Scheduled Monument

Gruline House, platforms 1000m ENE ofSM10585

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
Supplementary Information Updated
23/10/2017
Type
Secular: platform
Local Authority
Argyll And Bute
Parish
Torosay
NGR
NM 56065 39466
Coordinates
156065, 739466

Description

The monument comprises three artificial platforms, almost certainly charcoal-burning stances of post-medieval date.

The platforms lie scattered near the upper limit of mixed oak and birch woodland on the steep S slope of Garbh Choire, about 200m above the NE shore of Loch Ba. These three platforms are similar in appearance to others in the Lorn area of Argyll which have been identified as the stances for charcoal-burning kilns.

This identification was confirmed in 1976 by the discovery of fragments of charcoal below the turf floor of one of the structures. Typically these charcoal-burning platforms were created by cutting into the hillside and banking the excavated spoil behind a curving stone-revetted lip some 1.5m in height, to form a circular platform about 8.5m in diameter.

These platforms probably date from the late 18th or early 19th century, when the activities of the Lorn and Argyll Furnace Companies resulted in the manufacture of charcoal throughout the West Highland area.

The areas proposed for scheduling comprise three circles centred on the three platforms, to include the remains described and an area around them within which related material is likely to survive. The three areas are each 19m in diameter, 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 post-medieval technology and economy in rural Scotland.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS records the monument as NM53NE 4.

References:

RCAHMS (1980) 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. 386

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 07:08