Structure in Bellafarney

In pasture, on the level top of a broad, low hill which forms a virtual island of elevated ground surrounded at W–S by lowlying wet, boggy ground. Located within a rectangular field, abutting the drystone field wall which borders the SW side of the field. This consists of a roughly D-shaped sunken area (8m NW–SE; 3.6m NE–SW), with a flat-based interior which is 0.45m lower than the level of the surrounding field. It is bordered on the straight SW side by a NW–SE drystone field wall (Wth 0.8; H 1.4m), and elsewhere by an inward-facing scarp, lined with a ruined wall (Wth c. 0.8m; int. H 0.55-0.6m; ext. H 0.2m) of moss-covered stones. Within the sunken interior, there is a small, subcircular stone feature, located midway along the NW/SE field wall. It consists of a low platform (diam. 2m; H 0.3-0.4m) of medium to large-sized stones, one stone high, flanked on its SW side by a short section of drystone wall (Wth 0.8m; H 1.4m) which projects 0.2-0.3m to NE out from the NW–SE field wall. The D-shaped structure is surrounded on the NW, NE and SE sides by the remains of a roughly rectangular enclosure (SL017-098002-). In the SE corner of the same field, there is a cairn (SL017-099----). Abutting the opposite, W face, of the extant NW–SE field wall on the SW side of the sunken structure, is a D-shaped platform or possible enclosure (SL017-098002-). Located c. 100m to NE there is a structure (SL017-097001-) incorporated into a field boundary (SL017-097002-). These remains are not shown on the 1837 or 1913 OS 6-inch maps. They are difficult to interpret: their function and date are unclear. It seems likely that they are post-medieval in date; they may relate to a vernacular settlement. Attached images: SL017-098001-_01.JPG D-shaped structure -viewed from N SL017-098001-_02.JPG Stone feature within D-shaped structure -viewed from E Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 11 March 2015