Scheduled Monument

Houll,house 90m SW of,Roe SoundSM3479

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
20/08/1974
Last Date Amended
22/01/1992
Type
Prehistoric domestic and defensive: house
Local Authority
Shetland Islands
Parish
Delting
NGR
HU 33651 66327
Coordinates
433651, 1166327

Description

The monument consists of the substantial remains of a prehistoric house.

The house survives as an oval bank of rubble, with a few larger stones protruding. The plan has been approximately oval, and the house is a very large one, 20m x 24m overall with a central area about 15m x 10m, with traces of wall recesses. The entrance may have been from the SE. On the S side of the house is a small enclosure, and the wall of this has been encroached upon by a recent boat noust (shelter) and a cist-like construction, perhaps for soaking bait.

The area to be scheduled is a promontory, bounded on all except the N side by the sea, and on the N side by a curved line drawn to pass 10m beyond the most northerly point of the house.

Statement of National Importance

The monument is of national importance as an unexcavated, and particularly substantial, example of a prehistoric house, which by its location may relate rather more than is normal for this class to exploitation of the marine environment. It is highly likely that important archaeological deposits will be preserved both within and below the foundations of the house.

References

Bibliography

RCAHMS record the site as HU36NW 3.

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 05:39