Glassary Table

Estate Plan 1818 = Cumlodden Estate Plan in Mitchell Library, Glasgow, TD 219/24

Name	Value	Date	Grid Ref	Map Sources	Other forms, comments etc
Brenchoillie	5m	1666	NN 0102	Pont(15)Estate Plan 1818	Over (or Upper) & Nether, each 2½m
Goatfield	3m	1751	NN 0100	Pont(15)Estate Plan 1818	See below.Former Gaelic name was Gortenagour, 2¼m(1630)
Drinliath	2m	1751	NS 0099	Estate Plan 1818	2¾m with Gallanich in AS II(1458) of 1669
Gallanach	¾m	1751	NR 9799	Estate Plan 1818	Known as Gallanich Benglash (Beinn Ghlas – NR 9899) to distinguish it from Gallanach by Loch Gair.
Crarae	2½m	1626	NR 9897	Pont(15)Estate Plan 1818	By implication 2½m from 1498-9 (HP II pp 196-8).Chrarree(1412)
Inverae	2½m	1609	NR 9796	Estate Plan 1818	By implication 2½m from 1587. Inverchrad(1412)
Garvachy	2½m	1609	NR 9697/9797	Estate Plan 1818	By implication 2½m from 1587. 2m (1751)
Strone	2½m	1617	NR 9697	Roy (PC 20)Estate Plan 1818	By implication 2½m from 1498-9 (HP II pp 196-8). 2m(1751). Stronalbinach(Roy). Now Strone – always Stronalbanach in past.
(Over) Carron	1m	1638	NR 9499		See below.
Lower Carron	1m	1633	NR 9398		See below.
Auchlech	1m	1659	NR 9296		Possibly Auchalebeg of Hist MSS Comm IV No 74 (1492) & Achaileley of HP II p 191 No XL
Auchgoyle	2½m	1728	NR 978963	Pont(15)?RHP 1194/1 RHP 14644 OS(1866)	Achageyvill (1393)
Minard	6m	1642	NR 9796	Pont(15)RHP 1194/1 RHP 14644 OS(1865-71)	The 6m of Minard seems to have included the Parks, Kineachdarach or Kinuchtrich, Shuirdrim or Sheardrum (Siaradh Druim in 1865-71) and Knockbuy. In most documents these come to 6m – but 7m in DR 14/1/2, ABA(1748)
Feorlin	3m(¼d)	1661	NR 9597	Langlands(1801)Estate Plan 1818	Probably = Foerlanelochy of HP II p 191 (1492) & Foyrling Lochane of HP II pp 204 ff (1563).
Kilmichael Beg	3m	1524	NR 9593	Pont(15)RHP 1194/1 RHP 14644	Referred to as ‘beg’ (presumably to distinguish it from Kilmichael Glassary) by 1536. 5m(1728, 1751) but early references all 3m.
Tunns	2m	1698	NR 9195	Langlands(1801)RHP 1194/1 RHP 14644	2m (1698, 1751), 2½m(1728)
Knockalava	1d2½m	13151751	NR 9196	Pont(15)	See below under Knock/Cnoc na Gullaran.
Monenyernich	1d3m	13151728	c. NR 9094	Pont(15)Roy (PC 20) Langlands(1801)	See below under Knock/Cnoc na Gullaran.North bank of Water of Add (Roy).
Ardcastle	5m	1751	c. NR 9491	Pont(15)	Newfarm of 1751 AVR = Balure of Langlands (1801).Castle was at NR 929913 (Argyll VII No 136).
Gortonronach	5m	1751	NR 9392	Roy (PC 20)	Gortonrannich, Banlet, Blackpart(1751)
Askol	5d	1240	NR 9291?		See below for Askol/Asknish.
Knock	4m	1751	NR 921917	OS(1866)	See below.
‘Derinloch’				Pont(15)Roy (PC 20)	Pont marks this as a settlement on the SW side of Loch Glashan. Roy marks it on NW side of loch. I have no valuation but it appears regularly in listings of the Maclachlan estate in Glassary.
Gallanach (Loch Gair)	1m	1751	NR 924905	Pont(15)OS(1866)
Kames	5m	1751	NR 9189/9289	Pont(15)OS(1866)	Kammes ychrach (= Lower to N), Kammezochrach (= Upper to S) in Pont. Nether & Upper in 1751 (2½m each). Now East (NR 9289) & Middle (NR 9189). In 1866 West Kames is at NR 918886, Middle Kames is as today and Kames is what is now East Kames.
