Testing the Mill Hypothesis

From Derryck Morton:

There is great satisfaction in having the opportunity to test an hypothesis, especially when it was one’s own in the first place.

On 18 December 2016, the Diary’s photograph of a blackhouse ruin at Eilagadale - link here - prompted me to suppose that an aperture centrally placed in the end wall may have facilitated a mill-wheel shaft. One possible construction sketch shown on 30th December - link here - depicts a long reach shaft allowing the wheel to be placed some distance downhill from the building, thus negating the need for a mill wheel pit, which the site does not possess. The proof would be in plotting the course of the mill leat, or lade as it is called in Scotland. I packed a surveyors tape, tripod and digital clinometer and we enjoyed the late May sunshine on a perfect day, following the track from Ockle eastward for about a mile....

....stopping for a flask of tea on a ridge above the Dun at Rubha na h-Uamha. From the track above the Eilagadale clachan I excitedly looked at all the possible lade routes I had studied on Google Earth’s satellite imagery, with intentions of checking the fall of each and ascertaining the likelihood that any were used as a water supply for the wheel. Descending the hill along the lane to the houses, the ruin with the mill-shaft aperture came into sight and, walking closer, it was clear there was something wrong.

Looking into the hole, the inner skin of wall seemed intact, blocking the aperture. Perhaps it had been blocked up at a later date. A look at the inside would make or break the idea.

The inner skin was perfect and regular. The mill idea was false. The outer wall skin had simply fallen away leaving a strong square looking hole. I should have been suspicious when viewing the Diary’s original photograph in that there was no single lintel over the aperture.

Oh well, surveying for a lade was not necessary and the whole day could now be enjoyed with a coastal walk back to Ockle via Rubha a’Choit.

At the salmon fisher’s house in Ockle Bay, we met a party of holidaymakers who agreed we would not know what to do with our morning cuppa when the Diary moves away. It seems we all begin our daily routine with the Kilchoan Blog.

Many thanks to Derryck for story & pictures.

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