Minginish

Minginish

Churchlands in Minginish.

It is difficult to unravel the values of churchlands in Minginish. Clachan, which must have included the actual church-site of Kilmolruy, was linked with Groul as 5d in 1769, 1770-1 and 1790. By implication this would make Clachan 1½ or 2d. It is given as 2d in NRAS 2950/2/491/6 & 7 of 1724 & NRAS 2950/2/491/8 of 1744. Leachd a’ Chleirich was 4d with Kirktoun (or Clachan) in 1706-8; then 4d with Brae Eynort in 1744. It was 2d in NRAS 2950/2/491/6 & 7 of 1724 with Clachan as a separate 2d.

Kirkibost (i.e. ‘church farm’ in Norse) must have been thought of as separate to Clachan and Leachd a’ Chleirich as well as Borline because they are all listed separately in 1683 (Book of Dunvegan I p 152). In 1708 Leachd a’ Chleirich is listed separately to Borline Hishibost (which I assume means the two farms of Borline and Hishibost – the latter of which is probably a misreading of Kirkibost). To confuse the issue RCAHMS (1928) No 474 refers to the church of Kilmoruy as Borline. Although it may then have been part of the farm of Borline I think it helps to keep the church-site (known as Clachan) separate because RHP 8725 of 1810 clearly marks Borlane on the east side of Tusdale Burn at NG 360254. Thomson, whose map of 1824 closely follows Stewart’s (RHP 8725) of 1810, shows it in the same position. However the OS 1st Series 6″ Sheet 37 of 1877 marks Borlan at NG 375262 – by the church at NG 375260.

In summary I think there were four separate properties, each with distinct valuations originally – although these became confused through time:

Clachan (or Kirktoun) – NG 375260 – the church site of Kilmoruy which was worth 2d.

Leachd a’ Chleirich – NG 3827 – worth 2d.

Borline – NG 360254 – Valued at 5d in NRAS 2950/2/485/11 of 1706.

Kirkibost – location unknown – Valued at 1d in NRAS 2950/2/485/11 of 1706 but in 1707, 1708, 1724 & 1744 lumped in with Borline as 6d. In a rental of 1790 (NRAS 2950/2/485/58) Borline and Leachd a’ Chleirich are together worth 8d (which probably means Borline 5d, Kirkibost 1d and Leachd a’ Chleirich 2d).

Of these four properties, three indicate (by their names) that they belonged to the church. I do not think this is necessarily the case with Borline. Instead I would regard it as the name of the farm in neighbouring Tusdale which eventually absorbed some of the former church lands. As to the location of Kirkibost it is likely to have lain between Clachan and Borline. The total value of lands belonging to the church would therefore have been 5d or a quarter-davach.

Crossal

RHP 8725 (1810) marks a place on the south side of the River Drynoch, roughly opposite Crossal, named B(r?)abaskile. (On RHP 8726 of 1810 it reads ‘Braskil’; on RHP 8727 of 1810/1848 ‘Buabiskil’). I think it is near the site of the sheepfold at NG 449314. The ending of this place-name may represent -cille (church). The name Crossal is from Kross + vollr (Norse: cross-field) so presumably this was an important religious site. There is also Coire an t-sagairt (Priest’s corrie) nearby at NG 4432.

An Leitir

Lieter is said to be part of Tallisker in the Contents table of RHP 8727. Like Drynoch it may have been regarded as Minginish before 1724. NRAS 2950/2/489/10 is a rental of 1724 which refers to 8d Drynich and then mentions Leidyre “a place never formerly rentalled”.