Carrick	5½m	1538-9	NR 9087	Pont(15)Langlands(1801) RHP 30070/1-2	4¼m(1524, 1589), 3m(1751), 5½m(1538-9, 1552-3, 1588, 1600, 1646, 1662). Beg (1¼m) & Mor(3m) in 1524 – Beg included Glas Eilean. Sometimes called Carrikaneiff according to Duke of Argyll in HP IV p233.
Achnaba	3m	1524	NR 897872	Pont(15)NLS MS 5056/1 RHP 30070/1-2 OS(1865)	Achnaba appears twice on OS(1865) 6″ map – once in NR 9085, as on today’s Explorer, and once at NR 897872. The latter is the historic site, as on NLS MS 5056/1 (1831). 3m(1524, 1536, 1589, 1614); 1¾m(1538-9, 1588, 1600, 1646, 1662); 2m(1751).
‘Achalephan’	(½d)		NR 895868	Langlands(1801)NLS MS 5056/1 RHP 30070/1-2 OS(1865)	‘Achalephan'(1801), Achnaleppin(1865)Includes leth-pheighinn or half-pennyland. RHP 30070/1-2 marks Auchnalephin within bounds of Auchnaba.
Ardnaherir	3¾m	1524	NR 895858	Pont(15)NLS MS 5056/1 RHP 30070/1-2 OS(1865)	3¾m from 1524 until at least 1662, 2½m(1751). Included Layilane with a small island in 1524 (ie Liath Eilean and islet at north end).Ardynharre(1524), Ardnohellary(1536), Ardnahiller(Pont).
‘Craig-an-Airgiod”Silvercraigs’	¼m	1561	NR 8984	Pont(15)NLS MS 5056/3	A Maclean: Cowal p 244. ‘Craig-an-Airgiod’ in NLS MS 5056/3 of 1831.
Castleton	3m	1751	NR 8884	Langlands(1801)NLS MS 5056/1 NLS MS 5056/4	3m ‘Kilmichael & Castltown'(1751). This is an enigma since both Kilmichaels in Glassary are listed elsewhere in AVR. Either there was a third Kilmichael or this is a mistake.See below for cross-marked stone at Castleton.
Ballimore	4m	1524	NR 8785	Langlands(1801)NLS MS 5056/1 NLS MS 5056/3 RHP 30070/1-2	4m Ballemor commonly called Achingarne in 1524 – also 4m in 1536. 3m(1538-9, 1552-3, 1558, 1588, 1600, 1646, 1662, 1751).
Lingerton	3m	1524	NR 876854	NLS MS 5056/1OS(1865)	2½m(1751)
Duncholgan	3m	1524	NR 8785/8786	RHP 30070/1-2	4m(1538-9, 1552-3 1588, 1600, 1646, 1662), 3m(1524, 1536, 1563), 2½m(1751)
Kilmory	4m1d	1593	NR 866864	Pont(15)RHP 1193/1 Langlands(1801) NLS MS 5056/1 RHP 30070/1-2	4m(1630, 1631, 1636, 1728)See below
Drum	3m1d	15111410	NR 8788	Pont(15)Langlands(1801) NLS MS 5056/1	3m(1538-9, 1588, 1600, 1646, 1662, 1751). 5d Drummulin(1240),1d Drumtycarmak cum … Fernoch (HP IV pp 234-6 of 1410). Drwmtykarmyk(1511), Drumtecornik(1538-9), Drumtecarmick(1662)
Fernoch	2m	1511	NR 8688		? 2½m(1565) – GD 1/426/1/23/104
MonydrainHigh Monydrain(1866) Low Monydrain(1866)	4m	1511	NR 8689NR 868902 NR 866893	Langlands(1801)NLS MS 5056/1 OS(1866)	£8 (=12m) in 1519 but this probably included other properties.
Blarbuie	4m	1538-9	NR 884887	Pont(15)NLS MS 5056/1 RHP 30070/1-2 OS(1866)	2½m(1751)Sometimes linked with Dippin as £5 land.
Dippin (Hill)	3½m(1d)	1538-9	NR 879899	Pont(15)Langlands(1801) NLS MS 5056/1 OS(1866)	Separated into two sections of 3m and ½m in AS II(1062) of 1662. 3m(1738, 1751). Duppin(1866).= Dubh Pheighinn or Black Pennyland.
Auchoish	3m1d	15111410	NR 8690	Langlands(1801)NLS MS 5056/1 RHP 31813/1-4	?= 5d Naheass of HP II p 122 (1240)A reference to 20s Achachois in 1576 is probably for one-half.
Achnabreck	2m1d	15631240	NR 8590	Pont(15)NLS MS 5056/1 RHP 31812 RHP 31813/1-4	1d Akhenbreth in HP II p 121 (1240)1d Achindregni in HP IV pp 234-6 (1410)
