Bute, Glenvoidean

NR97SE 13 9983 7054.

Excavations were carried out in 1964-5 at a structure called a "long-narrow house" by Marshall. It is situated 100' below the deserted croft of Glenvoidean, within 1/2 mile of chambered cairn NR97SE 2. Rectangular on plan, it measured 36' by 10 1/2', built at right angles to the contour of the hillside. At the E end, the ground was excavated to a depth of 3' to give a level base for the building. A wall, of which six courses remain, was built against this excavation. Along the N wall, large irregular stones, up to 3'8" high, are set in as ortho- stats; turf must also have been used. The S wall differs in construction, suggesting a different period. Rectangular stones,not dressed, but chosen for their shape, are used. The W wall is built on an outcrop of living rock. Large blocks of quartz, up to 2'6", were used all over the building, mostly in the S and W walls. At the E end a rough paving stretched 6'-7' from the E wall. No hearth was found, but just W of the paving, at a slightly lower level, a patch of burning was found. This was underneath the bottom of the S wall, suggesting a re-build of the wall at that point, or the burning preceded the "house". An ill-defined doorway was found at the extreme W end of the S wall. No artefacts were found.

The building may have been a cattle-pen, or a dwelling; it is difficult to visualise it as a dwelling with the uneven outcrop in its centre, but too much work seems to have gone into its construction, to be merely a cattle-pen.

D N Marshall 1964; 1969.

Recorded during survey of deserted settlements; records are held in the Bute Museum.

Sponsor: Bute Antiq Natur Hist Soc; St Andrews Heritage Services.

Proudfoot 1993d; Hannah and Proudfoot 1994.

NR 9982 7056 Site 160 Tigh na cailleach

100m downhill from Glenvoidean (NR97SE 28) stands the ruined walling of a sub-rectangular building 10.5x3.5m, narrowing to 2.8m at both ends (internal measurements), with some large orthostats in the long walls. Partially excavated in 1964-5 (Marshall 1969, 45-7), this may have been a medieval precursor or outlier of Glenvoidean. A corn kiln, thought to be of medieval date, was excavated with the burial cairn (NR97SE 2) 100m downhill (Marshall 1969, 39-48). The name can mean either witch’s or old woman’s house; the former translation is sometimes given, but the latter meaning was probably intended.

Proudfoot and Hannah 2000

NR 9982 7056 Settlement remains: Located 100m downhill from Glenvoidean. A sub-rectangular building, 10.5 x 3.5m narrowing to 2.8m at both ends, with some very large orthostats in walls. Aligning down-slope. The site was partially excavated 1970. This was probably a medieval predecessor of Glenvoidean.

Information from Bute Natural History Society Deserted Settlement Survey (1991-9)

(RCAHMS WP000273)