Strachur and Strathlachlan

Strachur and Strathlachlan

 

Name	Value	Date	Grid Ref	Map Sources	Other forms, comments etc
St Catherine’s	2m	1634	NN 1207	Pont(14) Blaeu(Knapdale)	Kill-Catryin(Pont) with church-symbol 1½m(1751, boundaries given in AS II (513) 1634 & (621) 1638
Ardchyline	4m	1653	NN 1106
Airigh a’ Ghobhainn	4m	1634	NN 1004	Langlands(1801)	Included Lairmoir as 4m in 1634, 1637, 1649, 1674, Arenagowne(1634)
Creggans	6m	1525	NN 0802	Pont(14) Blaeu(Knapdale)	Earliest references are 6m but from about 1550 occurs as 3m – so apparently split in two. Craigan Iver is 3m in 1751 but the AVR also gives Cregan Easter (no value stated). Creagganevir is at NN 087021 in OS(1866).
Inverglen	6m	1525	NN 0901		6m in 1525 & 1546 but 3m thereafter.
Strachur	6m	1525		Pont(14)	Split into More and Beg
Strachurmore	3m	1598	NN 105008	OS(1866)
Strachurbeg	3m	1563	NN 101016	Langlands(1801) OS(1866)
Chappelverna	½m	1580	NN 100005		Part of Strachur? See below.
Dufeorline	4m	1525	c. NN 113013	Pont(12) OS(1866)	4m in 1525 & 1546, but then consistently 3m, =Dubh(?) Feoirling Duorlyn in Pont, =Dearnich(Langlands)?
Upper Succoth (Glen Cur)	3m	1525	NN 1302		See below
Succothmore (Leavanin)	5m	1525	NN 1201		See below
Caoinaig	4m	1515	NN 1202	Pont(12)	Now Upper & Lower
Brackley	3m 5s	1525	c. NN 1000 ?		Only 3 references: 3m 5s(1525), 2m(1525, 1546), in neighbourhood of  Balliemeanoch and Dewrforling?
Balliemeanoch	2½m	1525	NN 1000	Pont(12)	2½m in earliest references but 4m consistently from 1598. The increase in Ballimeanoch’s valuation and the decrease in Brackley’s suggest that the two should be viewed together – probably 6m between them
Garrell	2m	1525	NS 1099	Pont(12)	See below
Invernoaden	6m	1541	NS 1297	Pont(14) Langlands(1801)
Dreip	6m	1541	NS 119977	Pont(12 & 14) OS(1865)	Driep(1865)
Cunleache	3m	1631	c. NS 1396	Pont(14) Langlands(1801)	=Whoinloch(Pont)? 2m Quenloch(?) in 1751, formerly Kilmun Conlich(Langlands) at NE corner of Loch Eck.
Craigbrack	1m	1751	NS 1395	Langlands(1801)	Cragvraughtan(Langlands), probably included in Cunleache(1631), formerly Kilmun
Eilean a’ Chocaire	3m	1751	NS 1494	Pont(14) Langlands(1801)	Isle(Langlands). The farm is today marked as Island Farm on mainland shore below island, formerly Kilmun
Glenshellish	6m	1601	NS 1197	Pont(14)	Glenshellish was divided into two halves – see below.
Leacann Ghlas			NS 1094		W side upper Glen Shellish
Sron Criche	2m	1663	c. NS 103964	OS(1865)	E side upper Glen Branter, 2m with Lechkinglass(1663), The Sron Criche element was additional to 4m Glenbranter but perhaps Leacann Ghlas was included under Glenshellish.
Glenbranter	4m	1663	NS 1097/1197	Pont(14)	2m(1751)
‘Achabragid’	2m	1751	c. NS 095963	Langlands(1801) OS(1865)	Auchabracaid(1865)
Balliemore	4m	1541	NS 1099	Pont(14) Langlands(1801)	3m(1751)
Balliebeg	4m	1751	NS 0999	Pont(14) Langlands(1801)
Glen Sluain	4m	1630	NS 0999		Glensluan(1630, 1751)
Tombuidhe	½m	1751	NN 0900
‘Lettirkechene’	5m	1751	c. NN 0700	Pont(14)	See below
Stronecrevich	6m	1541	NN 089015	Pont(12 & 14) OS(1866)	See below. Not the same as Sron Criche above or Strone below.
Strathlachlan
Leanach	3½m	1630	NS 0497	Langlands(1801)	See below
Strone	1¾m	1631	NS 0497	Langlands(1801)
Feorline	1¾m/(¼d)	1631	NS 0396	Langlands(1801) RHP 85460
Garbhallt	1½m	1597-8	NS 0295	Langlands(1801)	Garvell(1597-8), 5m Strone, Feorline, Garvalt & Dalvulline(1751)
Portindryan	5m	1634	NS 016977	Langlands(1801) RHP 85460 OS(1866)	Just NE of Kilbride, 9m with Kilbride in 1751. Portan Drain(1866)
Lephin Glas	(½d)		NS 0197
Kilbride	(4m) 1d	1751 1314	NS 0195/0096		Argyll VII No 118 p 245 quoting Lib. Coll. Nost. Dom. pp 152-3.
Kilmorie	4m	1631	NS 0195	Langlands(1801)
Barnacarry	1½m	1634	NS 0094	Roy(PC 20) Langlands(1801)	RMS VI (1218) 1601 describes it as in the parish of Kilfynnen and says it formerly belonged to the chaplainry of Kilmory. With Ballochinribell as 1½m in 1751.
‘Ballochinribell’			NS 0094	Roy(PC 20)	‘Ballachinball'(Roy), with Barnacarrie in 1751.
Lefinbeg	(½d)			Langlands(1801)	Just S of Barnacarry(Langlands)
Lephinmore	4m/(½d)	1649	NR 9892	Langlands(1801) RHP 85460	3m(1619) but 4m(1649, 1663 & 1751). AS II (1092) of 1663 refers to the part of Leffinmore called Dalphisin & Tynakellie.
Lephinreoch	3m/(½d)	1621
Lephinchapel	2½m/(½d)	1597-8	NR 9690	Langlands(1801) RHP 85460
Lefindrishach	2½m/(½d)	1597-8	c. NR 9790	Langlands(1801) RHP 85460	With Laruchfad as 2½m in 1751. Lephindrishaig in RHP 85460
Evanachan	5m	1552-3	NR 9486	Langlands(1801)	4½m Awynnochane(1536), ILP No 222 of 1559-60 refers to 2¾m Evenachane & 1½m Auchbaketein which may have been a component of the 5m unit.
	147m 5s

