Latheron
NLS Dep.313/3624/13 Plan of the Estate of Langwell, 1857 – abbreviated to 313/3624/13 in Map Sources
| Name | Value | Date | Grid Ref | Map Sources | Other forms, comments etc |
| Bruan | ND 3139 | Roy(FC)
Thomson(1822) |
Broch (possible) Bruan – ND 31023949.
Broch (possible) Bruan – ND 31083946. |
||
| East Clyth
Clyth Mains Upper Clyth Clyth West Clyth Farm = Muckle Clyth Mid Clythe |
24d 24d 14d |
1467-8 >1681 >1681 |
ND 3039
ND 2736/2836 ND 2737/2837 ND 2736 ND 2636
|
Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9)
Thomson(1822) |
Blaeu lists N. (Nether?) Clyth, Middil Clyith and Ea(s)ter Clyth.
Broch (possible) Greenhill, Mid Clyth – ND 294373. Broch (possible) Gunn’s Hillock, East Clyth – ND 302390.
RMS II (942) 1467-8 & (1300) 1477. Meikle Clythe 24d in GD96/679/48 >1681. Mid Clythe 14d in GD96/679/48 >1681. See below. |
| Overton | 2d | >1681 | ND 2836 | Yvertoun in GD96/679/48 >1681.
Overtoun was 2d in RS20/1/p 232 1668. |
|
| Occumster | 2d | 1635 | ND 2635 | Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) Thomson(1822) |
Occumbstar in GD112/58/8/10 1635.
Ocumster in GD96/679/48 >1681. O(vir) and Nether in Blaeu. Broch (possible) Occumster – ND 269356. |
| Mavesy | ND 2635 | ||||
| Achavar | 2d | >1681 | ND 2637 | Thomson(1822) | GD96/679/48 >1681. Broch (possible) Achavar – ND 261369. |
| Arrihaurie/Summerfield | ND 2538 | 2 nearby buildings in OS 6″ 1st Series Caithness Sheet XXXIV 1871. The 2 names (Gaelic/English) mean the same; literally Shieling-summer/Summer field. | |||
| Roster | 4d | 1640 | ND 2639/2640 | Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) |
Rosbuster in Blaeu. See below. 4d Rostar in GD96/679/48 >1681.
Broch (possible) Greenhill, Roster – ND 266398. |
| Pulbithe | ND 2539 | =Polybwyak of Retours (Caithness) (20)? Pendicle of Roster? | |||
| Camster
Upper Camster |
1 davach | 1637 | ND 2543
ND 2641 |
Roy(FC)
Thomson(1822) |
Probably ‘Cambustum’ in Book of the Thanes of Cawdor (p 54) of 1472. Camstersdaill in GD112/58/8/27 1637. Cambuster in Retours (Caithness) (22) 1644? I have kept this valuation under Latheron since the other places mentioned in the document are also Latheron. See below. |
| Lybster
Upper Lybster Lybster Mains |
ND 2435
ND 2537 ND 2536 |
Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) Thomson(1822) |
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| Smerlie | ND 2438 | ||||
| Reisgill | 15½d | 1664 | ND 2336 | Blaeu(Caithness)
Thomson(1822) |
RS20/1/p 191 1664.
Rycegil in Blaeu. 15d in Retours (Caithness) (30) 1674. |
| ? | 15½d | 1674 | Retours (Caithness) (30). This may be a separate assessment to Reisgil above. | ||
| Swiney | ND 2335 | Thomson(1822) | Broch (possible) Rhianrivach, Swiney – ND 230361. | ||
| Achastle | 2¼d | 1664 | ND 2334 | RS20/1/p 191 1664.
2½d Auchachassell in Retours (Caithness) (30) 1674. |
|
| Achsinegar | 1¼d | 1664 | ND 2235 | RS20/1/p 191 1664.
1½d Auchasunager in Retours (Caithness) (30) 1674. |
|
| Achow | 3d | 1664 | ND 2236 | RS20/1/p 191 1664.
