Sheilings and Sheiling Names
Title
Sheilings and Sheiling Names
Subject
Sheiling names - from a collaborative project between Historic Assynt and Assynt Learning
Description
A few observations on shielings from Gordon Sleight
Some have suggested that the term Ruigh is more common in E Scotland while Airigh is used in the West. Assynt has more Ruigh than Airigh names !!
Most shielings in Assynt have enclosures and the maps usually show those enclosures. On-site inspection suggests enclosures were created to keep animals out. So enclosures are areas for the humans to live, grow hay or grain, brew, distill etc and the animals were kept probably allowed to roam freely over surrounding hills, or whatever
Shielings are associated with summer grazing areas detached from main settlements. In other parts there is documentary evidence that the men took the stirks (non-dairy cattle) out May to September or thereabouts and their shielings were farthest away or highest up. The women and children took diary cattle to nearer sheilings for a shorter two month period June - Aug. The hill Tor a' Ghamhna (hill of the stirks) with a shieling enclosure of the same name close by on Homes map (E of Unapool and W of Rientraid) suggests that pattern was followed in Assynt
Some have suggested that the term Ruigh is more common in E Scotland while Airigh is used in the West. Assynt has more Ruigh than Airigh names !!
Most shielings in Assynt have enclosures and the maps usually show those enclosures. On-site inspection suggests enclosures were created to keep animals out. So enclosures are areas for the humans to live, grow hay or grain, brew, distill etc and the animals were kept probably allowed to roam freely over surrounding hills, or whatever
Shielings are associated with summer grazing areas detached from main settlements. In other parts there is documentary evidence that the men took the stirks (non-dairy cattle) out May to September or thereabouts and their shielings were farthest away or highest up. The women and children took diary cattle to nearer sheilings for a shorter two month period June - Aug. The hill Tor a' Ghamhna (hill of the stirks) with a shieling enclosure of the same name close by on Homes map (E of Unapool and W of Rientraid) suggests that pattern was followed in Assynt
Creator
Gordon Sleight
Collection Items
Ruigh a' Chairn
Sheiling of the Cairn
Rhicarn
Ruigh Chairn- Sheiling of the Cairn
Ruigh a Chlachain
Sheiling of the village
Ruigh an Aitinn
Sheiling of the juniper
Ruigh Dorch
Dark (mysterios) sheiling
Ruigh Dioboirich
Deserted Sheiling - or Sheiling of the parting (it is located on a watershed)
Rientrad
Ruigh na Traid - Beach Sheiling
Ruighean Thomais
Thomas's Sheiling
Ruigh an't-Sagairt
Sheiling of the Priest
Ruigh an Spardan
Sheiling of the flat topped hill (or hen coop)
Ruigh na Loinne
Sheiling of good ground (possibly)
Ruigh Thullaich
Round hill shieling
Airigh Sleibhe
Mossy Sheiling (Robin Noble notes Nicolaisen regards "sleibh" as referring to a saint)
Airigh Bige
Small shieling
Airigh a Braighe
Shieling of the Brae (hillside)
Clach Airigh
Stone(y) Sheiling
Airigh an Rathaid
Road Sheiling
Airigh Fraoich
Heather sheiling
Clach Airigh
Stone(y) Sheiling
Airigh Arainn
Sheiling of the Bread
Airigh Beinne
Sheiling of the mountain
Airigh nan Greasaichean
Sheiling of the Driving (drovers' use) or the Cobblers
Airigh Shomhairlie
Sorley's (Somerled, Samuel) Shieling
Airigh a Bhealaich
Shieling of the Pass