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Eilean na Carraidh, fish trap

A Scheduled Monument in Oban South and the Isles, Argyll and Bute

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Coordinates

Latitude: 56.5859 / 56°35'9"N

Longitude: -6.1894 / 6°11'21"W

OS Eastings: 142862

OS Northings: 751626

OS Grid: NM428516

Mapcode National: GBR CC39.MRZ

Mapcode Global: WGYBZ.WQTK

Entry Name: Eilean na Carraidh, fish trap

Scheduled Date: 30 January 2003

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Source ID: SM10561

Schedule Class: Cultural

Category: Secular: fish trap

Location: Kilninian and Kilmore

County: Argyll and Bute

Electoral Ward: Oban South and the Isles

Traditional County: Argyllshire

Description

The monument comprises a fish trap of post-medieval date.

The monument lies at the head of Loch a' Chumhainn, some 250m SW of Dervaig Church. The gap of about 85m between the tidal island of Eilean na Carraidh and the promontory called Druim na Carraidh on the SW shore is spanned by an irregular wall of dry-stone construction incorporating two V-shaped inlets, each about 6m in width at the mouth and 8m in length.

The superstructure, which stands to a height of 1.8m and is composed of small boulders, evidently owes its excellent state of preservation to the continuous maintenance undertaken by successive generations of a local family.

The lowest course of the wall, however, which is constructed of massive boulders and has an average width of about 1.9m, appears to be of considerable antiquity. At the head of the SW inlet a 'gate' filled with small stones is formed between two large squared blocks set 1.2m apart.

This feature was evidently designed to allow fish into the trap at states of the tide when water did not reach the top of the wall. It is worthy of mention that the names 'Eilean na Carraidh' and 'Druim na Carraidh' apparently contain a variant of the Gaelic 'cairidh', meaning a fish trap, by which the structure is still known today.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material is likely to survive. It is roughly sub-rectangular in shape, with maximum measurements of 95m SW-NE by 41m NW-SE, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to an understanding of post-medieval coastal settlement and economy, especially relating to the fishing industry. Its importance is increased by its proximity to other monuments of potentially contemporary date.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NM 45 SW 20.

Bibliography:

RCAHMS (1980) The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland. Argyll: an inventory of the monuments volume 3: Mull, Tiree, Coll and Northern Argyll (excluding the early medieval and later monuments of Iona), Edinburgh, 251, No. 385.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

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