A full-scale timber, wattle and thatch reconstruction turns exceptional waterlogged Iron Age evidence from Black Loch of Myrton into a building visitors can enter.
Quick facts
- Date
- Constructed 2016-17 from evidence for a c.450 BC prototype
- Architect / designer
- Whithorn Trust with AOC Archaeology, craftspeople, volunteers and schools
- Type
- Full-scale experimental archaeological reconstruction
- Designation
- No separate national designation identified; modern reconstruction within the Whithorn heritage site
- OS grid reference
- NX 44420 40210
Architecture and continuing use
Large oak posts, woven hazel, clay, reed thatch and a central hearth recreate the volume and carpentry of a substantial Iron Age dwelling. The building is modern but its dimensions and material decisions follow excavated evidence.
Its story
Excavation at Black Loch preserved rare timber architecture from around 450 BC. Community construction at Whithorn began in 2016, translating that evidence into an accessible experimental building used for learning and interpretation.
Why it is included
The roundhouse is a significant modern heritage structure rather than an ancient monument; it adds architectural understanding, community making and physical scale to Whithorn's Iron Age story.
What to notice
- Massive oak doorway informed by waterlogged remains.
- Woven walling and locally sourced structural timbers.
- Height and openness of the interior around the hearth.
Reading the surroundings
Access is by seasonal guided tour through the Whithorn Trust visitor operation. Do not enter when closed or touch the hearth and structural fabric without instruction.
Timeline
- 2015-19 Excavation at Black Loch documented exceptionally preserved Iron Age timber buildings.
- 24 June 2016 Scheduled-monument consent allowed construction in the Glebe Field.
- 2016-17 Craftspeople, volunteers and pupils built the full-scale reconstruction.
- 2018 The community project won its Heritage Angel Awards category.
What we know — and what remains uncertain
This is a modern reconstruction within the wider heritage site, not surviving Iron Age fabric and not a separate nationally designated monument.
Sources & further reading
- Historic Environment Scotland: Whithorn Trust case study — Project purpose, archaeological basis, materials, community participation and visitor value.
- Historic Environment Scotland: roundhouse consent decision — Glebe Field location, application and consent dates.
- The Whithorn Trust: visitor information — Current guided-tour inclusion and seasonal access.
Location
OS grid reference NX 44420 40210 · Location confidence: Medium-high: the subject coordinate is a 10-metre Geograph observation cross-checked against the HES consent location and Whithorn Trust visitor site. · Select the marker to open its satellite view in Google Maps. On desktop, drag Pegman (the yellow figure) onto a blue road. On mobile, turn on the Street View layer and tap a blue road. Other photo markers may be user-contributed.
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