Pudding Law

NT81NW 46 from 83419 17063 to 83440 16988

(NT 83434 17017) Farmstead (NR) (remains of)

OS 6" map, (1962).

On top of a rocky escarpment on the E bank of the Calroust Burn, are the remains of a farmstead, probably medieval.

It consists of a sub-rectangular enclosure measuring 28.0m N-S by 21.0m, containing the footings of two rectangular buildings. The enclosure is formed by an earth and stone bank 0.6m high, spread to 4.3m. Adjacent on the SE are the mutilated footings of possible another building with traces of banks protruding to the SE from it. Nearby are the footings of other similar buildings.

Visited by OS (WDJ) 1 September 1960.

A farmstead as described in the previous report.

Visited by OS (TRG) 10 September 1976.

Crowning a rocky escarpment at the base of a moderate W-facing slope, there is a farmstead comprising a subrectangular enclosure within which there are two rectangular buildings with a further four buildings uphill to the E. The enclosure measures 26m from N to S by 20m transversely within a stony bank spread up to 4m in thickness and standing up to 0.6m in height. Inside, the two buildings lie against the W edge of the enclosure overlooking the escarpment. The N building measures 7m from N to S by 2.5m within an earth and stone wall spread up to 1.5m in thickness. An entrance at the S end of the W wall leads into the larger of two compartments. What may be an outshot is appended to the S. The second building is L-shaped and measures 7m from NE to SW with the 5.5m long arm on the N side, by 2m to 2.5m within an earth and stone wall again averaging 1.5m in thickness. The entrance appears to be on the S end of the W side of the building though there is also a break, passing through the enclosure bank on the S side. Outside the enclosure some 3m directly S of this break, there is a more substantial rectangular building which is almost joined to the enclosure by a low stretch of bank. The building measures 19m from NW to SE by 3m within walls averaging 1.5m in thickness. An entrance on the NE side leads into the largest and southernmost of three compartments, which measure (from S to N) 8m, 6m and 3m in length respectively. Uphill, some 6m to the E, there is a smaller two-compartment rectangular building, which measures 9m from NNW to SSE by 2.4m within a wall spread up to 1.4m in thickness. The N compartment is the larger, measuring 4m in length, and is separated from the 3m long S compartment by a 2m broad partition. There is no evidence of an entrance to either compartment. To the E of this building, a low bank, which is spread to 2m in width and extends uphill to the modern wall, suggests that the whole farmstead may have been enclosed. Above the wall, and 26m uphill from the previous building, there is another substantial rectangular structure which has been levelled into the hillside on the E. It measures 21m length from NNW to SSE by 2.5m within walls 1.5m thick and 0.3m high. There are five compartments, which measure 2m, 2m, 6m 4m and 2.5m from N to S respectively. There are no entrances visible and the fourth compartment is expanded on the uphill side. A further building lies to the NE of the enclosure and measures 11m from N to S by 2.5m within walls spread up to 2m in thickness. There are two compartments each with entrances on the E side. At either end there are traces of either earlier structures or out-shots added to the building. The S end of a lynchet or low bank terminates immediately NE of this building which may form part of cultivation pattern extending N over the moderate slopes or represent the S extremity of the field-system observed to the N (NT81NW 57). The rectangular enclosure (NT81NW 207) may be associated with the farmstead.

Information from RJ Mercer (University of Edinburgh) 2 April 1985

RCAHMS MS 2598. No. 44/576