More information : Found during field inspection, a medieval or early modern
farmstead centred NT 823120 on the Blind Burn. It consists of a
rectangular steading 20m x 3.5m with an adjacent circular enclosure
10m diameter; and to the south on the opposide side of the Burn,
the footings of a rectangular building, and a sub-rectangular
enclosure both partially contained by an earthen bank on the east
side. (1)
This group forms part of a pattern of steadings and enclosures found
at the higher levels throughout the area, and generally thought to
represent continuous rural colonization from medieval times onwards.
Revised at 6" scale. (2)
A small group of steadings and associated enclosures situated on
haughland at the bottom of steep slopes either side of the Blind Burn.(See sketch plan of auth 1).
The main building (a) appears to have been on the E bank at NT 8235
1201 where there are the wall footings of a rectangular structure withrounded corners which measures 13m NE-SW by 4m transversely
internally. Its turf covered wall still stands to a height of 0.8m andis 2.5m wide. The entrance has been from the centre of the SE wall andthere is a sub-dividing wall to its immediate NE with entrance throughit to the NE compartment. There is a short lenght of wall projecting
from the NW corner towqards Blind Burn and to the N of this the ill-
defined remains of a small enclosure (b) about 2.6m diameter inside
turf-covered walls 0.3m high and 1.5m wide. From the SW corner of (a)
a similar wall extends towards an enclosure some 20m to the SSE.
This sub-circular enclosure (c) measures 19m NW-SE by about 10m
transversely inside a turf covered stony scarp boundary around the NE
and a broad bank 0.9m high spread to some 5m, around the SW side
adjacent to the burn. There is an ill-defined entrance in the SSE.
Inside the NW bank of the enclosure is a circular hollow (d) 5m in
diameter with entrance in the SE. There appear to have been similar
though less well defined roughly circular hollows; two (e) and (f),
against the inner SW bank and two (g) and (h) against the outer wall
to the immediate NE of the enclosure entrance.
This complex [(a) to (h)] is bounded on the SW side by the Blind Burn
and by a turf-covered wall (i) 0.5m high and 2.5m wide which
commences at the N corner of (a) and curves around the NE to end on
the burn in the S giving a contained enclosed area about 100m NNW-
SSE by 50m transersely.
Some 80m to the NW of (a) on the W bank of Blind Burn is a similar
rectangular building (j) with rounded ends which measures 17m NNW-SSE
by 3m inside heavily turfed stone walls 0.7m maximum height and 1.7m
wide which is barely discernible around the SSE gable. About 10m from
the N end there is an entrance? break in the E wall partly obscured byloose stones - possibly a crude attempt at excavation.
To the S of (j) about 15m is a near circular depression (k) 9.5m
internal diameter. There is no outer bank but merely an inner facing
scarp with possible entrance the SE. The whole may be no more than
a natural hollow in the very wet ground.
As suggested by auths 1 & 2 these structures are most probably the
remains of a small medieval or later settlement.
(NB The enclosure (c) is rather reminiscent of a small enclosed
settlement but its situation on the haughland is very unusual and it
is extremely doubtful if it is a primary prehistoric site). (3)
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