Urquhart and Glenmoriston
ST = Simon Taylor. Pdf file available on web. ‘U & G’ = Mackay ‘Urquhart & Glenmoriston’. CW = The Inventory of Chisholm Writs 1456-1810.
| Name | Value | Date | Grid Ref | Map Sources | Other forms, comments etc |
| Urquhart | m of New Extent | 1 davach = 12 merklands New Extent. | |||
| Kil St Ninians | 6m | 1509 | NH 5230 | Blaeu(Extima S.)
Gordon(5) RHP 11950 |
S. Ninians (Blaeu)
St Ringan’s (Gordon(5)). Also called ‘The Temple’. Kilsancniniane (1536). See below. |
| Kerrowdown | ¼ davach | NH 521302 | OS 6″ XXIX
(1870-1) |
Kerrowdoun, A Ross, (2003), Table 33, NRS GD248/538/1. First element is from Gaelic ceatramh = ¼ (davach). U & G p 584. | |
| Kerrowgair | 6m | 1509 | NH 5230 | OS 6″ XXIX
(1870-1) |
See below. |
| Drumbuie | 6m
½ davach |
1509
1606 |
NH 5131 | OS 6″ XXIX
(1870-1) |
See Mackay p 255 fn for recent name changes. See below.
RS36/2/123v 1606. |
| Achmony/Auchmony | 3m ? | 1334 | NH 5030 | Ex bishopric of Moray – see Mor. Reg. No 138 (1334). Included the brew-house of Kilmichael (q.v. below). The rental suggests Auchmony was probably no more than a quarterland. | |
| Culnakirk | 3m
¼ davach 1 plough |
1509
1606 1696 |
NH 4930 | Roy(FC) | This is not an ecclesiastical name – U & G p 583.
RS36/2/56v 1606. The Chiefs of Grant III, No’s 384-5 1696. |
| Gartally | 6m
|
1509
|
NH 4930/4831 | RHP 11954 | Mackay pp 482-3 suggests division into ‘bolls’. Gave name to a davach in RHP 11954 of 1808. See below. |
| Polmaily | 3m | 1634 | NH 4730 | Roy(FC) | Chiefs of Grant III No 355.
6m with Dulchangy in RMS II (3390) 1509. |
| Achtemarack | 3m
¼ davach |
1509
1664 |
NH 4731 | ER XVI pp 604-5 1535-6.
‘old extent’ in RS38/2/154v 1664. |
|
| 4 Mekleis | 12m | 1509 | c. NH 4330 | See below. | |
| Buntait | 1 davach | 1220-1 | NH 3930 | See below. | |
| Corrimony | 6m | 1509 | NH 3730 | Roy(FC) | See below. |
| Morall | 6m | 1509 | See below. | ||
| Kerrownakeil | ¼ davach | 1790 | A Ross, Table 33, NRS GD248/538/1. CW No 253 1658. | ||
| Shewglie | ½ davach | 1747 | NH 4129 | RHP 11957
RHP 11962 |
Mackay p 80 says this was formerly part of Meklie. ½ davach in GD23/4/156 1747 & GD248/3410/5 1796. See also Lochletter. |
| 3 Inchbrines
Inchbrine |
9m
¾ davach |
1509
1345 |
RHP 11955 | See below.
Family of Innes, 59. RMS I (789) 1381-4. |
|
| Lochletter | 3m
¼ davach |
1509
1345 |
NH 4429 | Roy(FC)
RHP 11956 RHP 11962 |
See below.
Family of Innes, 59. |
| Delshangy | 3m
¼ davach |
1634
1345 |
NH 4730 | Roy(FC) | Chiefs of Grant III No 355. With Polmale as 6m in 1509.
Family of Innes, 59. See below. |
| Pitkerrald
Pitkerrald-more Pitkerrald-croy Pitkerrald-chapel |
¼ davach 3m 3m |
1660 1509 1556 |
NH 5029
NH 4930 |
See below.
= 1 plough in Mackay pp 480-82 – now Allanmore (p 586).