 

 

Succoth

There are several Socachs and Succoths in Strachur representing both natural and human features. In general terms the Gaelic socach represents the spur of a hill projecting between two burns which join below it. In the local topography we have Socach Uachdarach (Upper Socach) which is a hill at NN 1403, Bran Socach, a hill at NN 1502, Socach Mor, a hill at NN 1301 and Socach Beag, a slope at NN 1501. We also have farms called Upper Succoth at NN 1302 and Succothmore at NN 1201. The hill Socach Mor lies on the NE side of the burn called Leavanin. Pont(12) gives Socco(t)h.

 

In the historical record we find Socochquhoir(1546), Sochcur(1598), Socheur alias Sokcochcur(1629) which is the Succoth in Glen Cur and is consistently given as 3m. Today this is Upper Succoth farm. There is also Sokachlaunan(1488), Sochichlewnane(1525), Sokochlennan(1546), Sokychlownan(1546) which is 5m in some of the earliest documents but 4m in 1488 and then 4m consistently from 1598. I think this will be the Succoth nearest the burn called Leavanin. Today this is the farm Succothmore. Unfortunately it is difficult to square all the evidence. Soccoch Moir is also described as 3m in 1598 and we have to account for the loss of at least 1m between about 1546 and 1598.

There is also 4m Nether Succochlewnan in AS I (33) of 1618 which is described as being in Lochgoilhead parish – but this may simply be because of changes in parish boundaries at the time

 

Garrell

We have Garfeorling 2m from 1525 (also 2½m but apparently then including ½m Balliemeanoch) and also Gairowlye 2m (1598), Garolea 2m (1642), Garolach (Langlands 1801) which I assume are all the same as garbh + feoirling (the rough farthingland) but now Garrell. Pont marks Gherorlyn in the correct position.

 

Glenshellish

Argyll Sasines II (33) of 1618, II (620) of 1638 and I (457) of 1660 give details of how Glenshellish was divided. One half consisted of a third of the Braes of Glenshellish in the vicinity of Leacann Ghlas (NS 1094), the pendicle of Kenlochaik (1m at NS 1296) and 1m of the Grange or Laich town of Glenshellish. Kinlocheckbeag is marked on OS 6″ Sheet CLII (1865) at NS 125964. It appears under Kilmun and Dunoon parish in the AVR(1751).

