Hall Of Clestrain Archaeology Programme - Raised Earthwork
Dovecot (Period Unknown)(Possible), Earthwork (Period Unknown)
Site Name Hall Of Clestrain Archaeology Programme - Raised Earthwork
Classification Dovecot (Period Unknown)(Possible), Earthwork (Period Unknown)
Canmore ID 365622
Site Number HY20NE 337
NGR HY 29596 07516
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/365622
- Council Orkney Islands
- Parish Orphir
- Former Region Orkney Islands Area
- Former District Orkney
- Former County Orkney
Field Visit (13 October 2018)
HY 29569 07550 – (S1) Outbuilding; HY 29655 07481 – (S2) Walled garden enclosure; HY 29714 07531 – (S3) Garden feature, raised mound; HY 29701 07503 – (S4) Garden feature, stone-lined pond; HY 29596 07516 – (S5) Ephemeral raised earthwork; HY 29648 07517 – (S6) Garden path; kerb and flag stones; HY 29651 07515 – (S7) Socket stone for post or gate; HY 29686 07537 – (S8) Garden feature; row of trees; HY 29373 07297 – (S9) Standing stone; HY 29585 07529 – (S10) Outbuilding; HY 29576 07527 – (S11) Outbuilding; HY 29601 07539 – (S12) Spread of stone (site of doocot); HY 29587 07551 – (S13) Raised sub-rectangular earthwork; HY 29697 07548 – (S14) Possible structure / kerb stones; HY 29850 07560 – (S15) Site of possible hut circle, earthwork, buried land surface; HY 29865 07659 – (S16) WWII searchlight emplacement; HY 29815 07600 – (S17) Linear single lane track / drains
A walkover survey was undertaken, 13 October 2018, with assistance from the community, for the John Rae Society, at the Hall of Clestrain (built in 1769, birthplace of artic explorer John Rae). The survey provided updates to known sites and recorded a wide range of new sites and features. These ranged from a prehistoric standing stone (S9, HY20NE 4) and possible hut circle (S15, HY20NE 128) through to wartime sites (S16), demonstrating the rich History of the Hall of Clestrain area. In total, 17 sites and features were recorded, dating mostly from the post-medieval and modern periods.
Key sites contemporary with the main house at the Hall of Clestrain were recorded, including the walled garden (S2), the site of the doocot (S12) and an earthwork area with knocking stone (S13). These sites and features have the potential to increase our knowledge of the History of the hall and farm during the time of John Rae.
Archive: Archaeology Institute, UHI (currently)
Funder: Cuminga Trust and Orkney Archaeology Society
Andy Boyar – Orkney Research Centre for Archaeology
(Source DES Volume 19)