3d Auchahow in Retours (Caithness) (30) 1674 |
|
| Burrigill | 4d | >1681 | ND 2234 | Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) |
Barrigill GD96/679/48 >1681. |
| The miller | 1d | >1681 | Context suggests by Barrigill GD96/679/48 >1681. | ||
| Forse Castle
Forse |
ND 2233
ND 2134 |
Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) Thomson(1822) |
Fors in Blaeu. GD139/48. See below.
Broch (possible) Appnag Tulloch, Forse House – ND 212359. Broch (possible) Usshilly Tulloch – ND 207355. |
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| Rumster | ND 2137 | Thomson(1822) | Broch (possible) Rumster – ND 212372. | ||
| Golsary | ND 2037 | Broch (possible) Golsary – ND 205374. | |||
| Rumster & Goulesrie | 3d | >1681 | Above 2 properties in GD96/679/48 >1681. | ||
| Niandt | ND 2133 | Roy(FC) | Nien in GD96/679/48 >1681. | ||
| Nottingham | 1 ozland
3 davachs 9d |
13th C
1408 >1681 |
ND 2135 | Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) |
Nothegane in late 13th C (1284-93), (Dupplin Charters) – see Crawford (1982) p 65 & (2013) pp 58-9, 330. Nothigane – OPS II, II p 767 quoting Fors Charters. 9d in GD96/679/48 >1681. (This seems like half the original unit). Nodingham in Blaeu. See below. |
| Latheron
Latheron Castle Upper Latheron Upper Latheron Over Lathron |
1 davach |
1708 |
ND 1933
ND 1933 ND 1935 ND 1731 |
Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) |
Lather & Lathern in Blaeu.
The rent given in RMS III (2450) 1541 might suggest 3 davachs.
Broch (possible) Upper Latheron – ND 182318. RS21/1/427v 1708. |
| Latherounfard | 1 davach | >1681 | GD96/679/48 >1681. See below. | ||
| Latheronkirk | 6d | 1472 | ND 202333 | Thomson(1822) | Kyrklatherin in GD96/5A 1476. Laythrynkirk in Book of Thanes of Cawdor pp 54-5. 6d KirkLadroun in GD96/63 c. 1554. GD112/58/1/15 1566. |
| Landhallow
Easter & Wester L… |
1 urisland
21½d
15¾d |
c. 1554
1676
1708 |
ND 1833 | Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) Roy(FC) Thomson(1822) |
GD96/5A 1476. GD96/63. Landhal(a)w in Blaeu. 1 urisland or eyrisland (ounceland) = 18d here. 21½ = 1 ozland + 3½d.
Retours (Caithness) (31) 1676. ‘The fifteen pennyland and three farden of Easter and Wester Langhallow lying betwixt the Crofts and the Sea’ in RS21/1/429r 1708. |
| Latheronwheel Mains
Latheronwheell Mains Latheronwheel House
Latherounfuill |
24½d
1 davach
1 davach |
1676
1708
>1681 |
ND 1732
ND 1832 |
Thomson(1822) | Broch (possible) Latheronwheel Mains – ND 176325.
RS21/1/427v 1708. Broch (possible) Latheronwheel Bridge – ND 186326. Latheron-fulzie in Retours (Caithness) (31) 1676. GD96/679/48 >1681. GD112/58/8/27 1637. See below. |
| E. side of Burn of Latheronwheel | 24d | >1681 | GD96/679/48 >1681. See below under Latheronwheel. | ||
| Lathronwheell | 10 davachs | 1702 | RS21/1/335r 1702. RS21/1/427v 1708. | ||
| Bualnabine | 1½d | 1708 | ‘the six farden land of’ in RS21/1/427v 1708. | ||
| Titticonchar | 1d | 1708 | RS21/1/427v 1708. | ||
| Bualnaknappich | ½d | 1708 | RS21/1/427v 1708. | ||
| Bualintaggart | ½d | 1708 | RS21/1/427v 1708. | ||
| The Strathie | 1d | >1681 | GD96/679/48 >1681. By the Burn of Latheronwheel?
