St Kilda, Hirta, Village Bay, House 6
House (19th Century)
Site Name St Kilda, Hirta, Village Bay, House 6
Classification House (19th Century)
Canmore ID 75828
Site Number NF19NW 21.25
NGR NF 10158 99357
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/75828
- Council Western Isles
- Parish Harris
- Former Region Western Isles Islands Area
- Former District Western Isles
- Former County Inverness-shire
NF19NW 21.25 10158 99357
Work in 1990 was carried out on Cottage 6 prior to its restoration by the National Trust for Scotland. Coarse pottery and stone hammers were found in the soil build-up over a weathered granite bedrock. A pit used for cultivation at a later date, probably around the 1830s was located, but it was covered with debris as the site was used for the construction of the cottage in the 1860s. Much of the original timberwork survived, including partition rails, joists and planking. Many artefacts, including personal possessions, were recovered from the debris left in the cottage as it became deserted.
Sponsors: National Trust for Scotland, Durham University.
N Emery 1990b.
NF 1014 9934 Excavation was carried out in August and September 2003 along the W wall of House 6 (NF19NW 21.25). This revealed a late 19th/early 20th-century midden deposit overlying a mid-19th-century drain. The midden contained a range of artefacts, including scythe blades, pottery, leather shoe fragments and zinc sheeting.
Report to be lodged with the NMRS.
Sponsors: HS, NTS.
S Bain 2003
Conservation (2001)
NF 101 991 (centre) As part of the Management Agreement with Historic Scotland, the monuments within Village Bay were recorded and monitored, and certain cleits, dykes and enclosures were repaired in 2001 under supervision by members of the two volunteer work parties. Detailed work included the completion of the identification of around 300 cleits for active management, and the production of a report on cleit preservation, as well as rapid assessments of coastal erosion and the deposition of builders' debris within some of the roofless structures along the village street.
Report to be deposited in the NMRS.
Photographic Survey (2002)
NF 101 991 (centre) As part of the Management Agreement with Historic Scotland, the monuments within Village Bay were recorded and monitored, and certain cleits, dykes, drains and enclosures were repaired under supervision by members of the volunteer work parties which went out to St Kilda in 2002.
A photographic survey of the coastline in Village Bay was carried out and compared to images taken in 1999. The survey indicated erosion along the NE side of the bay. Two sherds of hand-made pottery were recovered and a layer of burning noted in an exposed section.
The annual monitoring of cleits across the island was carried out and the photographic survey of them continued.
Report to be deposited in the NMRS.
Sponsors: HS, NTS.
S Bain 2002
Excavation (April 2006 - September 2006)
NF 101 991 A small-scale excavation was carried out along the E gable of House 6 in Village Bay, Hirta, between April and September 2006. Following last year's investigations this excavation was intended to provide improved drainage around the house. The finds were all from the 19th and 20th century.
Archive to be deposited in the NMRS.
Sponsor: Historic Scotland, National Trust for Scotland.
S Dennis 2006
Watching Brief (20 June 2015)
NF 10158 99357 As part of a rolling programme of annual maintenance of drains and open watercourses within Village Bay a watching brief was undertaken, on 20 June 2015, on remedial works to a 19th-century drain running from the SE gable of House 6 across the Street.
Excavation revealed a stone-lined drain which comprises part of the drainage system for the nearby mid-19th-century house (House 6). Capstones covering the drain were removed to reveal a naturally accrued fill of earth identical to the overlying topsoil. This comprised redeposited deposits from
earlier repairs to the feature in 2005. The fill was removed to clear the drain and the capstones were restored to their original location. A wooden cover was added in one area to prevent future blocking of the drain.
Archive: National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE)
Funder: The National Trust for Scotland with support from Historic Scotland
Kevin Grant – The National Trust for Scotland
(Source: DES, Volume 16)
