Site Report

WoSASPIN 4894

(NS 0536 6725) Cnoc an Rath (NAT)
Earthwork (NR)
OS 6" map (1957)

Cnoc an Rath, or Tom en Raw, consists of an irregular earthen circle, 91ft by 88ft in diameter, and a 10ft deep ditch. It is surrounded by a stone wall, built by Lord Bannatyne, and planted with firs, among which is the tomb of James Hamilton of Kames, 1775-1849.
J K Hewison 1893.

Though listed as a possible Class 1 henge (H A W Burl 1969), this classification is doubtful.
Information from J N G Ritchie, RCAHMS, 1972.

Early medieval Ring-work, previously classified as prehistoric, but it seems too fresh.
E J Talbot 1975.

Cnoc an Rath (name verified), a sub-circular univallate earthwork situated on a slight rise in level pasture land. The inner bank, which has been effaced on the SW side, is up to 0.8m high internally and encloses a level area 24.0m in diameter. The well- preserved ditch is 1.6m deep on the north side. A 2.6m wide causeway crosses the bank and ditch in the east and ends at the outer enclosing wall where there is now a vertical drop of 1.6m. The 46.0m diameter stone wall which is from 1.0 to 1.8m high has damaged or destroyed the outer limits of the earth- work, and Miss Marshall suggests that there was formerly an outer bank. However, as Talbot suggests, the feature appears to be too well-defined to be anything other than medieval, probably a ring-work. The tomb is in poor condition.
Surveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (TRG) 8 November 1976

An earthwork of uncertain purpose and age, but certainly not a 'fort' as described on the OS map. Roughly circular on plan it is bounded by a single deep ditch and internal upcast bank, and measures about 27 yds by 25 yds from crest to crest of the bank. There is a well-defined entrance on the E. Although the structure has been tentatively identified as a henge, the ditch profile seems to be too steep and well-preserved for a prehistoric monument.
Information from K A Steer 14 July 1975.