 

Lettir/Stuckrioch

Pont(14) marks Douletyir (to N) and Letyr (to S). AS II (525) of 1634 gives Lettirkechene embracing Over, Middle and Nether Lettir, commonly called Stukrioche. AVR (1751) gives 5m Upper Lettir, Mid Lettir and Stuckriach. Mid Letter is now NN 0700. Stuckreoch is now NS 0599.

 

Stronecrevich /Sron Cruaich?

We have the following descriptions:

6m Stronecrawyche(1541), 6m Stronechreiffiche OPS II, I, p 78 (1547), 6m Stronchrevich with oastlar-house & kiln called Tyanlone (1627), Half Stroncreich in Strachur (1631), 6m Stronechrevicht (1674), 2m Stronchriech(1751) and also 3m Stronchrevich(1751), ½m Clachwarre in Stronchrevich(1634), ½m of Clachwarre in Stronechrevicht & a croft of the said Stronechrevicht near the chapel of St Malacius(1674), ½m Clachvar(1751).

 

Pont(14) marks Stronchreich near Kilmalash (which has a church symbol). It is positioned N of Kilmalash but S of Letyr and SW of  Sheansloy (Sidhean Sluaigh). See also Pont (12). On the basis of Pont it is tempting to equate Stronecrevich with Sron Cruaich at NS 0596. However the OS 6″ map (Sheet CXLI of 1866) marks Stronecrevich further north at c. NN 089015. See also below under ‘Parish Issues’.

 

Leanach

We have references to Leanach as 2½m(1627), 3m(1651, 1665) & 3½m(1630, 1657, 1668, 1751).

 

Strathlachlan

Robertson’s Index p 26 No 25 refers to the 10d land of Schyrwaghthyne.

Strathlachlan was reckoned a 40m unit. Argyll Retours (28) of 1627 and AS II (940) of 1657 refer to the 40m of Strathlaffin or Strathlaiffin.

 

 

Parish Issues

 

Paisley Abbey had 40s p.a. from the lands of Strathlachlan (RMS V (1320) 1587 & (2070) 1591-2 – see also Argyll Retours(25) 1621 and AS II (374) 1631).

 

There were important changes to parish boundaries in the seventeenth century. These are outlined in the Minutes of the Synod of Argyll. In 1642 (p 50) there is reference to “the four scour mark lands of Straquhir” which was then part of the parish of Lochgoilhead. The kirk of Strachur was “called Kilmaglasse”. At the same time the district of Kilmory in Stra (Strathlachlan) was to be separated from the parish of Inverchaolain to which it had formerly been united. In 1650 (p 234) Kilmaglas was separated from both Lochgoilhead and Kilmorich. To Kilmaglas was added ‘Kilmorie Strathlauchlane’ which was separated from Inverchaolain. The parish of Kilmaglas is now to include the following:

And that the lands fra St. Catherenis inclusive, all Straquhir, with the lan[ds of] Coynliche, Craigbreck, Illanchoker and Stuk in the paroaches [of Kilmun] and Downoone, whilk ar dismemberit therefra, be annexat to Kil[maglas].

 

For the purposes of this study we only need to take account of information which sheds light on the mediaeval parish structure. The above statement, which is also reflected in the properties listed in the Argyll Valuation Roll of 1751, suggests that the old parish of Kilmaglas had now accrued Kilmorie or Strathlachlan (an ancient and distinct 10d or 40m unit) as well as Strachur, some of the NE slopes of Loch Fyne as far north as St Catherine’s and a number of named farms at the north end of Loch Eck which had been detached from the parishes of Kilmun and Dunoon.

 

It is debatable whether Kilmaglas and Strachur are quite the same; Argyll VII (101) rather conflates them. Pont (14) shows Kilmaglas further SW beside Sron Cruaich. It could have been on or near the site of the later Parish Church of Strathlachlan (Argyll VII (103)). However this might involve an overlap with the parish of Strathlachlan which is not tenable. If we follow Pont then we need to locate Kilmaglas somewhere just south of Sron Cruaich. If we reject Pont than we can equate Kilmaglas with Strachur.