1d Strathie in RS21/1/427v 1708. |
||
| The Mylne | 1d | >1681 | GD96/679/48 >1681. This mill may have been on the Burn of Latheronwheel. 1d in RS21/1/427v 1708. | ||
| Loch Coyache | 1d | >1681 | GD96/679/48 >1681. 1d Lochnacreoch in RS21/1/427v 1708. | ||
| Leodebest | 2d | 1708 | ND 1834 | Thomson(1822) | RS21/1/429r 1708. |
| Guidebest | 1d | 1708 | ND 1835 | Thomson(1822) | RS21/1/429r 1708. |
| The Crofts | 2d | 1708 | RS21/1/429r 1708 | ||
| Rangag
Loch Rangag
|
3d | >1681 | ND 1744
ND 1741 |
Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) Thomson(1822) |
Ranigake in GD96/679/48 >1681.
Greysteil Castle. Broch (possible) Greystell Castle – ND 179416. Rannack & Rangnack Loch in Blaeu. |
| Amster | Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) |
=Ambuster in Retours (Caithness) (5) 1604, Ainbuster (7) 1605, Cambuster (22) 1644? Blaeu marks W of Rangnack Loch.
There is either a lost place-name here, or a mistake for Camster. |
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| Achkinloch | 3d | >1681 | ND 1942 | Thomson(1822) | Achie Kinnloche in GD96/679/48 >1681. |
| Badryrie | 1d | >1681 | ND 2043 | Thomson(1822) | GD96/679/48 >1681. |
| Tacher | >1681 | ND 1746 | Roy(FC)
Thomson(1822) |
The Tachar in GD96/679/48 >1681. No valuation but unlikely to be more than 1d. At parish boundary with Halkirk & Watten. | |
| Shinvall | 1472 | ND 1644 | Roy(FC)
Thomson(1822) |
Probably ‘Schan vaile’ in Book of the Thanes of Cawdor (p 54) of 1472. Is this from sean + baile (i.e. Oldtown)? | |
| Achararskill | ND 1543 | Thomson(1822) | |||
| Shinovell and Achafraskill | >1681 | Above two properties together in GD96/679/48 >1681.
Combined valuation unlikely to be more than 1½d. |
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| Ballachly | ND 1944 | Broch (possible) Ballachly – ND 195442.
Broch (possible) Ballachly – ND 193447. Does the name (< Gaelic cladh) indicate an old burial ground? |
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| Stemster | 3d | >1681 | ND 1844 | Roy(FC)
Thomson(1822) |
Stamster in GD96/679/48 >1681. |
| Aultachlevan | ND 1841/1842 | Thomson(1822) | Does the last element of this place-name derive from the Gaelic leth-pheighinn or half-pennyland? | ||
| Smerral
Smeroll Smerrell & Bualtain |
6d
1 davach 6d |
1676
>1681 1708 |
ND 1733 | Thomson(1822) | ‘With croft called Galdach’ in Retours (Caithness) (31) 1676.
GD96/679/48 >1681. GD112/58/8/27 1637. RS21/1/429r 1708. Broch Smerral – ND 178337. Broch (possible) Smerral Wood – ND 177339. |
| Knockinnon | 7d | 1676 | ND 1731 | Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) Roy(FC) Thomson(1822) |
Castle. Broch (possible) Knockinnon – ND 176310.
Knock Innen or Krock Grienen in Blaeu. GD112/58/8/27 1637. 7d Knockinand in GD96/679/48 >1681. RS21/1/429r 1708. |
| Lappan | 2d | 1676 | ND 1730 | Roy(FC)
Thomson(1822) |
Lapat in Retours (Caithness) (31) 1676. Lapan in GD112/58/8/27 1637. 2d in GD96/679/48 >1681. RS21/1/429r 1708 |
| Achavrole | ND 1631 | ||||
| Achantoft
Easter & Wester A… |
1 davach
4d |
>1681
1708 |
Thomson(1822) | GD96/679/48 >1681.
