Building record MAB26831 - KINGSEAT

Remains of a farmstead, built in the later 19th century although a farm has been on the site since at least the mid 19th century.

Remains of a farmstead, built in the later 19th century although a farm has been on the site since at least the mid 19th century. Tradition says there was a stone within what is the courtyard to the north of the farm (NJ91NW0017). Malcolm Canmore, one of the early Kings of Scotland, is supposed to have sat on the stone and had a drink of the water from a nearby well (NJ91NW0018), and the name 'Kingseat' is based on this tradition. There is now no trace of the stone. The farm shown on the 1st edition OS map consists a double U-plan steading open to the south, with a horsemill attached to the east and an enclosure to the south. On the 2nd edition OS map the steading has been mostly, if not fully, replaced with a U-plan steading open to the west with a horsemill attached to the north, a rectangular-plan building to the west and an L-plan building added within the enclosure to the south. The name has been changed to 'Upper Kingseat'. Current OS maps show the buildings to the west and south and the horsemill have been removed and the steading is depicted as a ruin. A Level 1 Standing Building Survey was carried out in 2018 by MAS prior to proposed demolition. Documentary evidence suggests the rebuilding of the farmstead may have taken place in 1886-1895. During the early 20th century the farm was used to supply the nearby Kingseat Hospital (NJ91NW0067) with food.

Period Notes
Farm at least mid 19th century, with the current buildings being later 19th century.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2018, STEADING OPPOSIDE 16 MARSHALL MACKENZIE DRIVE, KINGSEAT, NEWMACHAR: STANDING BUILDING SURVEY, L1 SBS (Bibliographic reference). SAB7350.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2019, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 19, 2018, p. 17 (Bibliographic reference). SAB6524.

Record last edited

Jun 10 2019 3:42PM