Name change required ?

Grimsay Wheelhouse 1

Image by greywether

wideford Oct 1, 2004 18:06:23

More amazing than its non-appearance on CANMORE is that nothing is shown in the vicinity using Oldmap through Archsearch (mind you ARCHI fails to come up with the two duns on the islets in Loch Hornary, unlike ArchSearch , which is a bit of a poor advert for their paying service). I see that it is above an area of sand called Bagh nam Feadag, after the plovers, and wondered if this name could be used in order to avoid possible confusion with similar structures in the Grimsay area ?
On the modern map a long zigzagging wall is showing in the area of the wheelhouse. This instantly reminded me of the low intermittent one along the coast leading up to the Knowe of Verron broch. I only made proper inspection of this a few days ago and at 0.9m across this seems more of a structure than would be required for a simple drystane wall boundary, more especially a 4m by 8m corner (possibly seperate from the rest of the coastal walling as it doesn't seem to hug the sinuous coastline as that does) that turns where the coastline comes up to the broch itself. Were there any walls of similar dimensions in the proximity of the wheelhouse ?

greywether Oct 2, 2004 12:39:56

Replying to wideford

>> I see that it is above an area of sand called Bagh nam Feadag, after the plovers, and wondered if this name could be used in order to avoid possible confusion with similar structures in the Grimsay area ?

Fair point but TMA headline names tend to use the well kown or "popular" version where alternatives exist eg "The Great X of Kilmartin" not "Nether Largie Standing stones".

It may be stretching the point to apply this to a site where so little has been published and there is no "official" name. However, the "Lost Wheelhouses ... " publication I mentioned refers throughout to the "Grimsay wheelhouse" so anyone coming across this and looking for more information would be likely to search on that name.

I've added Bagh nam Feadag as an alternative name.

>> Were there any walls of similar dimensions in the proximity of the wheelhouse ?

There were other walls at the site including what may be part of an earlier wheelhouse and a later shieling. With no detailed plan to follow, we didn't explore these much so can't really help you there. Sorry.

erchie Oct 23, 2004 16:12:05

Replying to wideford

I have just recently completed an M.Phil thesis on this structure and can provide those who wish with a cd of it. Contact email below. To calrify, nothing does appear on canmore because very little information about it survives as it was excavated relativley recently - between c.1993 and 1997 and not by any archaeologists. An amateur opened up a the mound and excavated it single handed. The name Bagh nam Feadag probably came about becasue all wheelhouses in the uists tend to have at least two names, one in english and one in Gaelic. Some people refer to it as the Grimsay Wheelhouse. I think the SMR simply took the nearest topographic feature which is the Feadag bay just to the northeast. Currently only one wheelhosue is known in the island of grimsay, but I believe the mound to the north west (20m away) contains another wheelhouse. There is another mound nearby , however, this is a bit too small. The wheelhouse has been modifed to a large extent, and there is a quetion of rebuilding by the excavator. Underlying the wheelhouse is another round structure, which is probably and earlier wheelhouse or a complex roundhouse of some sort. Inside the main house to the left of the entrance a secondary strucutre was inserted but has been largely removed by the excavator. A two phased rectangular building has been attached to the south of the mound which produced some east coast gritty ware of late 12th - 13th century date. There is also a small round shieling on top of the mound, and two other buildings built into the side of the mound. Basically, on and off settlement from the mid iron age to 17th century (beofre the 1880 first edition map was made, and before reid's map of 1799). The entire filed has a lot of features in it which I can provide information on also. Details of the artefact collection can also be found in my thesis/archive. Although I have not been working for HS or anybody (I am Post grad at University of Glasgow), the archive will be deposited with the Stornoway SMR and I will also offer it to the Royal Commision/Canmore. Hopefully something will be published also. Contact: Alasdair [email protected]