Mackay pp 515-18. RSS IV (3303) 1556. Chiefs of Grant III, No 59 p 52. |
|
| Kilmore | ½ davach | 1233 | NH 5129 | Roy(FC) | Mor. Reg. No 83 pp 96-7. |
| Balmacaan | 6m | 1509 | NH 500287 | OS 6″ XXIX
(1870-1) |
Mackay p 65 fn says Baile-Mac-Cathain. See below. |
| Divach
Mekle-Deveauch Deveauch |
3m 3m |
1509 1509 |
NH 4827 | RHP 11951 |
This is Diviauchreich in Chiefs of Grant III No 355. |
| Clunemore
Clunebeg |
3m
3m |
1509
1634 |
NH 4927
NH 5028 |
See below.
Chiefs of Grant III No 355. |
|
| Borlum
Borlum Beg |
12m | 1509 | NH 5129 |
RHP 11959 |
This substantial unit would have been the ‘Bordland’ which maintained Urquhart Castle. See below. |
| Bunloit | 9m | 1509 | NH 5025 | Pont(5)
RHP 11949 |
3 parts (Wester, Middle & Easter) each worth 3m in 1509.
See below. |
| Total (Glen Urquhart) | 117m +
1¾ davachs |
117m would be 9¾ davachs. If we allow ¼ davach (3m) for Auchmony the total is 120m or 10 davachs.
Plus Buntait (1 davach), Pitkerrald-more (¼ davach) and Kilmore (½ davach). |
|||
| Glenmoriston | |||||
| Invermoriston | ½ davach
6m |
1345
1509 |
NH 4316 | Pont(5)
Gordon(3) RHP 14955 |
Divided into 3m Over & 3m Nether Inver(moriston) in 1509.
See below. |
| Achnaconeran | 3m | 1637 | NH 4117 | Pont(5)
RHP 14955 |
My only source for this valuation is Inverness Retours (60) 1637. It does not feature as a distinct property in any of the 1509 documents. |
| Bhlaraidh | ¼ davach
3m |
1345
1509 |
NH 3816 | RHP 14955 | See below. |
| Dundreggan | 6m | 1509 | NH 3214 | Roy(FC)
RHP 14955 |
3m Wester, 3m Easter in 1509. Name < dul not dun. |
| Dalchreichart | 6m | 1509 | NH 2912 | Roy(FC)
RHP 14955 |
3m Wester, 3m Easter Tullelechart in 1509. Name < dul not dal.
Tullicheard in CW No 625 1698. See below. |
| Craskie | 3m | 1509 | NH 2512/2612 | Roy(FC) | |
| Conechane | 3m | 1509 | Coinachan in CW No 625 1698. | ||
| Aonach | 3m | 1509 | NH 2411/2511 | Roy(FC) | Euachcur/Enachcur in 1509, Wr & Er Ainich in Roy |
| Achlain | 3m | 1509 | NH 2712 | RHP 14955 | |
| Inverwick | 3m | 1509 | NH 3213 | Pont(5)
Roy(FC) RHP 14955 |
GD23/4/136 1737. |
| Total (Glenmoriston) | 36m or
39m |
3 davachs (or possibly 3¼ davachs). | |||
| Grand Total (Urquhart and Glenmoriston) | 153m or 156m + 1¾ davachs | At 12m per davach (New Extent) 153m would come to almost 13 davachs.
|
|||
| Aubenachane | See below. |
Urquhart
Kil St Ninians
A Ross, (2003), Table 33, gives the farm of Sanct Ninian as 1 davach in 1790 (NRS GD248/538/1) and including: Kil SanctNinian, Balnaban, Rynauragil, Kerrowdown, Belnacraig, Achliue, Easter & Wester Kerrowgare. The first element in each of Kerrowgair and Kerrowdown is from the Gaelic word ceatramh (a quarter). RHP 11950 Davoch of St Ninians, 1808.
