Alternative Names Correen Hills; Gordonstown; Battle Of Tillieangus; Battle Of Tillyangus
Site type ENCLOSURE, QUARRY(S)
Canmore ID 17703
Site Number NJ52SW 1
NGR NJ 52830 24417
Council ABERDEENSHIRE
Parish CLATT
Former Region GRAMPIAN
Former District GORDON
Former County ABERDEENSHIRE

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Archaeological Notes

NJ52SW 1 52830 24417.

(NJ 5283 2441) Stone Circle (NR).
OS 6" map, (1959)

A very large circle of stones, many of which have been removed for building purposes. Locally, according to the ONB (1866), it was thought to be a Druidical circle which had been fortified anew by the Clan Forbes preparatory to the battle of Tillyangus (Tillieangus: NJ52SW 6). Coles (1902) gives its diameter as 126 feet (38.4m) and describes it as a fallen dike of small stones, certainly not a 'stone circle' in the accepted sense.
Name Book 1866; F R Coles 1902.

Situated prominently on the top of White Hill, a N spur of the Correen Hills, but in a poor defensive position, are the remains of a sub-circular enclosure, c.39.0m N to S by c.36.0m transversely, formed by a severely robbed drystone wall, traceable now only as a rickle of stones.
No trace of an entrance of interior occupation.
Re-surveyed at 1/2500.
Visited by OS (RL) 13 September 1967.

Enclosure [NR]
OS 1:10,000 map, 1973.

This sub-circular enclosure is situated at an altitude of 315m OD.
NMRS, MS/712/53.

(Classification amended to enclosure and quarries). This subcircular enclosure is situated in rough pasture on a N-facing spur at the foot of the Correen Hills, 400m SE of Gordonstown farmsteading (NJ52SW 75). It measures 39m from E to W by 33.5m transversely within a wall reduced to an irregular band of rubble up to 3.5m in thickness and 0.3m in height. There is no evidence of an entrance, which is unlikely to have lain on the N, where shallow quarries are visible immediately outside the line of the wall. These quarries may be contemporary with the construction of the wall. No internal features were visible on the date of visit.
As with other archaeological sites and striking natural features in the immediate neighbourhood (see NJ52SW 4, NJ52SW 5, NJ52SW 6, NJ52SW 8 ), this enclosure has been ascribed a role in the story of the Battle of Tillieangus. Tayler and Tayler note that 'Adam Gordon, of Auchindoun, acting as deputy for his brother George, 5th Earl of Huntly, and moved by the ancient jealousy and new grievances, attacked the Forbeses in their entrenchments on the Whitehill of Tillieangus in the south-west corner of the parish of Clatt and the Forbes were heavily defeated and forced to flee'.
Visited by RCAHMS (ATW, PC), 9 September 1998.
A and H Tayler 1937.

(Classified as hill enclosure). Air photographs: AAS/00/02/G3/9-11 and AAS/00/02/CT.
NMRS, MS/712/100.

Coles, F R (1902a) 'Report on stone circles in Aberdeenshire (Inverurie, Eastern Parishes, and Insch Districts), with measured plans and drawings, obtained under the Gunning Fellowship', Proc Soc Antiq Scot, vol.36
Page(s): 552-3

Ordnance Survey (Name Book) Object Name Books of the Ordnance Survey (6 inch and 1/2500 scale)
Page(s): Book No. 14, 52 Held at RCAHMS Ref

Tayler and Tayler, A and H (1937) The house of Forbes, Aberdeen
Page(s): 88-9 Held at RCAHMS C.6.2.TAY