Cave at Sgeir Fhada

AHHA member Stewart Connor reports on an investigation he made into a small cave just to the east of the fort above Sgeir Fhada, near Camas nan Geall.

 The entrance to the cave has been walled at some point in time, with some evidence remaining.

The site is a scheduled monument - see AHHA description here - but, without disturbing the site, within the cave Stewart found the sole of an old leather shoe that would have fitted a small foot.

Stewart writes, "I thought this a strange find in a remote spot but recall a number of superstitions the old ones had regarding leaving child’s shoes over doors and chimney lintels of black houses. The cave would just about fit one adult in it or a couple of children and could have been a hiding place.

"I know of a number of these caves and holes in rocks in the Islands where in the late 1700s the young boys of townships were hidden from the British Navy press gangs. This is a strong possibility, given the close proximity to the townships of Bourblaige, Torr na Moine and Camus nan Geall."

Stewart adds, "Nothing can be touched in a scheduled monument so I have left the shoe in situ."