RS21/1/427v 1708. |
|
| Badnagie | ND 1531 | Thomson(1822) | Badengoi in Thomson. Site of a burial-ground. | ||
| Achnagoul
Achnagald |
1½d |
1708 |
ND 1632 | Thomson(1822) | Achnagaill in GD96/679/48 >1681.
RS21/1/427v 1708. |
| Ballachly | ND 1530 | Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) |
Does the name (< Gaelic cladh) indicate an old burial ground? | ||
| Penag | ND 1534/1535 | The first element in this place-name may imply a pennyland. | |||
| Houstry | ND 1535 | Thomson(1822) | Broch (possible) Tiantulloch – ND 152352.
Broch (possible) Minera – ND 155346. |
||
| Ballentink | ND 1531 | Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) Roy(FC) |
2 brochs to S.
Bal na T(e)ng in Blaeu. |
||
| Inver | ½d | 1793 | ND 1629 | Roy(FC)
|
GD136/166 refers to 2 farthing land & croft in the Invers of Dunbeath. Broch (possible) Poll Gorm – ND 170294. |
| Dunbeath Castle
Dunbeath Mains |
ND 1528
ND 1527/1528 |
Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) Roy(FC) |
Dun Beth in Blaeu. See below.
Broch (possible) Dun Beath – ND 155304. |
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| Balnabruich | ND 1529 | Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) Roy(FC) |
Balnabrugh in Blaeu. | ||
| Achorn | ND 1330 | Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) Roy(FC) |
Acchorn in Blaeu.
Broch (possible) Achorn – ND 136305. |
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| ‘Wiuackis’
Wag Mor The Wag |
ND 0836 ND 1033 |
Thomson(1822) |
= Wags? Two pairs of Wags in Dunbeath & Langwell (qv).
N. of Dunbeath Water Uag in Thomson. S. of Dunbeath Water |
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| ‘Auchinnachloy’ | ND 0933 | Thomson(1822) | = Achnaclyth | ||
| ‘Brachachie’ | Roy(FC)
Thomson(1822) |
Breakachy in Thomson. North bank of Water of Dunbeath in both Roy & Thomson | |||
| Loedebest | ND 1332 | Blaeu(Caithness)
Roy(FC) Thomson(1822) |
Lybuster in Blaeu. Separate to Leodebest in ND 1834.
Lodbas in Roy. |
||
| Ramscraigs | ND 1326 | Thomson(1822) | |||
| Longall | ND 1226 | ||||
| Millery | 1 davach | 1664 | ND 1025 | Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) 313/3624/13 |
RS20/1/p 190 1664 bottom left. Myllerye in Blaeu.
Retours (Caithness) (30) 1674. 1 davach in GD96/679/48 >1681. |
| Overburg
Upper Borgue |
¼d
½d |
1664
1674 |
ND 1227 | RS20/1/p 190 1664 bottom left. See below.
Retours (Caithness) (30) 1674. Broch Burg Ruadh – ND 116285. Broch (possible) Upper Borgue – ND 124270. |
|
| Borgue | ND 1325 | Roy(FC)
Thomson(1822) |
See below. | ||
| Nether Borgie | ½d | 1638 | GD112/58/8/35 1638. See below under Borgue. | ||
| Borgie | ND 1223 | Roy(FC) | |||
| Rinsary | ND 1123 | Thomson(1822) | Broch (possible) Rinsary – ND 116233. | ||
| Dailyoich | 1 davach | 1637 | ND 1024 | OS 6″ XLII | OS 6″ 1st Series Caithness Sheet XLII 1871.
GD112/58/8/27 1637. GD112/58/8/35 1638. GD96/679/48 >1681. See below. |
| Berriedale (estate)
Berridale (estate) Berriedale (farm) |
6 davachs
5 davachs 6d |
>1681
1688 >1681 |
Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) |
GD112/58/14/12. Berry Dale in Blaeu. See below.
GD112/58/70/5. GD96/679/48. |
|
| Braemore | 1 davach | 1637 | ND 0730 | Thomson(1822) | GD112/58/8/27 1637. GD96/679/48.
