Auchnahyle
Township (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Auchnahyle
Classification Township (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Muckle Fergie Burn; Auchnakyle; River Avon
Canmore ID 15962
Site Number NJ11SE 1
NGR NJ 168 140
NGR Description Centred NJ 167 141
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/15962
- Council Moray
- Parish Kirkmichael (Moray)
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District Moray
- Former County Banffshire
NJ11SE 1 centred on 167 141
'Auchnakyle. A small dwelling house with a court of farm offices and farm attached...'.
Name Book 1869.
In the area centred at NJ 168 140, on pasture land sloping gently to Muckle Fergie Burn, at about 1250ft OD, there is a depopulated settlement named Auchnahyle (Information from Dr V Gaffney, Diamond Cottage, Main Street, Tomintoul) of two distinct phases of occupation. Of the first phase, the turf-covered footings of 19 buildings, average size 11.0m x 3.0m, one enclosure, a corn-drying kiln and some field walls are visible. The second phase comprises 3 buildings, maximum height 1.3m, and maximum size 30.0m x 4.0m, 2 enclosures and some field walls, probably a sheep-farm. No traces of lazy beds.
According to Dr Gaffney, the settlement was deserted in the early 19th century, reason unknown. The modern house at NJ 1650 1429 retains the name Auchnahyle.
Visited by OS (NKB) 9 August 1966.
The 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Banffshire 1871, sheeet xliii) depicts (and names as Auchnakyle) three roofed buildings arranged around a courtyard, one of which (on the W) has a pen or garden attached. There is a sheepfold to the SE and a well to the S.
Information from RCAHMS (RJCM) 25 April 1995
Further work by the First Edition Survey Project has identified an unroofed building lying approximately 200m to the SSE of the roofed buildings, another of which also has an attached enclosure, as depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Banffshire 1871, sheeet xliii). Eighteen unroofed buildings and two enclosures, one of which is incomplete, are shown on the current edition of the OS 1:0000 map (1971).
Information from RCAHMS (SAH) 29 February 1999
(Name cited as Auchnahyle and location as NJ 168 140). This depopulated settlement is situated on a steep W-facing slope on the E bank of the River Avon, at an altitude of about 366m OD.
GRC/AAS photos: AAS/91/03/E5/1-5.
NMRS, MS/712/40.