aberdeen march stone trails

7/29/2019 Aberdeen March Stone Trails

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Aberdeens

MarchStones

TrailA guide to Aberdeens March Stones & Freedom Lands

www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

For further information contact

Chris CrolyHistorian

01224 523653or visit www.aberdeencity.gov.uk

Aberdeen Visitor Information Centre01224 288828

www.aberdeen-grampian.com

For public transport information contact Travel Lineon 0870 608 2608

or visit www.travelinescotland.com

For a large text version contact

01224 522070

Aberdeens March Stones Trailis one of a series of themed trailsbeing developed around the City.

These are part of theEnergising Aberdeen programme,

supported by the City Growth Fund.

Further details about these trails can be found at:www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/trails

Please ensure you follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Codewhen enjoying the outdoors. The code is available from

Aberdeen City Council on 01224 523316 or atwww.outdooraccess-scotland.com

Kingswells

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Trail 1


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Aberdeens March Stones

& Freedom Lands

Introduction

This is the story of how Aberdeen acquired its boundaries andultimately established itself as the city we know today. Walkingor riding this boundary by following stone markers was animportant tradition in Aberdeen. This leaflet explores thehistory of the Freedom Lands and provides details on howto continue the tradition of Riding the Marches.

The March StonesThere are two sets of boundary stones: the inner and the outer.The inner march stones mark the boundary of the crofts thatringed the medieval Royal Burgh of Aberdeen.The outer march

stones define a much larger area known as the Freedom Lands.These lands went on to become the right and responsibility ofthe medieval and later Royal Burgh of Aberdeen. The namemarch stones derives from the 16th century meaning of marchas a boundary.

Robert the BruceIn 1313, Robert the Brucegranted Aberdeencustodianship over his RoyalForest of the Stocket. The termRoyal Forest is slightlymisleading as it really meanta hunting ground, which mayhave included a wooded area.In 1319 Robert issued asecond charter. This grantedAberdeen fuller rights over theStocket, in return for an annualpayment, or feu, of 213 6s 8dSterling - the modern dayequivalent of approximately91,000.

The Freedom LandsThe City Council also boughtthree other plots of land, which together with the StocketForest came to be called the Freedom Lands. These purchaseswere Rubislaw, bought in 1379, the lands of Cruives (Woodside)bought in 1405 and finally, the lands of Gilcomston, bought in1680. The lands of Caprastone (Hilton) were also purchased in1595. However, they were not strictly speaking ever part of theFreedom Lands.

In 1551, for a number of financial reasons, Aberdeen applied to

Mary Queen of Scots for the rights to let these lands. Thismeant that in return for a yearly payment, the lands becameprivately managed. Many of the main estates established atthis time are still recognisable today, such as Countesswells,Forresterhill, Hazlehead and Kingswells.

Charter issued by King Robert the

Bruce feuing the Stocket Forestto Aberdeen, 1319


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March Stone 13Marked 13 ABDLocation: In picnicarea at HillviewCrescent, Cults. Entrypoint opposite headof Quarry Road.In 1525 described asane gret grey stanestandand on the topof the Blak Hill ofQueyltis . . . The 1698description noted asauser mark and fourwitter holes . . .

March Stone 14Marked 14 ABDLocation: Opposite the entrance to Cults Primary School, offEarlswells Road.In 1525 described as a stone with three hollis hewing in thesame. . . In 1698 a saucer stone was recorded, which may bethe one sitting adjacent to the lettered nineteenth-centurystone.

March Stone 15Marked 15 ABDLocation: In the amenity area adjacent to 30 Springdale Road,at junction with Baillieswells Road.In 1525 described as ane gray stane with four hollis in thequhilk thar is irne zeit with laid . . . In 1698 described as a largeearthfast stone, marked on top by a saucer and on the sidewith three holes.

March Stone 16

Marked 16 ABDLocation: In boggy ground adjacent to summer house of ThePolicies, off Baillieswells Road.In 1780 described as an earthfast saucer stone. Saucer stone isadjacent to the lettered stone.

March Stone 17Marked 17 ABDLocation: 150 metres east of Hillhead Cottage (east of HillheadRoad), adjacent to dyke and 2 burns.In 1780 described as an earthfast saucer stone.

Stone 13

March Stone 18Marked 18 ABDLocation: In field 150 metres south-west of entrance to HiltonFarm, west of Hillhead Road.Described in 1698 as a saucer stone next to a cairn on the edgeof a road: by 1929 the road had disappeared but the cairn wasstill there. The saucer stone survives next to the lettered stone,which had been broken by 1810 and the current one probablydates to the 1821 riding of the marches.