Achnashelloch	5m	1638	NR 8491/8591	Pont(15)NLS MS 5056/1 RHP 31812 RHP 31813/1-4
Dunamuck	5½m	1638	NR 8492	Pont(15)NLS MS 5056/1 RHP 31812 RHP 31813/1-4	5m by implication in 1597-8, 5m(1751)
Kilchoan		1573-4			See below.
Barnakill	2m	1751	NR 8191	NLS MS 5056/1RHP 31812	With Dunadd, Kenmore & Stratharthur as 5½m in 1533, 1654 & 1833.
Dunadd	3m	1751	NR 8393	Pont(15)NLS MS 5056/1 RHP 31812	With Kenmore, Stratharthur & Barnakill as 5½m in 1533, 1654 & 1833.
Kenmore	(½m)				=Dalvore(NR 8294) ? – which was Dalmore in 1865Drimvore(NR 8394 – but Drumore in 1865) was probably a pendicle of Nether Rhudle. cf RHP 31814. With Dunadd, Stratharthur & Barnakill as 5½m in 1533, 1654 & 1833. Valuation may be included in Dunadd or Barnakill by 1751.
Stratharthur					=Tayintrath(NR 8293)? or Strathmore(NR 8294)?Given in the listings of the Maclachlan estate in Glassary. With Dunadd, Kenmore & Barnakill as 5½m in 1533, 1654 & 1833. Valuation may be included in Dunadd or Barnakill by 1751.
Craigmurrail	2m	1522	NR 8791	NLS MS 5056/1	Cragmurgile or Cragmulgile in RMS II (1219) of 1475-6.
Uillian	3m	1700	NR 8692	Pont(15)Langlands(1801)	Vilich(Pont), Uleyeiffe, Ulicht, Nieland alias Ulich in HP II pp 208, 216 & 220 of 1672, Uila(1700, 1751).
Ducharnan	1½m	1667	NR 8693	Langlands(1801)	1½m(1751)
‘Auchadacherlich’	1½m	1522	NR 871948	Pont(15)OS(1865-71)	Auchadacherlich(1522), Auchety-Carlych(1540-1), Achtyherlicht (1622), Auchadaherlich(1648), Achadaharlich(1751), Achnatearlach(1865-71).
Torbhlaren	3m	1564	NR 8694	Pont(15)	4m(1471), 3m with 1m Carrane in GD 1/426/1/23/83 of 1564, 3m consistently thereafter.
Lag	3½m	1522	NR 8795	Pont(15)RHP 31805	3½m(1622, 1833), 3m(1751)
Derranerinoch	1d1m	c.13151622	NR 901942	Langlands(1801)RHP 31806 OS(1865-71)	1m(1730/1, 1833)Dalnernach(1801), Dailaneireanach(1865-71)
‘Dernekerd’	½d½m	12401648			½m called ‘Sheilling’ (1648, 1659, 1669, 1833). With Derranerinoch as 1m(1522, 1622) or 1½m(1751).
Barrachuile	3m	1619	NR 8895	Pont(15)Langlands(1801) RHP 1194/1 RHP 14644	3m(1633, 1652, 1728), 2m(1751)
Leckuary	3m	1751	NR 8795	Pont(15)Langlands(1801)	HP II pp 185-8 (1480) refers to Laichgory extending ‘annuatim’ to 40s with a half merk of the mill. (The latter also for 1492 on pp 193-4). Although ‘annually’ suggests a rental I think it may be for an assessment.
Strathmullin	(¼m)	1570	NR 868953	OS(1865-71)	This is presumably the mill associated with Leckuary. Genealogist (38) 1922 p 143 No 1 implies ¼m in 1570. Strathmill(1865-71).
Kirnan	4m	1659	NR 8795	Pont(15)OS(1865-71)	Two Kirnans – Beg & More. Beg was 1½m in 1663.Kerchennan 5d in 1240. Kirnan today (NR 872958) was Kiarnan Beg in 1865-71. Kiarnan Mor in 1865-71 was at NR 868956.
Kilmichael Glassary	3m	1751	NR 8593	Pont(15)	‘quarter land’ (1706), 5d Kelmikhel (1240), 5d Kylmyell (1315)
Balliemore	7m	1751	NR 8593
Killinochonoch	2m	1667	NR 8395	Pont(15)	2m(1751), see below.
Over Shirvan	3m	1559	c. NR 8397	Pont(15)Langlands(1801)	Grid Ref based on Langlands. Upper Shirvan 3½m(1751)
Middle Shirvan	¼m	1654	c. NR 8394	Pont(15)	=Shirvan Meanach(1559), may have been more than ¼m
Shirvan				Pont(15)	Pont marks it S of Middle Shirvan which is S of Shirvan Over.