1 davach ‘Strath of Braymore’ in GD112/58/14/4 1660. RS20/1/pp 197-8 1664. Thomson has S of Berrydale Water. Now N. |
| An Glut | ND 1027 | Thomson(1822) | |||
| Langwell Castle
Langwell |
1 davach
|
1637
|
ND 1122 | Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) Roy(FC) Thomson(1822) |
Lang Vale in Blaeu. See below.
GD112/58/8/27 1637. RS20/1/p 190 1664 bottom left (Langwall). Broch (possible) Langwell Tulloch – ND 097223. Broch (possible) Borgue Langwell – ND 102218. |
| Aultibea | 1½d | 1657 | ND 0423 | Thomson(1822)
313/3624/13 |
3 x ½d of Aldiebae in GD96/613 1657. Alltnabae in OS 6″ 1st Series Caithness Sheet XLI 1871. Now marked on N. bank of Langwell Water. Thomson puts it on the S. bank. |
| Brae na-h-Eaglaise | 1 davach
4½d |
1637
>1681 |
ND 0623 | Thomson(1822)
313/3624/13 |
‘ane dauche land in breanaheglische’ GD112/58/8/27 1637.
GD112/58/43/22. RMS VII (1508) 1616. GD112/58/14/12 >1681 states 1 ‘dach’ with Oldibey (Aultibea). |
|
Wagmore Wag |
ND 0026 ND 0125/0126 |
Roy(FC) Thomson(1822) 313/3624/13 |
A pair of Wags on Dunbeath Water (qv), also Langwell Water..
N. of Langwell Water. Thomson gives Uagmore W of Uagbeg. N. of Langwell Water |
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| Hoistildaill
Ausdell/Ausdaill Austesdeall |
6d
1 davach 1 davach |
1541
1664 >1681 |
Hoistildaill of RMS III (2450). See under Ousdale and below.
RS20/1/p 190 1664 top left. GD96/679/48. |
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| Ousdale | ND 0620/0720 | Blaeu(Caithness)
Gordon(9) Roy(FC) Thomson(1822) 313/3624/13 |
See below.
Broch Ousdale Burn – ND 071188. Ausdale in Roy. |
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| Sixpennyland | 6d | 1552-3 | See below. | ||
| Total | 252d=
42 davachs |
Minimum 252d
Minimum 42 davachs. |
Clyth
Wester Clyth was held with Nether (or Wester) Greenland (Dunnet parish). Robertson’s Index p 122 No 111 <=1377/1378. RMS I (666) 1377-8.
RSS I (3433) 1526. GD96/20 1527. RMS III (476) 1527. ER XVIII pp 380-1, 384, 1543-5. ER XXI p 525 1586.
A number of documents do not specify which part of Clyth is referred to. GD112/58/1/1 1526. RMS III (3165) 1545. RMS V (2078) 1592.
Thomson’s map of 1822 marks Muckle Clyth as the westernmost section of Clyth.
RMS XI (551) 1664 gives some detailed boundaries. The charter is a grant to Patrick Sinclair of Ulbistar of the town and lands of Easter Clyth and Midle Clyth, in the barony of Clyth, parish of Latheron; the town and lands of Tannach in the parish of Wick :-
‘with all buildings, mills, and mill-lands and the suckin, bannock, knaveship, and goodwill; with all sheillings, meadows etc., belonging or known to belong thereto, as now possessed by Patrick and his tenants, bounded as follows, viz., the Tannach [also Tannoch ND 3247] bounded as far as the Blackbank on the west, thence to the march-stone of Tormgorach above Uloclet [Oliclate ND 2945], and thence ascending the hill thereof to the march-stone there, and so, lineally, by the old sheiling to the Redbank of the rivulet(s), the Swartigill [ND 3145/3245], on the west, with 2 march-stones on the south, thence descending by the said rivulet as it runs into the loch of Totstane as far as the march-stone thereof on the east, thence to the red marsh, the marsh (called) the Gradges on the west of Midle Clyth bounded on the south by a dyke or ditch lately dug above the Craighead, as far as the hill (called) the Sharibeg on the north-west, to Pinichherb (Phinherb in RSS) on the east, and thence to Ramagirach on the north of the sheilings belonging thereto, Astabat, Arribeg, Tostgallane, and the Eister Clyth, to the Robstand by the gate as far as Tostgune (Tostgun in RSS, [Toftgun ND 2742]), to Remagirach, descending to the Slack, between Brochsame and the Wauchhouse [Warehouse? ND 3041] to the little lochs of Watnen [Loch Watenan ND 3141], to the west bush on the east; … together with the town and lands of Rubister [also Robuster, now Roster ND 2639/2640, see next item for shielings which match] bounded as follows: by Polnobinage [?Pulbithe (ND 2539)], Terrensen [?Tornessan], Torrinriach [ND 2836 or is this another instance?], Auchinvill [?Auchineule], Craiginharrie [Craiginharie], Bennsornilie [?Dorinlie], as principal; and the half of the town and lands of Akergill, which once belonged to the Earl Marishall [i.e. the Keiths], … in special warrandice’.
