Description

The monument comprises a post-medieval farmstead of pre-Improvement date, with possible medieval antecedents, visible as a series of stone foundations of ruined buildings, and grassed-over mounds and banks.

The monument lies in an area of rough pasture at around 280m OD. It comprises a group of enclosures and ruined drystone buildings, the most substantial of which, on the N of the settlement, is a solidly-constructed building with walls standing to around 2m high.

This building was still occupied in the mid-19th century (as depicted on the 1st edition Ordnance Survey map of the area) by which time the remainder of the buildings appear to have been derelict. Several of the buildings overlap and show signs of extensive re-modelling, suggesting that the visible form of the settlement represents the culmination of a long period of development.

In the E part of the settlement is a ruined stone building aligned roughly N-S, within which a small hole in the floor gives access to a well-constructed vaulted cellar built of small stones quite unlike those visible in the above-ground remains. This suggests that, perhaps at an early stage in its development, the settlement contained buildings of relatively high status.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material may be expected to be found. It is irregular in shape, measuring 140m WNW-ESE by 100m NE-SW, as marked in red on the accompanying map extract. The E boundary is formed by a burn which flows out of Loch nan Nighean and becomes part of the Allt Borenich.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to our understanding of upland settlement and economy before and during the period of agricultural improvement. Its importance is enhanced by the evidence for buildings of relatively high social status, and by the association of building remains of several different periods.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NN 86 SW 20.

Reference:

Mitchell, H. (1923) Pitlochry district: its topography, archaeology and history, Pitlochry, 114.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland