Scheduled Monument

Portabhata, depopulated settlementSM7837

Status: Designated

Documents

Where documents include maps, the use of this data is subject to terms and conditions (https://portal.historicenvironment.scot/termsandconditions).

The legal document available for download below constitutes the formal designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The additional details provided on this page are provided for information purposes only and do not form part of the designation. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within this additional information.

Summary

Date Added
06/03/2003
Supplementary Information Updated
17/03/2021
Type
Secular: settlement, including deserted and depopulated and townships
Local Authority
Highland
Parish
Morvern
NGR
NM 57300 57306
Coordinates
157300, 757306

Description

The monument comprises a depopulated agricultural township of post-medieval date.

The township lies in improved grassland at around 140m OD. It consists of the remains of at least eleven houses, various outbuildings, including a corn-drying kiln and a possible small mill, together with several enclosed 'yards' and other field dykes. Cruck-slots survive in some of the buildings.

The settlement is on record as having existed from at least 1755 and it was abandoned by 1871. After its abandonment, the head-dyke which formerly surrounded the township's arable land was rebuilt, and the whole enclosure functioned (and continues to function) as sheep grazing.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains of the township as described and an area around them in which evidence relating to the construction and occupation of the site is likely to survive. It is irregular on plan, measuring a maximum of 210m NNW-SSE and 220m WNW-ESE, as marked in red on the accompanying map.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance because of its potential to contribute to our understanding of post-medieval rural settlement and economy.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NM 55 NE 5.

References:

Gaskell P (1968) MORVERN TRANSFORMED: A HIGHLAND PARISH IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

About Scheduled Monuments

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Scheduling is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for monuments and archaeological sites of national importance as set out in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

We schedule sites and monuments that are found to be of national importance using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Scheduled monument records provide an indication of the national importance of the scheduled monument which has been identified by the description and map. The description and map (see ‘legal documents’ above) showing the scheduled area is the designation of the monument under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979. The statement of national importance and additional information provided are supplementary and provided for general information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland accepts no liability for any loss or damages arising from reliance on any inaccuracies within the statement of national importance or additional information. These records are not definitive historical or archaeological accounts or a complete description of the monument(s).

The format of scheduled monument records has changed over time. Earlier records will usually be brief. Some information will not have been recorded and the map will not be to current standards. Even if what is described and what is mapped has changed, the monument is still scheduled.

Scheduled monument consent is required to carry out certain work, including repairs, to scheduled monuments. Applications for scheduled monument consent are made to us. We are happy to discuss your proposals with you before you apply and we do not charge for advice or consent. More information about consent and how to apply for it can be found on our website at www.historicenvironment.scot.

Find out more about scheduling and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

Images

There are no images available for this record, you may want to check Canmore for images relating to Portabhata, depopulated settlement

There are no images available for this record.

Search Canmore

Printed: 26/04/2024 09:15