Sourhope Burn

NT82SW 22 from 84211 20539 to 24233 20478

(NT 84229 20506) Hut Circles (NR)

OS 6" map, (1962).

Hut Circles, Sourhope Burn: On the nose of the spur that runs S from Hairny Law, there is a group of three huts and at least two associated hollows. Two of the huts form a pair, one of them being adjoined by a pit-like hollow. The third, 50' SW, is linked to them by a low crescentic bank. Another hollow, of elongated shape, has been dug into the face of a cultivation terrace.

Although two of the huts still retain slight traces of drystone walls, the detection of this group on air photographs was only possible owing to a slight hollowing of the hut floors, whose internal diameters range from 15' to 21'. The site lies at the junction of the two cultivation terrace systems that cover the lower slopes of either flank of this spur (NT82SW 37). The primitive appearance of these huts may be misleading, as they clearly modify or obliterate the terraces, which are considered to be of medieval date, where they are in contact with them, at more than one point.

RCAHMS 1956, visited 1947 and 1948.

These hut circles are as described by the RCAHMS. The hollows are very slight and do not appear to be of any significant importance, while the crescentic bank linking the huts is more likely to be associated with the terraces (NT82SW 37).

Surveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by OS (RD) 8 July 1968.

These hut circles are as described in the previous information. Their relationship with the cultivation terraces is difficult to establish, though it is by no means clear that they post-date them.

Visited by OS (TRG) 7 September 1976.

No change.

Surveyed at 1:2500.

Visited by (ISS) 20 September 1979.