Latheron Table

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)

 
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.

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.

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.

Ballachly     ND 1944   Broch (possible) Ballachly – ND 195442.

Broch (possible) Ballachly – ND 193447.

Does the name (< Gaelic cladh) indicate an old burial ground?

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.

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.

‘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

‘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

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.

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.

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.

 

Bookmark and Share
Posted in Latheron

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*