Barr A' Chaistealain
Smithy (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Barr A' Chaistealain
Classification Smithy (Period Unassigned)
Canmore ID 23655
Site Number NN12NE 7
NGR NN 1620 2703
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/23655
- Council Argyll And Bute
- Parish Glenorchy And Inishail (Argyll And Bute)
- Former Region Strathclyde
- Former District Argyll And Bute
- Former County Argyll
NN12NE 7 1620 2703.
Refers in passing to "the site of the McNabs' historic smithy at Barr a' Chaistealain or Barachasan ..."
The MacNabs were hereditary smiths to the Campbells of Breadalbane and are mentioned in the mid-15th century. Pennant mentions a smith as living there in his time (18th century).
(Note iron slag: NN12NE 5 and building published as 'smithy' on OS 6" map, Argyll, 1st ed., {1874} at NN 1620 2720).
S P Gordon 1935.
Mr W Leitch, who lives in a cottage on the site of the smithy published on the OS 6" map, of 1874, said that the smithy associated with the MacNabs was near the fort at Barr a' Chaistealain (NN12NE 2), NN 1620 2703. He also stated that the MacNabs' smithy was never in use at the same time as the other, which superseded it and in its turn has been superseded by the present smithy. This information was confirmed by other local inquiries.
Visited by OS (G H P) 30 April 1962.
See also NN12NE 12.
Watching Brief (9 October 2015)
ANN 16277 27001 and NN 16206 26964 Watching briefs were kept on 9 October 2015 during excavations for the replacement of two poles for an overhead power line a short distance S of Dalmally. One of the poles sits within the remains of the late medieval and post-medieval settlement of Barr a’ Chaistealain, a scheduled ancient monument; the other is located a short distance to the SW. Nothing of archaeological significance was recorded in either trench.
Archive and report: National Record of the Historic Environment (NRHE)
Funder: SSE
John Lewis - Scotia Archaeology
(Source: DES, Volume 16)