The charter also gives some extents:
‘the said barony of Berridaill extended to £30 of old extent, and the said earldom, with the said baronies of Clyth and Greenland, to 350 merks of old extent’.
Clyth – as given in GD96/679/48 >1681 – is 38d. Overton, at 2d in the same document, should be included since it is probably short for Overton of Clyth. Easter Clythe is mentioned but no valuation is given. A total is therefore uncertain but Clyth was at least 40d and possibly as much as 48d which would make it an 8 davach farm. We might be better to think of it in Norse terms. An ounceland farm would be 18d, 2 ouncelands 36d, 3 ouncelands 54d. Nottingham was a 1 ounceland farm, Noss (Wick parish) and Landhallow likewise. Brabsterdorran (Bower parish) was another. Greenland (Dunnet parish) was 2 ouncelands. At more than 2 ouncelands Clyth may well have been the largest farm-unit north of Inverness. It is about 5 kilometres between East and West Clyth so it was big as well as valuable.
Meikle Clyth was 261/16thd in RS20/1/p 232 1668.
Roster
Retours (Caithness) (20) 1640 refers to Rospuster 4d + pendicles & sheilling places called (variant spellings in OPS II, II p 766 in brackets)
Polybwyak = Pulbithe (ND 2539)?
Tornessan
Tomreoch (Tornreoch)
Auchineule (Auchincule)
Craiginharie &
Dorinlie.
See under Clyth above for matching names in RMS XI (551) 1664.
Camster
RS36/2/116v 1606 specifies ½ Campster with the ‘field of Smerarie’ in Latheron. Smerarie is likely to be by the Burn of Smerrie in ND 2543 where an enclosure is marked just north of the burn.
Camster may have been one of these very large farms which stretched over parish boundaries. Thomson’s map rather implies it straddled the march.
GD280/7/4/21 gives a useful list of lands in the parish of Wick in 1752. The last item on the list is half of Campster (Camster) – which implies another half in Latheron. Perhaps Lower Camster lay in Wick; Upper in Latheron. That Camster was divided into two halves is further supported by evidence from the Valuation Roll (1702), found under E106/8/1, and NSA Wick p 123.
Forse
Unfortunately, I have found no valuation for the whole Forse estate. However, RS20/1/p 233 1668 lists the component farms and, for some of these, we have values. The following lists the farms in 1668, their modern names and those assessments we know:
1668 Modern Value
Fors Forse
Barigill Burrigill 4d (>1681)
Neand Niandt
Achasuynager Achsinegar 1¼d (1664)
Nottingham Nottingham 1 oz (13th century)
Gualsarie Golsary
Achakenloch Achkinloch 3d (>1681)
Stams(ter) Stemster 3d (>1681)
Rangage Rangag 3d (>1681)
Tacher Tacher
Badryrie Badryrie 1d (>1681)
Further information on the Forse estate is provided in an article entitled ‘Forse Castle – The Sutherlands of Forse’ by Miller, D.B., in Caithness Field Club Bulletin, October 1977. The innermost extremity of the Forse estate was marked by the settlements at Tacher and Halsary.
