Building record MAB23427 - NORTHFIELD FARM

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Summary

Remains of a windmill, dating from the late 17th or early 18th century.

Protected Status/Designation

  • Listed Building (B) 10582

Map

Location

Grid reference Centred NJ 8226 6609 (40m by 40m) Centred at - Polygon: Known Site Extent
Map sheet NJ86NW
Authority Aberdeenshire
Civil Parish Gamrie

Type and Period (2)

Full Description

Remains of a windmill, dating from the late 17th or early 18th century. The windmill is part of a range of farm buildings, and is a harled, tapered tower, 4.6m high and 4.8m in diameter. It is mounted on a base 4.5m high and 5.8m square. The base and adjoining buildings are constructed of roughly squared and coursed whinstone masonry, and the tower was originally capped by a conical roof. There are two blocked doors in the tower set diagonally across the base of the circular section, and there are remains of wooden shafts and supports within the structure. The square, lower tower has certain suggestive features which make it likely to be an early Norman-Romanesque church tower probably dating to the 12th century. Two round arches, springing directly from the walls, pierce its east and west sides. The south side is pierced by a round, arched window, as is the interior of the north side by a similar round, arched niche, and lower down by a pair of offset rectangular niches, suggestive of aumeries. A 'beak' head was removed from above the south window, during steading alterations in circa 1960. As of 1966, this was in the possession of Alexander Garden of Troup, Esq. The inside face of a lintel above the door on the south-west side of the tower base is dated 1798. On the 1st edition OS map of 1870, a building is shown on the outer face of the west side of the windmill, which may have been an enclosed horse-engine. The tower is now used as a barn. Inside are the remains of a wooden drive shaft. Very similar to the windmill at Montbletton Farm (NJ76SW0019).

Period Notes
Listed 22/02/1972.


CAIRNS, RH, 1966, DES,18,19, 18-9 (Bibliographic reference). SAB2318.

CAIRNS, R. H. AND GREIG, J. C., R. H. C., 1966, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, 1966, pp. 18 (Bibliographic reference). SAB8963.

DOUGLAS, G, 1984, SCOTTISH WINDMILLS - A SURVEY, P.25; ILL P.37-38 (Bibliographic reference). SAB4037.

Aug 24 1978 , 27/79/9,10, 27/79/9,10 (Ground Photograph). SAB14674.

Aug 24 1978 , W40,41, W40,41 (Ground Photograph). SAB14675.

Nov 28 2002 , GR/02/CT407, GR/02/CT407 (Ground Photograph). SAB17907.

Other Statuses/References

  • Authority: ASH;
  • HES Listed Building Number: 10582;
  • NMR Card Number: NJ86NW6;
  • NRHE Numlink: 19947;
  • Old Historic Environment Record Ref: NJ86NW0013;

External Links (2)

Sources/Archives (6)

  • --- Ground Photograph: Aug 24 1978 . 27/79/9,10. Black & White. 27/79/9,10.
  • --- Ground Photograph: Aug 24 1978 . W40,41. Colour Negative. W40,41.
  • --- Ground Photograph: Nov 28 2002 . GR/02/CT407. Colour Transparency. GR/02/CT407.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: CAIRNS, RH. 1966. DES,18,19. Y. 18-9.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: DOUGLAS, G. 1984. SCOTTISH WINDMILLS - A SURVEY. Y. P.25; ILL P.37-38.
  • --- Bibliographic reference: CAIRNS, R. H. AND GREIG, J. C., R. H. C.. 1966. DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, 1966. Y. pp. 18.

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (1)

Record last edited

Dec 2 2025 3:00PM

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