Kerrowgair
Although nominally a ¼ davach (see above under Kil St Ninians), A Ross lists Easter & Wester Kerrowgare as a ½ davach within St Ninian c. 1620 (NRS GD248/39/2/3). (By this stage the farm may have included another quarterland). He further lists Easter Kerrogar as ¼ davach in 1627-32 (NRS RS37 (Inv) iv, 222r) & Wester Kerrowgair as ¼ davach in 1627-32 (NRS RS37 (Inv) iv, 210v).
Drumbuie
A Ross, Table 33, gives Drumbuie as a ½ davach c. 1620 (NRS GD248/39/2/3) & as a davach in 1790 (GD248/538/1). (In the latter year it will have included a neighbouring farm). Ross lists its components in 1790 as Drumnadroichit, Balchraggan, Briackrich, Culnakirk, Achmony, Garbigg & Kilmichail. I have reckoned Culnakirk and Achmony as separate properties.
Gartally
A Ross, Table 33, gives Gartalie as a ½ davach in 1632-6 (NRS RS37 (Inv) v, 181v) & as a davach in 1790 (GD248/538/1). (In the latter year it will have included a neighbouring farm). Ross lists its components as Pollmaly, Balnagrauntish, Scorrgavie, Carrachan, Achterraik (Achtemarack?). See Mackay p 582 on name.
4 Mekleis
These 4 settlements presumably surrounded the loch of the same name around NH 4330. Mackay p 80 fn1 says they included Shewglie and Craskaig. (Craskaig became Lakefield in the 18th century and Kilmartin in the 19th century – Mackay pp 582, 585). Shewglie lies WSW of the loch and Kilmartin is at the NW corner. Mackay p 412 refers to a Meiklie-na-h-Aitnich.
Buntait
It first appears as a davach in 1220 x 1221, Mor. Reg. No’s 21, 51 – as one of the 11 davachs of Convinth (Kiltarlity parish). Buntait lies geographically in Glen Urquhart and I do not know the reason for this anomaly. I can only assume it had to do with ownership. (See Mackay p 177 for Chisholm, p 341 for Lovat family). By 1416 it seems to have been divided in two. RMS II (178) 1430, on original of 1416, shows it then belonged to William of Fentoun and had an extent of 10 merks. The original indenture reads ‘twa Bwntactis in the extent of ten marcis in manir as is befor wyrtyn of the landis of Strathglas’. The immediately preceding text described 4 properties in Strathglass which had a total extent of 20 merks. (See under Kiltarlity parish where I have argued these were 4 half-davach properties each worth 5 merks). In other words the two davachs of Strathglass were reckoned as worth 10 merks each and the two Buntaits were to be assessed in the same way. This makes more sense if we presume contemporary knowledge that the davachs of Glen Urquhart were reckoned differently – i.e. at 12 merks each. The qualification added in 1416 now appears as something of a legal necessity.
In Retours (Inverness) (107) 1685 Buntait is given an old extent of £4-8s-5⅔d which looks completely erratic. However lack of data prevents us from seeing how Buntait’s anomalous merkland extent was accommodated (or not) to the prevailing norm in Glen Urquhart.
According to Chisholm Writs No 337 Easter Buntait was a ½ davach in 1665.
See also Chisholm Writs No’s 159 1637, 363 1668, 371 1669, 852 1731, 951 1754, 984 & 988 1763. From these and the rentals printed by RH MacDonald we learn that the following were parts of Buntait: Glackchuile (or Glackfuil or Glackhuil), Inschsaichart (or Inshekard or Inchehacart), Wester toun, Midd toun, Belnicrae (or ? Balnareigh), Milltoun. Davoch in RS38/11/328r 1763.
Corrimony
A Ross, Table 33, gives Corrimony as a 1½ davachs in 1748-59 (NRS RS38 (Inv) 2nd Ser. x, 38r). He states that it included Easter & Wester Meckles, Inchvulgar, Carnoch & Kerrownakeil. (But see below under Morall). He also refers to NRS GD248/538/1.
Morall
These lands appear to have been above Corrimony and were later called Carnoch and Kerrownakeill (or Kerrow-na-coille). (See The Chiefs of Grant III No 379). The element ‘Kerrow’ in the last name implies it was a quarter-davach. Mackay pp 81-2, 461.
