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Desk Based Assessment and Walk-over survey

Dulnain Bridge Water Main Renewal

Desk Based Assessment and Walk-over Survey

Dulnain Bridge Water Main Renewal

Report No. HAS071104 Project code DUL07 Client Halcrow PLC

Highland Council Ref N/A

Date 27 November 2007

Authors Cait McCullagh and John Wood

Summary

A desk based assessment was conducted to establish as far as possible the nature and extent of any archaeology likely to be affected by the construction of a new water main at Dulnain Bridge. One diversion of route is recommended to avoid archaeologically sensitive areas and a watching brief is also proposed for a section of the route.

Contents

Introduction ...... 3 Aims and Objectives...... 3 Location...... 3 Archaeological background and cultural significance...... 4 Desk-based assessment...... 6 Conclusions and Recommendations...... 11

List of Figures

Figure 1 Location ...... 4 Figure 2 Water main line and survey results ...... 5 Figure 3 Extract from 1st Edition OS 1:10560 Map (1867-71)...... 6

Acknowledgements

Fieldwork was carried out by Cait McCullagh. We wish to thank the client, Halcrow PLC, for commissioning this report, and to Sylvina Tilbury at Highland Council for assistance with aerial photographs. Background mapping has been reproduced by permission of the Ordnance Survey under Licence 100043217.

Introduction

This report presents the results of a desk based assessment conducted in November 2007 to establish as far as possible the nature and extent of any archaeology likely to be affected by the construction of a new water main in the Dulnain Bridge area of .

Aims and Objectives

The overall aims of this assessment are to identify any recorded archaeological sites or features that might be affected by this work; propose mitigation or recording as appropriate to ensure that archaeological evidence is not unnecessarily damaged or destroyed; and to minimize any possible delay or costs to the development by anticipating any archaeological requirements as far as possible, timetabling and integrating archaeological recording work with the project, and dealing with any issues arising quickly and efficiently.

Location

The new water main is intended to run from approx Ordnance Survey Grid Reference NH 992 245 approx. NH 990256.

Figure 1 Location

Archaeological background and cultural significance

Dulnain Bridge and its environs are situated within the historic parishes of Cromdale, Inverallan and Advie and Duthil and Rothiemurchus, part of the District of Badenoch and Strathspey, the village is itself bounded by the and sits in the midst of a landscape resonant with sites of archaeological and historic interest. The proposed water main route traverses and is associated with a number of these sites and features.

The local record demonstrates evidence for prehistoric human activity. A polished stone axe, believed to have been found at Ballintomb Farm and later deposited within the structure of the garden wall at Finlarig House and the presence of a possible Bronze Age (c2,400 – 500BC) Hut Circle at Laggan Hill attest to the likelihood of both settlement and high status gift exchange in the area.

Local provenance is given for two Class I Symbol Stones. This concentration of Pictish Sculptural art suggests that area continued to be a centre of significant social and cultural exchange onwards into the Late Iron Age – Early Medieval periods (c.AD300 – 600).

There is little known archaeological evidence to indicate how the area’s medieval inhabitants lived and worked. There is every chance that the ephemeral nature of domestic evidence from this period – many structures from this period are likely to have been largely constructed from turf and/or timber.

There is, however a great deal of evidence for the intensive investment directed at ‘improving’ the area by a succession of members of the Grant family, landowners and incumbents of nearby Castle Grant,

Figure 2 Water main line and survey results Orange line shows approx. line of new water main (indicative only); red stars indicate archaeological or historic features.

throughout the 18th and 19th centuries1. The abundance of limekilns in the Dulnain Bridge area and the survival of two planned relic townships – at Upper Finlarig and Skye of Curr - are testament to this activity.

As is typical of many central Highland locations, Dulnain Bridge and its environs demonstrate are also possessed of an architectural heritage that evidences the close relationship between the flouriat of Highland Rail Tourism and the development of gaming estates. The close proximity of both Wester Finlarig Lodge and Tigh-Na-Sgiadh to the Highland Railway Line, running South of the village towards Perth are key examples of such.

