Alternative Names Old Rayne
Site type VILLAGE
Canmore ID 107712
Site Number NJ62NE 59
NGR NJ 674 283
Council ABERDEENSHIRE
Parish RAYNE
Former Region GRAMPIAN
Former District GORDON
Former County ABERDEENSHIRE

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Recording Your Heritage Online

Formerly Rane, Raine, Rain and Rayn, from the Gaelic 'Raon', meaning a field of good ground; once seat of Archdeacon of Diocese of Aberdeen (which office once held by John Barbour, author of 'The Brus'). The Bishops of Aberdeen had a residence at Rayne, in an earthwork castle (the school, 1880, sits in the middle of it), and held their barony courts - 'apud stantes lapides' - at the Standing Stones of Rayne, the stone circle still visible on the ridge above the village. Old Rayne was known as the girnal (grainstore) of the Garioch, from its central position in the fertile area, and prospered from passing cattle drovers until they were supplanted by the railway, which avoided the village.

Taken from "Aberdeenshire: Donside and Strathbogie - An Illustrated Architectural Guide", by Ian Shepherd, 2006. Published by the Rutland Press http://www.rias.org.uk

Archaeological Notes

NJ62NE 59 674 283

See also NJ62NE 93.

Air photograph: AAS/00/03/CT.
NMRS, MS/712/100.

NJ62NE 44 c. 67 28

Rayne was erected a burgh of barony in 1492/3.
G S Pryde 1965.

There is no change to the existing record.
Information from RCAHMS (JRS), 17 February 1998.

Notes and Activities

Pryde, G S (1965) The burghs of Scotland: a critical list, London
Page(s): 54, no.169 Held at RCAHMS C.3.3.PRY

Shepherd, I A G (2006) Aberdeenshire, Donside and Strathbogie: an illustrated architectural guide, in Charles McKean [Edinburgh]
Page(s): 105 Held at RCAHMS Quick

Shepherd, I [A G] (1994a) Gordon: an illustrated architectural guide, [Edinburgh]
Page(s): 105 Held at RCAHMS D.5.GOR