Rhudle	7½d	1240	NR 8494/8495	Pont(15)	5d Rudol superiori (Upper) & 2½d Rudol inferiori (Nether) in 1240.
Nether Rhudle	4m	1663			Including pendicle called Tyndrimvore(1833), = Drimvore(NR 8394) ?
Over Rhudle	3m	1621	NR 856966	OS(1865)	With pendicle called Tighnabein(1719, 1733), Taunbenny(1751), Tichnabein(1833)
Cnoc na h-Eilde?	1m	1663	NR 8497		Knocknahilt(1663), Knocknahoilt(1664), see Kilbride below.
Baroile	2m	1673	NR 8495	Pont(15)	2m with Knoknacardiche(1621, 1643). (Knoknacardiche is perhaps included in the 2m valuation in other years as well).Barrell or Berwill(1673), Barrill or Barigell(1833). See also Clan Campbell VI p 109 for 2m Barraville in 1609. 4m Barchyle in 1751 but possibly including other property.
Kilbride	1m	1621	NR 8596	Pont(15)	With Knocknaheilt as 2m(1709), with half of Knockakeill as 1½m in 1751, ‘with the lands of Knocknaheilt or Upper Kilbride, now called the ½m land of Knockammill'(1730)
‘Auchagerran’	2m	1633	NR 854977	Pont(15)OS(1865)	Achayerran in OS(1865)
‘Carnaim’	1½m	1572	NR 855982 ?	Pont(15)OS(1865)	With Auchagerran as 3½m(1751, 1833). OS(1865) marks field & ruins just NE of Achayerran. Chambered cairn is nearby.
Fearnoch	1½m	1667	NR 884967	Pont(15)OS(1865-71)	On Explorer today it has moved to NR 875973.
‘Kenlochlean’	1½m	1656	NR 8797/8798		= Ceann Loch Leathan
‘Lettirnamolt’	1m	1592	NR 8798	Pont(15)	Now = Leacann nam Mult? 2m(1636, 1729, 1751).With Barmolloch as 7m(1635, 1664, 1833)
Barmolloch	5m	1751	NR 8799	Pont(15)Langlands(1801)	Includes Dachterachabill (AS II (559) 1636).
Socach	3m	1630	NR 8899	Pont(15)	=Sokkyth Smowdane(1563), Soccochnasmodan(1630), Soccochsmoden(1630)
Stroneskar	3m	1609	NM 8701	Pont(15)Langlands(1801)	3m(1751, 1833), 3½m(1649, 1651, 1659)
Glasvaar	(4½m)	1627	NM 8801		4½m(1751, 1833); in halves at 2¼m each in 1608, 1627, 1641. Half with Arnfad in 1608.
Ederline	6½m	1503	NM 8702	Pont(15)	In a number of documents the two Ederlines and Carren are given as £5 (7½m). Ederline Beg was 3m in 1620 & 1638. In 1751 the two Ederlines and Crofts were 6m. By implication More was probably also 3m. Carren (presumably Over Carren) was probably 1m which leaves ½m unaccounted for. (The 1m of Carren is included under Carron and not here).
Garbhallt	3m	1522	NM 8902	Pont(15)	With Craginewir & Tanglandlew in 1478-9.
‘Tangnaly’	1m	1522			Tanglandlew(1478-9), with Garvalt & Craginewir. With Arenawaid(1522) or Arenavad(1622).Teangaly or Teangnaly(1622).
Creag an Iubhair	½d1m	12401522	NR 9499/9599	Langlands(1801)	2m(1751)
Kilneuair	3m	1572	NM 8803	Pont(15)Langlands(1801)
Fincharn	5d	1240	NM 9003	Pont(15)Langlands(1801)	B(eg) & Moir(Pont)
Over Fincharn	4m	1620			4m(1628, 1638, 1643, 1751)
Nether Fincharn	3m	1621			3m(1622, 1628, 1638, 1643)
Ardarie	2m	1555	NM 923055	Pont(15)Langlands(1801) OS(1871)	Ardary(1871)
Braevallich	5m	1542	NM 9507	Pont(15)?	Upper & Nether (2½m each)
‘Arislokigrere’	½m	1632			AS II (443) 1632 & (455) 1633 – New Extent
‘Penig Corthen’	1d	1240			Part of ‘Glennane’
‘Glennane’	5d	1240
‘Keldouenegarth’	4d	1240
‘Barrinlayginch’	1d	1410			=Barsloisnoch?(NR 8195)
‘Gartkarran’	1d	1410
‘Knokrewoch’	1d	1410
Total	233¾m