Figure 3 Extract from 1st Edition OS 1:10560 Map (1867-71)

1 Grant, L. (Rev) 1791 -99, ‘Parish of Cromdale (Counties of Moray and Inverness – Presbytery of Abernethy – Synod of Moray)’, OSA, No. 12; Vol. 8, Edinburgh, pp.255 – 58; Grant, P. (Rev) 1791 -99, ‘The United Parishes of Duthil and Rothiemurchus (Counties of Moray and Inverness)’, OSA, No. 42; Vol. 4, Edinburgh, pp.310 – 14 & Grant, W. (Rev) 1834, ‘The Parish of Duthill (County of Elgin, Presbytery of Abernethy, Synod of Moray)’ NSA, Vol 13, Edinburgh, pp.134 – 5. Desk-based assessment

Method

The route map supplied by the client was checked in detail against the archaeological records and associated literature and maps. The offices of the Highland Council Historic Environment Record were nd visited on 22 November 2007, when relevant archaeological reports and, where available, the relevant RAF vertical aerial photographs, taken in 1947, were not available in the Highland Council collections and therefore were not examined as part of this assessment. The OSA and NSA, the National Monuments Record for , the 6 inch Ordnance Survey map series, and the map collections of the National Library of Scotland were checked online2.

The previously recorded features in the area represent a diverse archaeological record of prehistoric and historical, monumental and settlement features, including two notable Late Iron Age – Early Medieval sculptured stones. Crofting townships, farmsteads, and industrial and infrastructural developments instituted as part of a programme of 18th and 19th centuries improvements are present.

The following sites were noted (see also index and plans):

F1 Upper Finlarig / Laggan of Findlarig Township

In 1997 the RCAHMS recorded that a township comprising five roofed buildings, one partially roofed building and two unroofed buildings is evident on the First Edition of the OS 6 inch map (Elginshire 1874; Sheet xxxii). Five roofed buildings; one arranged around three sides of a courtyard were depicted on the 1972 edition of the OS 1:10000 map. The township will not be directly affected by the water main but its presence is associated with the improvements instituted in the late eighteenth century by Sir James Grant of Grant3 and may indicate that there is further associated evidence in the wider area here.

F2 Garth of Finlarig

A 20th century C (S) Listed house, Garth of Finlarig is still in use. This will not be affected by the water main. F3 Wester Finlarig Lodge

Forming part of the Wester Finlarig House nexus, the Lodge is a 20th century B Listed building and is still in use. This is close to the current water main route but will not be affected by the proposed new water main.

F4 Wester Finlarig House

A 20th century B Listed building that is still in use and will not be affected by the new water main.

2 www.rcahms.gov.uk; www.nls.uk/collections/maps/index.html; http://www.promap.co.uk/ 3 Grant, L. (Rev) 1791 -99, ‘Parish of Cromdale (Counties of Moray and Inverness – Presbytery of Abernethy – Synod of Moray)’, OSA, No. 12; Vol. 8, Edinburgh, p.255. F5 Wester Finlarig Farmstead

In 1996 the RCAHMS recorded that a farmstead comprising one unroofed building and one enclosure is evident on the First Edition OS 6 inch map (Inverness-shire 1874-5; Sheet xxxiv). The enclosure remained evident on the 1972 edition of the OS 1:10000 map. The farmstead will not be directly affected by the water main but it is indicative of the intensity of such features throughout the area of the proposed new water main route.

F6 Finlarig Burn Bridge

This stone bridge is believed to be one of a series constructed at the end of the eighteenth century as part of the programme of infrastructural development initiated by the then landowner Sir James Grant of Grant4 If as is suggested by the route plan, no work is to be carried out on the existing water main in the Finlarig area, this feature will not be affected directly by the line of the new water main.