March Stone 19Marked 19 ABDLocation: Stone adjacent to dyke in fields to south east ofWestfield Farm.Described in 1780 as a low flat earthfast Stone, with a saucersituated partly under the march dyke dividing the lands ofBinghill and Westfield . . .

March Stone 20Marked 20 ABDLocation: Adjacent to dyke in fields to south east of WestfieldFarm, on same line as above.First mentioned in the eighteenth century when described as along earthfast stone with a saucer mark.

March Stone 21Marked 21 ABDLocation: In field south west of Westfield Cottage.Described in 1698 as upon a knowhead (hillock head) witha cairn.

Stone 18 with 'earthfast' saucer stone


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March Stone 26Marked 26 ABDLocation: At confluence of Brodiach and Silver Burns. Accessfrom Brotherfield farm.

In 1698 it was noted that there had never been a march stonehere but the location had always been pointed out on ridings.A stone was recommended in 1780.

March Stone 27, The Ringing StoneMarked 27 ABDLocation: Adjacent to Brodiach Burn. Access from BrotherfieldFarm.Origins of this intriguing name are unknown. There are 2 milesto the next stone, being the longest distance between stones;the Brodiach burn was taken to provide a sufficient marker.

March Stone 28Marked 28 ABDLocation: Adjacent to Littlemill Burn, on rough ground, northwest of Borrowstone Farm, off Blackburn Road.

March Stone 29Marked 29 ABDLocation: Adjacent to Littlemill Burn in corner of field west ofWynford Farm, off Blackburn Road.Saucer stone is adjacent to the lettered stone.

March Stone 30

Marked 30 ABDLocation: In field north of Wynford, opposite road junction.An older saucer stone mentioned in 1698 and 1780 surviveduntil some time after 1929.

March Stone 22Marked 22 ABDLocation: In field south west of Westfield Cottage.In 1698 was on top of a hillock and marked with a saucer.

March Stone 23Marked 23 ABDLocation: Summit of Beans Hill at junction of fences.A saucer marked stone (described in 1698 and 1780) isadjacent to the lettered stone. Highest point on line ofmarches.

March Stone 24Marked 24 ABDLocation:Top of bank at angle of fence, west of NorthWestfield farm.

In 1698 and 1780 described as being located at a place calledBrunies, or Brownies grave.

March Stone 25Marked 25 ABDLocation: East side of rock outcrop at Brunt Hill near SilverBurn. Access from track at East Brotherfield Farm.In 1780 described as a large stone or part of a Rock markedwith a saucer. . . Saucer stone is adjacent to lettered stone.

Stone 26Stone 22


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March Stone 31 The Doupin StoneMarked 31 ABDLocation: In field north of Wynford, opposite road junction.From the descriptions in 1525 and 1698 it would seem thatthere had not been a stone here. In 1780 two large earthfaststones were noted, both saucer marked. It was here that newburgesses underwent the initiation of doupin, or beingdropped onto the stone. A cup stone is adjacent to the

lettered stone.

March Stone 32Marked 32 ABDLocation: In field south of Southside Croft, close to burn.A saucer stone is adjacent to the lettered stone.

March Stone 33Marked 33 ABDLocation: In field 130 metres north east of No. 32, near steppedapproach to Elrick Hill.Described in 1525 as the gret marche stanniss markit with thesauchter. . . A saucer stone remains adjacent to the letteredstone.

Detail of saucer stone adjacent to stone 32

Detail of saucer stoneadjacent to stone 33

Stone 33, with saucer stone

March Stone 34Marked 34 ABDLocation: In field north west of Craibstone Golf Course, againsta dry stone dyke.

This is the last stone recorded in 1525, as afterwards themarches followed a well-known highway. In 1698 a cairn wasnoted as standing beside the stone.

Uneven surface: some may find access difficult.

March Stone 35Marked 35 ABDLocation: In field north west of Craibstone Golf Course, againsta dry stone dyke.A saucer marked stone described in 1698 was reported in the1780 riding as having been removed by quarriers.

March Stone 36Marked 36 ABDLocation: In field north east of Craibstone Golf Course, againsta dry stone dyke.In 1698 a cairn was described as adjacent to the saucer stone,which was also described, in 1780, as being marked by a P.

March Stone 37Marked 37 ABDLocation: At south east end of outbuilding of Ashtown farm.Described in 1698 as ane great march-stone marked with aneP for Propertie and ane sauser at the west head of the croft ofAshehillocks. . .

Photograph taken in 1920s, near stone 34, showing the line of theChapman Road. Taken from Freedom Lands and Marches of Aberdeen,1319-1929, by James Cruickshank, 1929


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