St Kilda, Hirta, Tigh An Triar

(Name: NF 09379935) Tigh an Triar (NR)

OS 6"map, annotated by J Mathieson (1928)

Tigh an Triar - building used by the old St Kildans to bless their cattle against evil spirits.

Information from OS (BRS) 21 January 1966

J Mathieson 1928.

"A little green plain which the St Kildans call Liani-nin-ore: plain of spells, exorcism, or prayers - used to bless their cattle every time they were moved from one grazing place to another (no mention of a building, or name 'Tigh an Triar').

Information from OS (JLD) 3 August 1967

K Macaulay 1764.

The above account must be purely legendary, as the name 'Tigh an Triar' applies to a 'cleit' at 0942 9946; but being the largest found on the island (it is 11.0m long x 2.0m, and although single-chambered, it has two small entrances in the S side - the W end has been opened to allow easier access), it is understandable why the tradition has possibly been affixed to this structure; but the place seems to have been misconstrued by Mathieson in view of Macaulay's earlier account.

Visited by OS (J L D) 12 August 1967

J Mathieson 1928; K Macaulay 1764.

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.

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

This cluster of 22 cleits occupies an area of sloping ground above the modern quarry (NF09NE 24) and to the N of a bend in the road leading up to Mullach Mor. Of the cluster, sixteen retain all or some of their roof lintels, most covered by fragments of turf cap, three are now roofless and ruinous, and a further three have been robbed down to their footings. Tradition has awarded the name Tigh an Triar, translated as the House of Three, to the longest cleit in this cluster (Hirta 796), and indeed on the island itself; this has two entrances, one at the WNW end and the other on the SSW side, and has been extended at least once. Where relationships were observed, the cleits all appear to overlie an earlier system of enclosures defined by stone and boulder banks. A narrow track or path leads upslope to the N from the NW enclosure.

(Hirta 795-813, 2295-7)

Visited by RCAHMS (ARG) 9 September 2009

A well is depicted on the 1928 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map of St Kilda about 20m ESE of Tigh an Triar.

Information from RCAHMS (GFG) 16 September 2015.