 

Goatfield

The assessments for Goatfield, Drinliath and Gallanach in 1751 come to 5¾m whereas the 3 properties together are given as only 5m in Mitchell Library TD 219/24/1/1/13 (1698) and TD 219/24/1/1/20.4 (1703).

 

Carron

There were two Carrons, each worth 1m, but I have treated them separately because they seem to have been linked with different estates. Wester (or Nether or Lower) Carron is linked with Torblaren in 1564, 1632, 1633, 1654 & 1669. ‘Carren’ (presumably Over Carron) was part of the £5 of Ederline from at least 1608-1703. However ‘Corran Upper’ seems to have been with the Minard estate in DR 14/1/1 (Argyll & Bute Archives) of 1728-31. To add to the confusion the OS 6″ 1st edition Sheet CL (1865-71) marks Carron three times. Carron itself is where it is marked on the Explorer today and I have assumed this to be Upper or Over Carron. Lower Carron is also where it is marked on the Explorer but there is, additionally, an Upper Carron at NR 931983 which is not marked on today’s Explorer. I do not have an answer for this but suspect this latter ‘Upper’ Carron is actually a subdivision of a former ‘Wester’ Carron.

 

Askol/Asknish

The Campbells of Asknish built Asknish House near the site of the former Campbell of Auchenbreck mansion in the 1780s. I do not know if they simply brought the name Asknish with them or whether such a name pre-existed locally. I have found no evidence except the 1240 listing of 5d Askol which may not refer to this site.

