Building record MAB22983 - BALQUHINDACHY

Farmstead, still in use, depicted on the 1st edition OS map as a square steading with central open courtyard, L-plan steading wrapped the northeast corner and farmhouse to the south.

Farmstead, still in use, depicted on the 1st edition OS map as a square steading with central open courtyard, L-plan steading wrapped the northeast corner and farmhouse to the south. By the 2nd edition OS map, both steadings have been expanded. The farm complex has grown considerably over the years, expanding north and west. A level 1 standing building survey was carried out over one of the steadings in January 2012 by MAS, prior to their partial demolition for the construction of a new complex of cattle buildings. The survey concluded that this steading was a good example of a 19th Century Improved steading, probably dating from circa 1800 with development throughout the 19th Century. As was common in the North-East, there was a strong emphasis on in-wintered beef cattle. In its early 19th century form there appears to have been a quadrangular range around a central dung court. This block may have been the earliest part of the steading and had cart bays flanking the entry to the central court. The bothy lay at the southeast corner, with the working stables along the east side. The now missing north side and the extant west side were probable cattle housing. It is suggested that the bull pen may have been in the south side, with access both to the outside and into the central court. A small freestanding stable to the west may have been for riding horses and formed the end of a freestanding building parallel to the west side of the main block. The main block substantially survives but with little detail, the high vents suggest it was for livestock and it is likely to have been for cattle. The stonework is different from the main block and it may have been secondary. To the north of the main block, the threshing mill formed part of a long L-shaped building, part of which may have been the straw barn. At some point between 1869 and 1899 the north range of the main block appears to have been opened out to extend the main block to this north building, incorporating the passageway that had earlier remained between them. During the same period the accommodation for cattle in the west range of the north building was doubled by building a parallel additional west range within part of the open court. By 1899 a new two-storied building was built across the end of the mill building with six additional cart bays and a grain loft above. The continual increase in both cattle housing and cart bays and grain processing and storage areas indicates that the farm was thriving and expanding in the later 19th century. Later development throughout the 20th century has seen the infilling and roofing of the remaining passage between the main block and the west building and of the open court of the main block. The interior has largely been adapted for pig production with continued use of the north building for grain storage and processing. Additional expansion has been in the form of a number of large separate livestock buildings, mostly to the west and north of the original steading.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2012, BALQUHINDACHY STEADING, METHLICK - STANDING BUILDING SURVEY, SBS (Bibliographic reference). SAB4722.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2013, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 13, 2012, p.25 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5487.

Record last edited

Aug 13 2020 10:04AM