Scheduled Monument

Gruline House, crannog 170m SSW ofSM10534

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
24/03/2003
Type
Prehistoric domestic and defensive: crannog
Local Authority
Argyll And Bute
Parish
Torosay
NGR
NM 55130 39191
Coordinates
155130, 739191

Description

The monument comprises a crannog, or artificial islet, probably of prehistoric date.

The crannog is visible as a mound of stone situated at the W end of Loch Ba, some 30m away from the shore, at approximately 10m OD. The water surrounding the islet is between 1.5m and 2m in depth and reaches a maximum depth of 2.3m between the site and the shore. The site is built on what appears to be a gravel ridge which rises 1m above the surrounding lochbed.

The crannog consists of a substantial mound of loose stone, roughly circular in shape, composed partly of very large boulders and partly of smaller and medium-sized stones. The mound measures approximately 15m in diameter and stands about 2m high. The summit of the mound is crowned by a circular-shaped platform.

The area proposed for scheduling comprises the remains described and an area around them within which related material is likely to survive. It is circular in shape, with a diameter of 20m, 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 an understanding of prehistoric and later settlement and economy. Its importance is increased by its potential to preserve organic remains and by its proximity to other monuments of possibly contemporary date, including other crannogs in Loch Ba.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NM53NE 5.

References:

Holley M W (2000) THE ARTIFICIAL ISLETS/CRANNOGS OF THE CENTRAL INNER HEBRIDES, Brit Archaeol Rep Brit Ser 303, Oxford

RCAHMS (1980) ARGYLL VOL. 3: MULL, TIREE, COLL AND NORTHERN ARGYLL, Edinburgh: HMSO.

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

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Printed: 05/11/2026 06:26