Bute, Nether Ardroscadale
Circular Enclosure (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Bute, Nether Ardroscadale
Classification Circular Enclosure (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Bail' Iochdrach
Canmore ID 40435
Site Number NS06SW 2
NGR NS 03855 62917
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/40435
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish North Bute
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Argyll And Bute
- Former County Buteshire
NS06SW 2 03855 62917.
(NS 0384 6290) DUN (R)
OS 6" map (1957)
Hewison, calling this feature "the outline of a fort", describes an 80' diameter earthern circle situated on the crest of the ridge NW of Nether Ardroscadale. The OS surveyor in c.1863 calling it a "circle" says it is in fact of earth and stones, with the interior depressed - no mound at all within the bank (c/f NS06SW 1).
J K Hewison 1893; Name Book c.1863
A nearly circular enclosure bounded by a substantial stony bank but with no traces of a ditch. It is definitely not a fort, and is too large for a hut circle. The date and purpose are uncertain.
Information from K A Steer 15 July 1975
NS 0385 6292. An enclosure with a level featureless interior is situated in a poor defensive position on the crest of a slight hill in pasture land. It is 20.0m N-S by 21.0m transversely within an earthen bank spread to 3.5m wide and up to 0.8m high. The entrance is not apparent and the bank, best preserved on the E side, has been almost destroyed in the SW. Its situation and form suggests that this may be a homestead rather than a stock enclosure.
Surveyed at 1:10,000.
Visited by OS (TRG) 8 November 1976
This enclosure, which remains as described by the Ordnance Survey in 1976, is situated on a low ridge about 250m NNW of Nether Ardroscadale farmstead. Although not in a defensive location, the site commands extensive views to the S and SW in particular. Its date and function, however, are unknown.
An 18th century estate map (May 1781) does not depict the enclosure, but shows that its position lay in an uncultivated area immediately SW of a five acre field called 'cairn fold'. A low eminence annotated ‘Circle’ is depicted here on the 1st edition of the 6-inch OS map (Argyllshire and Buteshire 1869, Sheet CCIII), and the discussion recorded in the contemporary Name Book (No. 5, p.52.) focuses on the difficulty of classification and notes that the tenant would not allow it to be ploughed.
Visited by RCAHMS (GFG, JMH) 6 May 2009.
Field Visit (1863)
Reference (1893)
Field Visit (28 May 1943)
This site was recorded as part of the RCAHMS Emergency Survey, undertaken by Angus Graham and Vere Gordon Childe during World War 2. The project archive has been catalogued during 2013-2014 and the material, which includes notebooks, manuscripts, typescripts, plans and photographs, is now available online.
Information from RCAHMS (GF Geddes) 2 December 2014.
Desk Based Assessment (5 July 1972)
Hewison, calling this feature "the outline of a fort", describes an 80' diameter earthern circle situated on the crest of the ridge NW of Nether Ardroscadale. The OS surveyor in c.1863 calling it a "circle" says it is in fact of earth and stones, with the interior depressed - no mound at all within the bank (c/f NS06SW 1).
Information from OS (IF) 5 July 1972
J K Hewison 1893; Name Book c.1863
Field Visit (15 July 1975)
A nearly circular enclosure bounded by a substantial stony bank but with no traces of a ditch. It is definitely not a fort, and is too large for a hut circle. The date and purpose are uncertain.
Information from K A Steer 15 July 1975.
Field Visit (8 November 1976)
NS 0385 6292. An enclosure with a level featureless interior is situated in a poor defensive position on the crest of a slight hill in pasture land. It is 20.0m N-S by 21.0m transversely within an earthen bank spread to 3.5m wide and up to 0.8m high. The entrance is not apparent and the bank, best preserved on the E side, has been almost destroyed in the SW. Its situation and form suggests that this may be a homestead rather than a stock enclosure.
Surveyed at 1:10,000, enlargement at 1:1000
Visited by OS (TRG) 8 November 1976
Field Visit (6 May 2009)
This enclosure, which remains as described by the Ordnance Survey in 1976, is situated on a low ridge about 250m NNW of Nether Ardroscadale farmstead. Although not in a defensive location, the site commands extensive views to the S and SW in particular. Its date and function, however, are unknown.
An 18th century estate map (May 1781) does not depict the enclosure, but shows that its position lay in an uncultivated area immediately SW of a five acre field called 'cairn fold'. A low eminence annotated ‘Circle’ is depicted here on the 1st edition of the 6-inch OS map (Argyllshire and Buteshire 1869, Sheet CCIII), and the discussion recorded in the contemporary Name Book (No. 5, p.52.) focuses on the difficulty of classification and notes that the tenant would not allow it to be ploughed.
Visited by RCAHMS (GFG, JMH) 6 May 2009.
