Description

Early 19th century. Farm steading comprising long, simple byre/store linked by low stone wall to smaller symmetrical stables and cartshed in an L-plan arrangement; all with low wallheads and openings set close to eaves. Random rubble with slaister pointing, pitched West Highland grey slates to roofs, partially deteriorated to NE of byre/store (2003).

Byre/store: 3 evenly spaced doorways to NE elevation of byre, opening in SE gable wall and single door in SW elevation, numerous rooflights to NE. Stable and cartshed: 2 segmentally headed cart openings to NW elevation of cartshed (1 now blocked) with flanking doors leading to stables, rooflight above left stable. Some timber boarded doors remaining.

Statement of Interest

Listed as the best-preserved stone-built steading from the early 19th century on Tiree. Its proximity to the category A listed Lighthouse Establishment adds value to its setting. Hynish farm steading would have served nearby Hynish House (formally known as Hynish Farm), but it is now disassociated from the house (2003).

The byre/store is split into 3 chambers corresponding with the doors to the NE enabling the building to be flexible and multi-functional. There is a stone walled pen attached to E end of the byre/store which was used to hold animals. The Argyll Estate Map of 1830 shows Hynish as a small community with the steading, farmhouse and other buildings. These other buildings were most probably cleared away in 1837 when the Commissioners of the Lighthouse Board bought a large plot of land adjacent to the steading from the Argyll Estate. This purchase of land was precipitated by the decision that a lighthouse should be built on the perilous stretch of rocks at Skerryvore, 11 miles off the S coast of Tiree. Alan Stevenson, the engineer of this scheme, also decided that a lighthouse establishment should be built allowing the constant servicing and maintenance of the lighthouse. From 1837 to 1843 a harbour, signal tower, housing, stores, dam and walled garden were built (see separate listing), [works consulted: J Hume, The Industrial Archaeology of Scotland 2. The Highlands and Islands (1977) p.167; RCAHMS, Inventory Of Monuments Of Argyll Vol. 3 (1980) pp.249-250, Plate 100; F Walker, The Buildings Of Scotland Argyll and Bute (2000) pp.594-600]. The steading is situated to the SW of the lighthouse establishment and although predating the scheme, must have played a role in the lighthouse community, most likely supplying beef and dairy produce. In 1892 the Commissioners decided to close the establishment and relocate it to Mull. The land and buildings, apart from the signal tower passed back into the hands of the Argyll Estate. The steading now stands empty (2003).

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q77779252

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Harrow on the Hill: A photographic portrayal of listed buildings and structures (Historic Buildings Picture Guides)
• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Yorkshire: York and the East Riding (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
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  Lancashire: Liverpool and the South-West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)