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Penshiel Hill
Cairn(S) (Prehistoric)
Site Name Penshiel Hill
Classification Cairn(S) (Prehistoric)
Alternative Name(s) Blue House
Canmore ID 57535
Site Number NT66SW 12
NGR NT 63225 64173
NGR Description Centre
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/57535
- Council East Lothian
- Parish Whittingehame
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District East Lothian
- Former County East Lothian
Field Visit (3 July 1913)
No. 241 [a]. ...Hut Circles, Penshiel Hill, Mayshiel.
On the northern slope of Penshiel Hill, some 700 yards almost due east of Mayshiel and 200 yards south of Kingside [Kell] Burn, at an elevation of 900 feet above sea-level, is a hut circle 16 feet in diameter internally, with a wall now 3 feet 6 inches broad rising 6 to 12 inches in height. On the inside of the eastern arc a number of the foundation stones are still in situ. The wall is overgrown with grass and heather, but on probing it is found to be stony in parts. Some 35 yards to the east-south-east, about 12 feet higher, is a somewhat similar structure, too overgrown with heather for measurement.
RCAHMS 1924, visited 3 July 1913.
OS Map: xvi. S.E. (unnoted).
Field Visit (30 April 1979)
NT66SW 12 6320 6417 and 6324 6416.
The features described by the RCAHMS are the remains of two robbed cairns which are situated on a gentle SW- facing slope under heather and rough pasture.
NT 6320 6417. 'A': measures overall 9.0m in diameter and 0.8m high on the downhill side. The centre and south side have been severely robbed, leaving a ring effect.
NT 6324 6416. 'B': measures overall 11.0m in diameter and 0.6m high on the downhill side and is fairly well preserved.
Surveyed at 1/10,000.
Visited by OS (JRL) 30 April 1979.
Field Visit (25 February 1991)
Cairn, (NT6320 6417), diameter 9m, is located on the lower grass covered NW facing slopes, about 39m E (100') of the wall of a stone-walled stell. The height of the cairn along the contour is 0.3m on the W side and 0.5m on the E, transversely 0.2m upslope, 0.6m downslope. The cairn top is fairly level but a rim, about 1.0m thick and 0.1m high is discernable.
A cairn (NT6324 6416), diameter 11m lies about 45m (centre to centre) ESE (290') of NT6320 6417. The cairn is 0.5m high on the N downslope, and W sides but only 0.1m on the other sides. The cairn top is platform-like and level except for a small hollow off centre, possibly rodding, on the SE and there is very slight evidence of an arc of rim.
Information from R C Callander, visited 25 February 1991 {Midlothian Inventory (RCAHMS 1924) No.241, item 2 - Hut-circle similar to NT6320 6417.
(Undated) information in NMRS.
Field Visit (8 September 2020)
The location, classification and period of this site have been reviewed.
