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Westray, Branstone Hill

Building (Period Unassigned), Mound (Period Unassigned), Naust (Period Unassigned)

Site Name Westray, Branstone Hill

Classification Building (Period Unassigned), Mound (Period Unassigned), Naust (Period Unassigned)

Canmore ID 295861

Site Number HY44SE 38

NGR HY 4744 4424

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/295861

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Administrative Areas

  • Council Orkney Islands
  • Parish Westray
  • Former Region Orkney Islands Area
  • Former District Orkney
  • Former County Orkney

Activities

Field Visit (1998)

An unusual structure, which may be of early 18th C date, is eroding over low banks. It is associated with a mound and a noost may have served as a fishing booth or storehouse. The remains of several land drains are exposed in section in front of the structure.

(i) A ruinous rectangular structure, measuring 4m by 9m, is located on the coast edge and has been damaged by coastal erosion. There is a door to the northeast corner and a window in the east wall. The walls are up to 1m thick and the window aperture is recessed and is smaller on the exterior than the interior. There are hearths at either end of the building; both appear to be secondary additions. The walls stand up to 2.5m high at the gables and traces survive of a flagstone roof.

(ii) An amorphous grass-covered mound lies to the north side of the structure (i). It measures 8m in diameter and stands up to 1m high.

(iii) A noost is cut into the banks directly in front of the structure. It has drystone walls and terminates in a pointed end. It measures 2m in width and survives to a length of 2.5m, the remainder having been eroded away. It is up to 0.5m deep.

Moore and Wilson, 1998

Coastal Zone Assessment Survey

Field Visit (12 May 2015)

ShoreUPDATE

As described.

The structure (i) is actively eroding, and the wall on on the seaward side has now been completely removed, creating section through middle of building.

The noost (iii) is now nearly destroyed by erosion, only the upper pointed end survives for a length of approximately 1m. No other archaeological deposits were visible.

Visited by Scotland's Coastal Heritage at Risk (SCHARP) 12 May 2015

References

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