The little known history gives a fascinating insight into education and society in the Highlands in the 18th Century and early part of the 19th Century. The schoolhouse is an interesting site it’s in own right and there are various possibilities for consolidating the building, researching its history and interpreting it to the public. There is a great deal of potential to research the school house further – both by researching SPCK and other archival material and by investigating the structure itself to see if light can be shed on how it may have looked and functioned when it was complete. The Development group intent to commission archaeologists to undertake limited archaeological excavation to shed more light on how the schoolhouse might have looked and functioned when in use as a school where there would be scope for community involvement in these activities. The Loch Croispol area is scattered with remains from different periods and although it is a particularly rich archaeological landscape, the types of features you see here can also be seen in variety of other locations around Sutherland. There is excellent potential to interpret the area sensitively for the benefit of both local residents and visitors to the Durness area. The aim to help visitors to the site identify the main types of archaeological features visible – particularly burial cairns, hut circles, pre-clearance settlement remains and “improved” agricultural landscapes – and encourage them to look for other examples as they travel around Sutherland The features here belong to a range of different archaeological periods from prehistoric times onwards giving interesting clues about why and how people lived here at these different times. If these various types of features that are visible can be included within an archaeological timeline people would get an idea of the way of life of life of the people who built and used the features.
	Interpretation will look at why small settlements were situated in such seemingly isolated positions, the type of building visitors are likely to find and why they were abandonedThis encompasses issues such as the Bronze Age and subsequent climate change, the early church at Balnakeil and links with St Maolrubha, the Reay Lords, agricultural improvements, fishing, the Highland Clearances, crofting and tourism. Loch Croispol is part of a bigger archaeological and historical jigsaw – In Mackay Country there are other places which have interesting stories to tell about the area’s past. It is intended to look at related sites in the Durness and North-west Sutherland area and encourage visitors to go and see them – including, for example, Balnakeil Church, House and Corn-mill; Ceannabeinne, Laid, Strathnaver Museum and Strathnaver Archaeology Trail, Assynt historic/archaeological site with exploration of the relationship between the features. Back to Top

The first project site visit. Project manager to administrator/ coordinator and set up and service project Heritage Research manager for invePress Release\25th June 2010.pdfstigations into archival historical sources including maps, manuscripts and other documents and gather expert views. Archaeologists to undertake archaeological excavation to shed more light on how the schoolhouse might have looked and functioned when in use as a school and  investigate buried remains or hidden features in the building

Press Reports

 

Press report Jan 2009

Press report July 2009  Also printed in hard copy and distributed and displayed locally

Press Report August 2009 Also printed in hard copy and distributed and displayed locally Submitted for Durness Column

Press Report September 2009

Press Report June 2010

Press Release June 2010

25^th June 2010

 

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What we want to achieve from the Archaeology

1. An appraisal of the upstanding remains – construction details, evidence of change of use, rebuilding etc.

2. The correlation of the windows to rooms. Was it one big room or was it two or more?

3. Is there any evidence to suggest that the schoolmaster lived in the building and that it was a house and school like Ceannabeinne School?

4. Did the east gable include a fireplace and chimney?

5. The Durness Church accounts state a skylight was paid for in 1772 and in 1775 the roof was thatched (presumably rethatched). However a number of red pantiles have been found at the school. Was the roof tiled at a later point or are the pantiles from something else?

6. Is it possible to ascertain that there was an attic?

7. Was the floor earthen, wooden or covered with stone slabs?

8. Is there any evidence of other associated buildings?

9. Is the walled area to the west a garden?

10. In the accounts the school or schoolhouse bridge is a regular feature of payment. Is there evidence of the bridge spanning the burn?

11. Is there any evidence in the wider area to suggest why the school was built here?

12. From surveying the wider area, is there any evidence of Knockbreck township in which the school sat?

       Background Paper for the archaeologists                    

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East gable	West gable

Progress

• GUARD Glasgow University Archaeology Research Division have been commissioned for Archaeology to start the fieldwork at Loch Croispol on Monday 17th August.  This will include the excavation of evaluation trenches inside and outside the schoolhouse after the structure has been made safe; production of an illustrated report along with text and images suitable for interpretation boards; and review of archaeological sites identified in GUARD’s 2001 survey of the headland, along with input to their interpretation as part of the project. We propose to record the schoolhouse and its immediate environs by EDM survey.  We will excavate up to two trial trenches inside the schoolhouse, in order to answer questions about how the schoolhouse was organised internally, what different parts of it were used for and if possible the longevity of that use.  We also plan to open up to three small trial trenches outside the schoolhouse and in the possible garden to establish how these areas were used.  The trenches will be excavated and the survey carried out by a team of experienced archaeologists over a period of two weeks.  All archaeological features and deposits will be recorded using standard techniques of recording, including written, drawn and photographic records.  The positions of all artefacts will be recorded in three dimensions, and samples may be taken as appropriate for radiocarbon dating.  Following excavation, all trenches will be backfilled and the turf replaced by hand.  As an adjunct, we also plan to revisit some of the archaeological sites identified in the 2001 survey with a view to constructing a more over-arching interpretation of the landscape's occupation over time. The results of the work, as well as advancing research into the prehistoric to post-Medieval occupation of northern Scotland in general and Mackay Country in particular, could be used for various forms of public education and outreach, including the contents of interpretation boards.  Durness Development group have worked successfully with GUARD http://www.northsutherlandarchaeology.org.uk/index.htm and Consolidation, access and interpretation of heritage, to conserve and enhance the environment of Ceannabeinne Preclearance Township

• Dr Isobel MacPhail Assynt Research & Consultancy commissioned for Heritage Research and archival studies

  •  Research into archival materials to create a full documented report and any advice material discovered during the searches. Providing discovered  information for input into the interpretation and information displays  

  • Arrange a bigger picture survey to form a network of trails in Mackay Country To have joined up approach for a coordinated trail and leaflet describing the links and the life styles. Exploration of the relationship between the features to form the basis of a networked  and matched interpretation.

  Previous work with Assynt Research & Consultancy has included  consultancy with Mackay Country. Back to the future project in particular but also Summer walkers http://www.mackaycountry.com/Projects/Back%20to%20the%20Future%201htm.htm

   

• Andrew PK Wright OBE Chartered Architect conservation & safety of the site April Visit

• Campbell's Builders restoration work advised carried out

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A Guided Visit to the Loch Croispol Schoolhouse  took place on Friday 31^st July Eight people participated in the event hearing an outline of the project and the information that had been gathered to date led by volunteer Graham Bruce. This became a an opportunity to discuss the heritage value of Loch Croispol Schoolhouse and historical features in and around the locality and opportunity for the local communities and visitors to hear of  this reserve and promote an appreciation of history especially of education in the Scottish and Mackay Country context.