan, the dwelling measures about 11.7m by about 3.2m within walls 0.7m in thickness and up to 1.3m in height. The interior contains two compartments, but the wall which forms the partition and contains a fireplace is an insertion. A bed-neuk, also possibly a secondary feature, projects out from the E end of the N side. An outshot is attached to the W end of the dwelling. The building lying immediately S of the dwelling measures about 3m square internally; the stone-walled enclosure to the S measures 32m from NNE to SSW by up to 27m transversely at the wide SSW end.

Thomson notes (1981, 46, 48) that in 1841 the farmstead of Mouncey, which was associated with 3 acres of arable, had two inhabitants but it was cleared in 1855. Three roofed buildings are depicted here on the 1st edition of the OS 25-inch map (Orkney 1882, Sheet LXXXIV.16) and a contemporary note (OS Name Book 16, 32) records a building that was thatched one storey high and in fair repair’, suggesting that it may have been reoccupied in the latter part of the 19th century before its final abandonment by the end of that century, when all of the buildings are shown unroofed on the 2nd edition of the map (Orkney 1902, Sheet 084.16).

Visited by RCAHMS (GFG, JRS) 13 May 2015