 

Knock/Cnoc na Gullaran

Knock is probably Cnoc na Gullaran which is on record from 1240. The references in Highland Papers II are as follows:

 

tres denariatas terre de Cnocnagoloran (p 122, 1240), (ie 3d of Cnoc na Goloran)

 

totas istas terras subscriptas, videlicet Knocnagullaran a metis de Ardocascuffer usque ad metam Kamestronireych, unacum lacu et insula eiusdem viz. unam denariatam terre de Derranerinoch et unam denariatam terre de Knoc alwe et unam mangnam [sic] denariatam terre de Monenyernich et totam terram de ….. (p 133, c. 1315)

(all those lands underwritten viz Cnoc na Gullaran from the boundaries of Ardocascuffer to the boundary with Kamestronireych along with the loch and its island viz 1d of Derranerinoch and 1d of Knoc alwe and one great pennyland of Monenyernich and the whole land of ….).

 

OPS II, I, p 45 quotes the latter charter with the spellings Ardocastuff and Kamestronireyth. The first name suggests Ardcastle which now only survives in Ardcastle Wood (NR 9491) but which was, in 1751, the 5m farm on the peninsula to the east of Loch Gair and facing Knock across the bay. Kamestronireych is presumably for something like Camus + Sron + Reoch which now takes the forms of East Kames and Middle Kames which are immediately south of Knock. Essentially Knocnagullaran is being defined as the farm between the other two farms of Ardcastle and Kames. However there is a slight ambiguity about how we should interpret the Latin. Is it the case that the 3d of Knocnagullaran should be considered as separate to the 3d then listed as the farms of Derranerinoch, Knoc alwe and Monenyernich? Or should we regard these latter three pennylands as being the constituent units of an estate called Knocnagullaran? 3d was a substantial holding and equivalent to 12 merklands under the Scottish reckoning for Glassary.

 

If we look at the later valuations for Derranerinoch, Knoc alwe and Monenyernich can we work backwards?

Darrenaneranach was worth 1m in AS II (130) of 1622 and was connected to the Lag estate. Langlands marks Dalnernach on the South side of the River Add between Lag and Craigans (c. NR 8894/8895/8994). It was sometimes linked with Dirrenacardach as 1m but in 1751 as 1½m. Knoc alwe is now Knockalava (NR 9196) and was worth 2½m in 1751. Monenyernich was 3m in 1728 and 1751 and appears in RHP 1194/1 and RHP 14644 as Moninernoch. It is marked by Langlands(1801) as Monarnich at c. NR 8994/9094. It lay on the northern bank of the River Add, upstream of Barrachuile. These three farms total 6½m and it is only if we add in Knock itself at 4m that we approach a total of 12m.

 

What about the loch and the island?

Argyll Vol VI No 354 records a crannog on Loch Glashan while No 355 records a possible crannog on Loch Loran. However Loch Loran is probably too small and insignificant by comparison with Loch Glashan. A more likely site is the ‘Island Settlement’ on Loch Glashan, described in Argyll Vol VII No 146, where excavations have yielded two fourteenth-century coins. (Loch Glashan has now been dammed and the water-level raised significantly). That said, it is worth noting that Loch Loran was spelt Loch Luran in 1866 and the name looks similar to the last element in Cnocnagoloran (1240) or Knocnagullaran (c. 1315). Knock has also moved since 1866. Then it was marked at NR 921917 which is nearer Loch Glashan. Now it appears on the Explorer map at NR 921903 – which in 1866 was ‘Scotston’.

 

Taking all the evidence together it seems likely that the whole 3d estate was called Knocnagullaran but this included distinct units at Derranerinoch, Knoc alwe and Monenyernich. The three pennylands seem to have stretched inland from the present Knock, running roughly NNW towards the River Add and including most or all of Loch Glashan.

