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Todholes

Cairnfield (Period Unassigned), Hut Circle (Prehistoric)

Site Name Todholes

Classification Cairnfield (Period Unassigned), Hut Circle (Prehistoric)

Alternative Name(s) Earlsburn Wind Farm, Site 23

Canmore ID 45288

Site Number NS68NE 5

NGR NS 6732 8664

NGR Description and NS 6767 8664

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/45288

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council Stirling
  • Parish Fintry
  • Former Region Central
  • Former District Stirling
  • Former County Stirlingshire

Archaeology Notes

NS68NE 5 6732 8664.

A hut circle is situated on a little knoll on the left bank of the aqueduct between Walton Reservoir and Endrick Water, 610 yards N of Todholes farmhouse. It consists of a ring of turf, measuring about 45ft in internal diameter, with a gap about 15ft wide in the N arc.

RCAHMS 1963

NS 6732 8666. A hut circle, 15.0m diameter, and as described by RCAHMS.

Visited by OS (JLD) 2 April 1957

Only slight traces of a bank, 0.2m high, and 5.0m long, now survive at this site.

Surveyed at 1/2500.

Visited by OS (RD) 3 March 1965

NS 6767 8664 SUAT Ltd was commissioned by RSK ENSR on behalf of their client Falck Renewables to undertake excavation at Site 23 on the Earlsburn wind farm development site, Fintry. The site represented a possible denuded turf structure of unknown date. Close by were the remains of an area of cultivation known as 'lazy beds' and a timber roundhouse stance. Full excavation on part of the remainder of the site was recommended after the W side of the site had been accidentally destroyed by machining.

An area measuring 2 x 4m was excavated in May 2006. The excavation revealed deposits of silt overlaying natural silty sands, some charcoal and amorphous patches of black silt. It could not be positively established whether the feature was archaeological or natural. Further excavation of the site was not recommended.

Archive deposited with NMRS.

Sponsor: Falck Renewables.

Ray Cachart, 2006.

Activities

Field Visit (15 September 1952)

NS68NE (all unnoted)

(1) 674873

(2) 676868

(3) 673866

The following three hut circles, each of which is defined by a low, grass-covered, stony bank, are situated in the vicinity of Todholes farmhouse. (1) [NS68NE 3] In rough pasture three-quarters of a mile N. of the farmhouse and 260 yds. NW. of the northernmost angle of a large rectangular sheepfold. It stands on a knoll, at a height of about 1100 ft. O.D., and measures 45 ft. in internal diameter. (2) {NS68NE 4] At a height of 780 ft. O.D., half a mile NNE. of the farmhouse and 360 yds. SSE. of the sheepfold referred to above. It measures about 30 ft. in internal diameter and has at some time been under the plough. (3) [NS68NE 5] On a little knoll (750 ft. O.D.) on the left bank of the aqueduct between the Endrick Water and Loch Walton, 610 yds. N. of the farmhouse. It measures about 45ft. in diameter internally and there is a gap some 15 ft. in width in the N. arc.

RCAHMS 1963, visited 15 September 1952.

Excavation (2006)

NS 6767 8664 SUAT Ltd was commissioned by RSK ENSR on behalf of their client Falck Renewables to undertake excavation at Site 23 on the Earlsburn wind farm development site, Fintry. The site represented a possible denuded turf structure of unknown date. Close by were the remains of an area of cultivation known as 'lazy beds' and a timber roundhouse stance. Full excavation on part of the remainder of the site was recommended after the W side of the site had been accidentally destroyed by machining.

An area measuring 2 x 4m was excavated in May 2006. The excavation revealed deposits of silt overlaying natural silty sands, some charcoal and amorphous patches of black silt. It could not be positively established whether the feature was archaeological or natural. Further excavation of the site was not recommended.

Archive deposited with NMRS.

Sponsor: Falck Renewables.

R Cachart 2006

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