F7 Finlarig Chapel, Grave-marker, Graveyard and Symbol Stone

Visited and recorded by the OS in 1970 a rectangular platform, aligned East – West and measuring 10.5m x 5.5m contained within a small circular enclosure, formed by a ditch and a wall are believed to represent the composite ruins of both a chapel and associated graveyard. One upright stone, visible within the enclosure is understood to be a grave slab. Romilly Allen and Anderson recorded that a Class I Symbol Stone, incised on one face with a divided rectangle and Z rod over a crescent and V rod and now included in the National Museums of Scotland Collections in Edinburgh, was dug up on the West side of the enclosure5

The chapel, enclosure, grave-marker and symbol stone find spot will not be directly affected by the water main. However, the symbol stone is one of two known to have been found in the vicinity (see F11) and might indicate that there is further evidence for Late Iron Age – Early Medieval (c.AD300 – 600) activity in the wider area here. There is potential here for associated buried evidence in the general area and a precautionary site visit to observe the open trench is recommended here.

F8 Finlarig Building

In 2006 the RCAHMS recorded that the remains of a what is probably a building lie within a stand of birch trees on a SW-facing terrace about 110m E of Finlarig (NH92NE 28). This will not be affected by the new water main.

F9 Finlarig /Laggan Hill Hut Circle

A grass-covered curvilinear feature believed to be a Bronze – Iron Age (c.2,400BC – AD500) hut circle, re-used at a later date as a sheep fank. The site was visited by representatives of the Highland Council Archaeology Unit in August 1997. This feature is close to the proposed line but the water main trench is proposed to run along the existing road line where any buried archaeology is likely to have been disturbed previously. A precautionary site visit to observe the open trench is recommended here.

4 Ibid, p.258. 5 Romilly Allen, J. and Anderson, J. 1903, The Early Christian Monuments of Scotland; Vol 2, Part 3, Edinburgh, p.101. F10 Finlarig Farmstead

In 1997 the RCAHMS recorded that a farmstead comprising of two roofed buildings - one arranged around three sides of a courtyard, one unroofed building and three enclosures is depicted on the First Edition of the OS 6 inch map (Elginshire 1874 sheet xxxii). The 1972 edition of the OS 1:10000 map shows four roofed buildings and the three enclosures. The farmstead is unlikely to be affected directly by the new water main, but as with F5, is indicative of the intensity of such features throughout the area of the proposed new water main route. No mitigation is proposed here.

F11 Finlarig House / Ballintomb Symbol Stone

In 1999 Graham Robins, Community Archaeologist for Badenoch and Strathspey recorded that a Class I Symbol Stone (c.AD300 - 600), bearing the incised symbols of a crescent and a V Rod and a notched rectangle – with central disc – and a Z rod is built into the inner face of the NE wall of the garden enclosure of Finlarig House, a nineteenth century C (S) Listed house that is still in use. The stone is believed to have come from Ballintomb Farm, approximately 1 mile to the East. The symbol stone will not be directly affected by the water main. However, the symbol stone is the second such monument known to have been found in this area (see F7) and may indicate that there is further evidence for Late Iron Age – Early Medieval activity in the vicinity. As the stone is not in situ, no mitigation is proposed here.

F12 Finlarig Lime Kiln

In 2006 the RCAHMS recorded that the limekiln - built into the foot of a steep SSW-facing slope in the N corner of Dulnain Plantation - has been reduced to a spread of rubble measuring about 9m in diameter. The kiln-pot, 2m in diameter by up to 2m in depth, still survives. Immediately NNE of the kiln is a loading platform which is served by a track running downhill from the NW. It is depicted on both the First and Second Editions of the OS 6inch map (Elginshire1874, sheet xxxii; 1905, sheet xxxii.SE). This feature is close to the proposed line but the water main trench is proposed to run along the existing road line where any buried archaeology is likely to have been disturbed previously. A precautionary site visit to observe the open trench is recommended here.