Nottingham
We know of a Henry of Nothingham, canon of Caithness, in 1272 (Liber Ecclesie de Scon p 85; OPS II, II pp 623, 767).
NLS Dep.313/428 Item 2/20 & 21 refer to 3 davachs of Notigame in 1408.
See Crawford, ‘Northern Earldoms’ pp 58-9, 330. The term used in the document for an ounceland is oratam. An ora was an ounce.
Because this farm is classed as both an ounceland and also 3 davachs we may conclude that the exchange ratio between ouncelands and davachs was consistent with that in Sutherland. One ounceland of 18 pennylands was equal to 3 davachs at 6 pennylands each.
GD139/47 is a nineteenth-century copy of an original dated 1306-1330 which refers to Nodyngam of Fors.
For Henry see also Cooper, Select Scottish Cases of the Thirteenth Century, pp 87-8.
For Henry of Nothingham in 1273 see Caithness and Sutherland Records Vol I, Part II, No 14, London, 1909.
For 1 merk paid from H. de Notingham’s pension in 1275 see Caithness and Sutherland Records Vol I, Part II, pp 42-3, London, 1909.
For 1 merk paid from Master H. de Nottigham’s pension in 1276 see Caithness and Sutherland Records Vol I, Part V, pp 81-3, London, 1911.
(See also notes on the above two entries in Caithness and Sutherland Records Vol I, Part X, pp 260-1, London, 1928).
For an Augustine de Nottingham (1268-1283), archdeacon of Dunblane, see Watt, Fasti, p 116.
Illustrations of the Topography and Antiquities of the Shires of Aberdeen and Banff, Vol IV, p 625 for ½ Nedinghame in 1556.
Latherounfard
The only instance of the name Latherounfard is in GD96/679/48 >1681. Evidently it was a distinct part of Latheron, like Latheronwheel.
Latheronwheel
We have data from 1676 and >1681. From the later data it appears that the 6d (1 davach) of Latheronwheel should be treated as additional to the 24d (4 davachs) on the east side of the burn of Latheronwheel. I have followed this but preferred 24½d from 1676 to the 24d from 1681.
Dunbeath
ALI No’s 29-30 (pp 45-7) 1439. See also NLS Dep.313/428/2/3.
RSS VII (989) 1577. RMS VII (2008) 1619 lists the lands of the estate. Also RMS VIII (689) 1624, Retours (Caithness) (25) 1657.
Upper Borgue
RS20/1/p 190 1664 (bottom left) has ‘the farding land [i.e. ¼d] of the davach land of Millerie called the Overburg’.
Retours (Caithness) (30) 1674 refers to the ‘½d of the davach of Millarie called Over Borge’. Millery is on the east bank of the Berriedale Water. There is a Borgie at ND 1223, Upper Borgue at ND 1227 and Borgue Ruadh at ND 1128. All 3 have brochs nearby. Upper Borgue seems most likely to be the Over Borge of 1674 except that it lies on the other side of the watershed from Millery. See below under Borgue.
Borgue
Borg, and its variants, is a common place-name in the North of Scotland – representing an Old Norse name for a fortified site, often a broch. The name Nether Borgue no longer appears on the map but I suspect this was what is now Borgue. GD112/58/8/35 1638 refers to the ‘half penny land called the Nather Borgie within the dawach land of Dolligaiche in the … parochin of Latheron’. It appears Borgue was originally 1d, divided into Upper and Nether at ½d each. The only anomaly is that they lie in different davachs.
Dailyoich
Dailyoich has disappeared from today’s maps but is located by OS 6″ 1st Series Caithness Sheet XLII 1871. I think this the old davach name which appears as follows in the records: Dallzanze (1456); Dalligoth (1637); Dolligaiche (1638); Delnagoiche (post 1681); Dailyoich (1871). See the Notes to the text file ‘The Rentall off ye parrochin off Latheroun’ for sources etc.
