Description
The monument consists of the remains of a medieval
settlement, reputedly a nunnery.
The site is called "Tigh nan Cailleachan Dubha" translates as "The
House of the Black Women." There is no documentary evidence of an
order of nuns in Mealista but local tradition persists in saying that this is the site of a nunnery. The absence of medieval documentation
may indicate that this is a site of early medieval date.
The settlement remains comprise the footings of several rectangular stone and turf buildings situated in close proximity. The buildings
are generally orientated N-S. Their measurements range from 7m by 3m
to 15m by 8m. Some are contiguous or L-shaped. One building close to
the shore facing E has been rebuilt, its E wall cobbled together with pebbles from the shore. This structure lies within larger rectangular footings. The site covers over a hectare. The monument has probably
been subject to phases of re-use. Some of the foundations have been incorporated in modern dry-stone sheep pens. To the NE of the
buildings is an oval field enclosure which may be of later date.
The area to be scheduled is irregular measuring a maximum of 140m N-S
by 100m E-W to include the settlement and field enclosure as shown in red on the accompanying map.