 

Kilmory

Kilmory is an important site, both as an ecclesiastical centre and because we have early valuations which help establish the pennyland to merkland ratio in Glassary. Our earliest documents are found in the Register of Paisley Abbey which record the gift (in the period 1226-1250) of

illam nummatam terre de Kilmor que jacet super Louchgilp, cum capella Sancte Marie in eadem terra fundata

ie that pennyland of Kilmor which lies above Loch Gilp, with the chapel to Saint Mary established on that land (Paisley Register p 132 & further references on pp 133 & 138 for 1270, pp139-40 for 1268, p 146 for 1362, p 309 for 1469). See also Argyll Vol VII No 77 & footnotes on p 546.

 

We should treat the supposed dedication with some caution. Dedications to St Mary often turn out to have been to St Maelrubha instead and the variety of spellings in early documents only add to the confusion. We have Kilmor (1226-1250), Kilmorre (1410), Kilmorich (1593, 1630), Kilmorie (1594-5, 1631, 1636), Kilmorry (1751) and Kilmory today. The name Kilmorich also suggests Kilmorich, Loch Fyne, as a possible parallel. Nevertheless, whatever the dedication, it is clearly established that Kilmory was 1d or 4 merklands. The estate was mapped by Hugh Brown in RHP 1193/1 of May 1816. One of the boundaries is also mentioned in a charter of 1410 printed in Highland Papers IV p 235.

 

Kilchoan

Kilchoan is problematic. It appears regularly in the Maclachlan documents as part of their estate in Glassary. It is listed between Dunamuck and Achnashelloch in the sequence of properties. One interpretation is simply to say that this is the Kilchoan in Ardskeodnish (NR 8096) which for some reason belonged to the Maclachlans. We can support this by arguing that Glassary was more extensive in former times (it included Glennan and possibly Barsloisnoch). In addition our earliest documents from the Duntroon estate in Ardskeodnish date from 1422 and 1466 and both specifically exclude the 1d Kilchoan. Was this because it already belonged to the MacLachlans? By 1609 Kilchoan definitely belonged to the Campbells of Duntroon but a Kilchoan is still being listed as part of the Maclachan estate.

 

There is however an alternative explanation which is to regard it as a lost place-name. The evidence here is circumstantial but significant. If we look at the sequence of Maclachlan properties the implication is that Kilchoan was near Dunadd, Barnakill, Dunamuck and Achnashelloch which all lie between the River Add and the Crinan Canal. This is at the very heart of the old Dalriadic kingdom and we should not be surprised to find a ritual site nearby. (It is also significant that the new owners were a family of Norse descent). Kilmichael is north of the River Add while Kilmory, Lochgilphead, is some distance to the SE. To travel to Kilchoan, Ardskeodnish, would have meant crossing the Moine Mhor and then the River Add. The only place-name here which indicates the presence of a former church-site is Barnakill, the barr or hillock of the church. (This refers to the higher ground on the SE side of the Moine Mhor or Big Moss which lies between it and the River Add. The element barr is very common in place-names in Knapdale which is immediately south of Barnakill).

 

Now Barnakill has produced two Early Christian cross-carvings, one on a rock outcrop (Argyll VII No 14), the other on a free-standing slab (Argyll VII No 13). The latter is of the first importance since it is inscribed. Its original location is uncertain but in the first quarter of the twentieth century it may have been situated in the (probable) hut-circle at Barnakill which is described in Argyll VI No 348 at NR 824919. Was there a Kilchoan somewhere nearby?

 

Against this one might argue that there is unlikely to have been another Kilchoan so close to the one in Ardskeodnish – but then there are two Kilmichaels in Glassary only some 10 kilometres apart. The only other place-name which even sounds relevant is Glac a’ Connaidh at NR 827910.

 

Killinochonoch

H Campbell (Genealogist Vol 38 1922 p 72 No 6) refers to a charter of the mill called Mullin-Shirvan on Maclachlan’s lands of Calzenuchane and the three-quarter lands of Mid-Shirvan called Baronacht which belonged by ancient custom to the said mill (1559-60). AS II (825) of 1654 gives the value of Baronacht as 3s 4d (¼m). Killinochonoch is unlikely to be a kill-name. It is spelled Calzenuchane in 1559-60 and is more likely to include coille (wood).