Berriedale
Byridale in ER I p 453 1337. Berydal in the ‘Testament of Alexander Suthyrland of Dunbeath, 1456,’ printed in The Bannatyne Miscellany Vol. III, p 98, Edinburgh, 1855.
GD112/58/14/12 >1681 introduces an interesting dispute about the permanent occupation of shielings. The author was opposed. It appears to have occurred as early as the late 17th century here. Victor Gaffney discussed this process in the context of the central Highlands (‘The Lordship of Strathavon’, Aberdeen, 1960) and we also have evidence for the West Highlands amongst the Forfeited Estates papers.
Langwell
RS20/1/p 190 1664 (bottom left) refers to Craignabroych. Retours (Caithness) (30) 1674 refers to the davach of Langwall + mill & multures, Craignaboyth and the ‘coves and dens’ belonging to that davach. (There is a Creag nam Bo by the steep shoreline).
Hoistildaill
The map in OPS implies that this was Ousdale. B Crawford (Baldwin, pp 61-2) speculates on a ‘Hospital’ site between Helmsdale and Wick. If such existed it is more likely to have been near Latheron, which is almost exactly half-way, than at Ousdale which is near Helmsdale. See below under Ousdale.
Some of the earlier spellings for Astle in Dornoch parish suggest it may have been the same name. Cf. Ausdale in Creich parish.
Ousdale
OPS thought this was Hoistisdaill (see above). I agree. We know Hoistisdaill was 6d in 1541. We also have a series of valuations for an unlocated ‘Sixpennyland’ (see below). It is unlikely Ousdale & Sixpennyland were the same.
The place-name has been the subject of some discussion. Gordon (Earldom p 27) has a story that, after the murder of Bishop John c. 1178, King William had the perpetrators castrated. ‘Stan’ is a Scots word for testicle and therefore the place of castration was claimed to be called ‘Stonnie Hill’. A reason for identifying this location with Ousdale is that the Icelandic word for testicle is eista (see Vigfusson) and the argument goes that this has metamorphosed into Ousdale.
There are multiple issues here. Has the mutilation of Bishop John c. 1200 been confused with the murder of Bishop Adam in 1222. Is the castration story even true in the first place or just a later fabrication? If it is based on truth is there any further truth in the etymology claimed. Is this faux, folk, or both?
I leave this to the toponymists but it is worth noting some earlier spellings for Ousdale.
In RMS III (2450) 1541 it was Hoistildaill.
In 1634 (Calder, Caithness, p 337) it was Oustrisdaill.
RS20/1/p 190 1664 (top left) gives Austisdaill in the title at left and also in the text. The more usual forms in the text are Ausdaill or Ausdell. The document also refers to other local place-names including Achanacraig (Achnacraig ND 0719).
RS20/1/p 190 1664 (bottom left) gives Austisdaill.
In the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries it was ofen rendered Ausdale (e.g. Roy Fair Copy c. 1750).
Sinclair (Caithness Events p 14) and Nicolaisen (pp 82-3) derive Ousdale from a personal name (Eystein in Sinclair, Oystein in Nicolaisen). In light of the early spellings given above that seems unlikely.
Bayne (1735), pp 29-30, gives a version of this story but relates it to Wick parish.
Sixpennyland
Simply defined as the Sixpennyland in RMS IV (745) 1552-3. The document implies Latheron which is where OPS II, II p 766 places it. It recurs in Retours (Caithness) (5) 1604, (7) 1605, (22) 1644. Also in RS36/2/36r 1606, RMS VI (1758) 1606 and RMS VIII (251) 1622. May have been near Camster.
Brochs – where brochs are by a settlement site I have given them above. Others include:
Broch (possible) Dunbrae – ND 153309.
Broch (possible) Bridge of Rhemullen – ND 150313.
Broch Balantrath – ND 143307.
Broch (possible) Warehouse Hill – ND 303412.
Broch (possible) An Dun – ND 103249.
Broch (possible) Tulach Bad a’ Choilich – ND 100240.
Broch (possible) Tulloch Turnal – ND 090228.
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