F13 Dulnain / Tigh Na Hath Lime Kiln

Believed to be one of a number of kilns that comprised a significant element of the eighteenth century improvements instituted by Sir James Grant of Grant6 This feature is close to the proposed line but the water main trench is proposed to run along the existing road line where any buried archaeology is likely to have been disturbed previously. A precautionary site visit to observe the open trench is recommended here.

F14 Dulnain Bridge Church

Appearing to be of twentieth century construction this wooden church surmounted by a red oxide corrugated iron roof is unlikely to be affected by the proposed water main route.

6 Grant, L. (Rev) 1791 -99, ‘Parish of Cromdale (Counties of Moray and Inverness – Presbytery of Abernethy – Synod of Moray)’, OSA, No. 12; Vol. 8, Edinburgh, p.258. F15 to Grantown Military Road

Apparently part of the course of General George Wade’s 18th century road, which joins the A95 at Dulnain Bridge7. The area each side has been developed and the road is now part of the modern public road. Any archaeologically significant elements are most likely to have been disturbed or destroyed.

F16 Ballintomb Platforms

In 2002 Sandra Law reported to the Highland Council Archaeology Unit that three to four platforms run alongside the roadway at Ballintomb. These will not be affected by the proposed water main route.

F17 Dulnain Bridge Motor Engineers and Electricians

Recorded by the RCAHMS, no details are given for this site, its status is pending. This is close to the proposed water main route. However, as this section of the line follows the course of the modern public road any possible associated archaeology is likely to have been previously disturbed.

F18 Dulnain Bridge / Bridge of Curr

Believed to have been constructed in 1791, close to the remains of an earlier bridge, built c.17008 this B Listed bridge spanning the River Dulnain is still in use. Whilst the water main route will presumably be inserted into the riverbed, thus not causing any apparent damage to the structure of the bridge, given the possible proximity of the present structure to possible remains of earlier crossings, a watching brief is recommended on excavations at the river crossing.

F19 Pill Box

Allison Fox of the Highland Council Archaeology Unit recorded the evidence for a military installation, dated to WWII, at the road junction of the A95 and A939. This feature is close to the proposed route. Excavations for the water main line should take care to avoid disturbing the pill box and its immediate area.

F20 Easter Curr Farmstead

In 1996 the RCAHMS recorded that what may be an unroofed building is depicted on the First Edition of the OS 6 inch map (Inverness-shire 1874; Sheet xlvi). The feature did not recur on the 1975 edition of the OS 1:10000 map. Easter Curr farmstead will not be affected by the water main but is indicative of the intensity of such features throughout the area of the proposed new water main route. No mitigation is proposed here.

F21 Tigh-Na-Sgiadh / Skye of Curr Hotel

A nineteenth century hunting lodge, this feature will not be affected by the water main line.

7 Taylor, W. (1976), The Military Roads in Scotland, Newton Abbott, p.165. 8 Grant, P. (Rev) 1791 -99, ‘The United Parishes of Duthil and Rothiemurchus (Counties of Moray and Inverness)’, OSA, No. 42; Vol. 4, Edinburgh, p.314 & Grant, W. (Rev) 1834, ‘The Parish of Duthill (County of Elgin, Presbytery of Abernethy, Synod of Moray)’ NSA, Vol 13, Edinburgh, pp.134 – 5.

F22 Skye of Curr Crofting Township

In 2006 the RCAHMS recorded a linear crofting township, depicted on the First Edition of the OS 6 inch map (Inverness-shire 1875, sheet XLVI), comprising a minimum of 23 crofts, ten of which include limekilns. The township and lime kiln sites are close to the proposed water main route, which runs in the field to the south-east of the road here. A site visit is recommended to establish whether the excavations will affect these features and propose any mitigation necessary.

F23 Skye of Curr Stone Axe Find Spot

A polished stone axe, now in the National Museums of Scotland Collections, Edinburgh, was found at Skye of Curr in 1906. The stone axe find spot will not be directly affected by the water main. However, its provenance may indicate that there is further evidence for pre-historic activity in the wider area here.

