Building record MAB29378 - NETHER LEASK

Farmstead, still in use, depicted on the 1st and 2nd edition OS maps.

Farmstead, still in use, depicted on the 1st and 2nd edition OS maps. A standing building survey was undertaken in 2012 by MAS over part of the farm complex, prior to the partial demolition of certain buildings for the construction of a new agricultural building. The northern half of the steading to the east of the road is the earliest part of the steading and is shown as a U-plan group of buildings on the 1st edition OS map. Nether Leask is a fairly typical Aberdeenshire improvement period steading, probably dating from circa 1800 with development throughout the 19th century. Although little internal detail remained it appears that the northern and eastern ranges were for cattle with an open dung court in the central area. The details of the outer south wall of the south range suggest that this was the position of a mill-wheel for the threshing of grain. This wheel appears to be shown on both the 1st and 2nd edition OS maps, so was in use from at least 1867. The 1st edition map appears to show the outflow of the water to the east and then to the north. The stone in this wall may have been the upper stone around the axle of the mill wheel. The wheel pit has been filled in and the interior of the structure cement rendered so no additional detail survives but it can be assumed that the rest of the building would have been used for the storage and processing of grain.

MURRAY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SERVICES, 2012, NETHER LEASK STEADING, SLAINS, STANDING BUILDING SURVEY (Bibliographic reference). SAB4721.

ARCHAEOLOGY SCOTLAND, 2013, DISCOVERY AND EXCAVATION IN SCOTLAND, NEW SERIES, VOLUME 13, 2012, p.28 (Bibliographic reference). SAB5487.

Record last edited

Nov 13 2025 3:23PM