Inchbrine
Davach in RHP 11955 of 1808 – by which date it had probably accrued another quarterland. A Ross, Table 33, gives Inchbruin as a 1 davach in 1790 (NRS GD248/538/1). He lists it as including Torshee, Lochletter & Ballibegg. Mackay p 250 gives Easter Inchbrine as Balbeg.
Lochletter
A Ross, Table 33, gives Lochletter & Shouglie as a ½ davach in 1790 (NRS GD248/538/1). Mackay p 586 for place-name meaning.
Delshangy
A Ross, Table 33, gives Dulschangy as a davach in 1790 (NRS GD248/538/1).
Pitkerrald
Mackay (p 586) claimed there were 3 Pitkerralds (More, Croy and Chapel). They each seem to have been 1 plough or 40s (3m) or ¼ davach. Since the second element of Pitkerrald may refer to St Cyril of Alexandria and since a quarterland of Pitkerrald was churchland this may well have been an endowment of the Early Christian church in the area. In 1509 Petcarill Chapell was reserved to the chapel of St Ninian of Urquhart – Chiefs of Grant III, No 59 p 52.
- Ross, Table 33, gives Pitkerrald as a davach in 1790 (NRS GD248/538/1). He lists its components as Baddanindauach, Inchnacouchirrau, Ruibhrulaig, Pitkerraldbegg, Dalgrigaik, Pitkerraldmore, Culnloam, Delshangie (NB anomaly with Delshangy above) & Clunebegg. He refers to (NRS RS37 (Inv) iii, 135r) for further information.
Balmacaan
Balmacaan must have been an important site in early times because we have two Pictish carved slabs from here (Mackay p 338). Mackay p 326 locates Croit Mo Chrostain (St Drostan’s Croft) immediately west of Balmacaan House. Mackay (p 282 & p 326) says Urquhart was called ‘Urchudainn Mo Chrostain’ (St Drostan’s Urquhart) to distinguish it from other Urquharts of the north. Given the location of St Drostan’s Croft I wonder if St Drostan was originally associated with Glen Coiltie and St Ninian with Glen Urquhart but that over time St Drostan became regarded as the particular saint of Glen Urquhart as well. A Ross, Table 33, gives Balmacaan as a davach in 1790 (NRS GD248/538/1). He lists its components as Achdivach, Divach, Upper Balmacaan, Clunemore & Ruskich.
Clunemore & Clunebeg
Divided between 2 x 1½m units in RMS II (3391 & 3392). One of these is referred to as the ½ ploughland of Clunemore in The Chiefs of Grant III No’s 384 & 385 1696. The two units together made one ploughland or 1 quarterland or 3m. See also above under Balmacaan in 1790. According to GD248/533/3/26 1769 Reakeilavorn was part of Cluin Beg.
Borlum
A Ross, Table 33, gives Bordland as a davach in 1790 (NRS GD248/538/1). He lists its components as Borlumbegg, Raddoch, Pat(l)pant, Stron, Borlummore, Kilmore, Bainneanroy (or Bairineanroy), Tyngirail, Lossit.
Bunloit
A Ross, Table 33, gives Bunloit as a davach in 1617-21 (NRS RS37 (Inv), i, 247r). He lists its components as Auchreddar, Tynahirrick, Easter & Wester Bunloit and refers to NRS GD248/538/1 for further information.
Glenmoriston
RHP 14955 is a detailed map of the estate of Glenmoriston in 1849.
Invermoriston
A Ross, Table 33, gives Invermorchen as a davach in 1790 (NRS GD248/538/1).
Bhlaraidh
A Ross, Table 33, gives Blaree as a davach in 1790 (NRS GD248/538/1).
Dalchreichart
A Ross, Table 33, gives Tullichart as a davach in 1733-47 (NRS RS38 (Inv), 2nd Ser. ix, 272v). He lists its components as Belndrome, Belnagarne (Balnacarn?) & Belndombuy (Balintombuie?).
Aubenachane
A Ross, Table 33, gives Aubenachane as a davach in 1790 (NRS GD248/538/1). He could not identify this – and neither can I.
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