Conclusions and Recommendations

Much of the proposed new water main route lies along the public road or in areas where there has been previous disturbance. However attention is drawn to features F7, F9, F12, F13, F18 and F22 where site visits or watching briefs are recommended. The most significant of these is the river crossing F19.

Index to features

Survey HSMR NMRS NGR Site Brief Description No: F1 NH92NE0022 NH92NE0026 299220 Upper A township identified on 825820 Finlarig the 1st edition OS 6 inch map. F2 NH92NE0018 NH92NE0025 299120 Garth of C (S) Listed 20th century 825691 Finlarig house. F3 NH92NE0014- NH92NE0012 - 299010 Wester B Listed 20th century 1 1 825630 Finlarig building. Lodge F4 NH92NE0014- NH92NE0012 - 299010 Wester B Listed 20th century 2 2 825630 Finlarig house. House F5 NH92NE0034 NH92NE0019 298940 Wester A farmstead identified on 825500 Finlarig the 1st edition OS 6 inch Farmstead map. F6 NH92NE0019 NH92NE0024 299200 Finlarig c.18th century stone 825600 Burn Bridge bridge. F7 NH92NE0003 NH92NE0003 299110 Finlarig A rectilinear platform, 825380 Chapel, circumnavigated by a Grave- curvilinear enclosure, marker and within which is contained Symbol one upstanding stone. Stone Find Spot. F8 Nil NH92NE0045 299560 Finlarig The remains of a building 82543 Building lying within a stand of birch trees on a SW- facing terrace. F9 NH92NE0044 NH92NE0044 299500 Finlarig / Grass covered remains of 825300 Laggan Hill a curvilinear feature with Hut Circles possible opposing entrances NW – SE. F10 NH92NE0024 NH92NE0028 299430 Finlarig A farmstead identified on 85390 Farmstead the 1st edition OS 6 inch map. F11 NH92NE0017 NH92NE0032 299495 Ballintomb Class I symbol stone (NH92NE0015) (NH92NE0000) 825316 Symbol (granite) with faint but Stone discernible incised (Finlarig symbols built into the NE House wall of Finlarig House Garden garden wall. Wall) F12 Nil NH92NE0043 299550 Finlarig A spread of rubble 82552 Lime Kiln measuring about 9m in diameter, a 2m x 2m kiln pot and a loading platform and track also survive.

F13 NH92SE0054 NH92SE0038 299850 Dulnain Br. Lime kiln. Condition 824990 Lime Kiln unknown. F14 Nil NH92SE0059 299830 DulnainBr. Wooden church with 824900 Church corrugated iron roof. Survey HSMR NMRS NGR Site Brief Description No: F15 NJ02SW0041 NJ02SW0038 300160 Aviemore – Relic roadway converges 824950 Grantown into the course of the A95 Miltary Road at Dulnain Bridge. F16 NJ02NW0122 Nil 300060 Ballintomb 3 -4 platforms running 825050 Platforms alongside the roadway at Ballintomb. F17 Nil NH92SE0061 299740 Dulnain Br. None given. 824920 Motor Engineers and Electricians F18 NH92SE0036 NH92SE0047 299678 Dulnain B Listed late 18th century 824879 Bridge / stone bridge. Bridge of Curr F19 NH92SE0080 Nil 299600 Pill Box WWII military installation 824800 (concrete and /or brick built) at the road junction of the A95 and A939. F20 NH92SE0057 NH92SE0026 299770 Easter Curr A n unroofed building 824240 Building identified on the 1st edition OS 6 inch map. F21 NH92SE0060 Nil 299270 Tigh-Na- A 19th century hunting 824760 Sgiadh / lodge, currently in use as Skye of Curr a hotel. Hotel F22 Nil NH92SE0066 299240 Skye of Curr c.18th century linear 824580 Township township comprising a minimum of 23 houses and 10 lime kilns. F23 NH92SE0008 NH92SE0008 299000 Stone Axe, See the notes given in the 824000 find spot body of the text of this report.