Inverness - Oldtown/Culduthel Cottage - SCOTT ***COMPLETED*** with Thanks!

[Danchaslyn]

Ran out of space...... my son suggested that possibly its on the remains of Culduthel Farm itself, as you know, bordering the southern distributor road, up past the newish Gaelic School, on the left, on your way down to the road to Dores?

The main white, large Culduthel Farmhouse up there, was in MacKenzie ownership, at least until a few years ago, not sure about now?

I looked out for the Postie, but he wasn't around while I was visiting. I wondered if someone at Strothers Lane postal sorting office might be willing to help?

There's not to far to look, as Scaniport Estates lands soon take over.

Cheers
Danchaslyn

[IMBER]

I had a phone call.  The house owner told me that the house used to be called Culduthel Cottage but the name had been changed by previous owners. She had been there about twenty years.  The cottage had been built in 1790. She thought nine windows sounded about right.  Apparently they get callers from time to time who were orphans who were accommodated there  in the early twentieth century.  Danchaslyn, I think I know the site of the farmhouse you refer to.  I have a copy of the OS map for Inverness for 1867 but I cannot see it on there, although that part of the town is nearly off the map. The National Library of Scotland have a great site which combines the new and old maps.  It takes a bit of getting used to but it's well worth it:

http://geo.nls.uk/os6inch/google.html

I spent two hours in the Highland Council Archives yesterday to try and pin this down.  I found a few bits but nothing decisive and I'm going to have another go at it tomorrow.

Imber

[Danchaslyn]

YES!    IMBER, well done!

Were you able to take any pics and will you please post them here?

So, as I don't know which building was the old Culduthel Schoolhouse, where is this house which in all likelihood IS the former "Culduthel Cottage"?

How amazing about the orphans!

I've been promising myself to visit the NEW archives, so who knows, maybe one day next week!

Thank you so much for the very useful link....

Cheers
Danchaslyn

[Danchaslyn]

Thank you IMBER for an amazing treat your link to the ancient OS Maps.

If you look in Inverness, along Culduthel Road, on the ancient OS Map, and have Lower Slackbuie "underneath", with Balloan to the right and above you have the "red oblong", the original farmhouse is about to the left of the red oblong.

I see where it says "Sch" is this the old Culduthel School?  I know its roughly in the vicinity of the current IRA, but I know that the original IRA was at the site of the current campus of the Inverness College in The Crown.

Cheers
Danchaslyn

[IMBER]

Yes, I see the building you mean.  Are you looking on the coloured map? That seems to date from the 1920s.  What you need to do is zoom in further and wait until the black and white map appears. I think that's about 1875.  That building doesn't seem to be there.  Yes, the "sch" you refer to is the Culduthel Schoolhouse but if you look at the b/w map it is spelled out, as is Culduthel Cottage.  I think what you need to do is imagine yourself driving along passing the bowling place on the left and the IRA on the right until you come to the roundabout on the Southern Distributor Road. Go right across the roundabout on to the Inverarnie Road.  That is still Culduthel Road.  The old schoolhouse and Culduthel Cottage are the first buildings on the right, although construction of the new roundabout has shunted them into a little cul de sac.

I didn't take any photos because the cottage is completely screened by large bushes and I couldn't just wander in and start snapping away. However, the answer is to use Google Streetview.  Go on to the UK site, type in SL2 6AE and when the aerial view opens up head north up the B861 until you arrive at that roundabout I mentioned. Then pick up the little orange man from the left of the map and drag him to the cul de sac.  Once there you use the white arrows to proceed along the road etc.  You can use the controls to move him around through 360.  The cottage is the one with the yellow Highland Council lorry parked outside in the street.  There's another parked in the schoolhouse which is still used by the Council to house various community services etc.

Imber

[Danchaslyn]

Oh I know exactly where you mean, IMBER, "above" the roundabout and now made into a little cul de sac.  I'm back home, further north, but next week will take a close look and see if I can get a pic, ..... I'll chance it no one is home!

I have google streetview but as I've well exceeded my wireless limit, its refusing to load......

Thank you so much to for the tip on the better use of the ancient OS Maps! That is so kind of you to pass it on.

I'm assuming then that Culduthel Cottage,  IS on what used to be Culduthel Farm, as its bordering what remains of the original farm.

Cheers
Danchaslyn

[IMBER]

Hi again

I went to the archives - and found it closes on Fridays.  However, the family history search room was open so I had a nose around there. When I was in the Archives the other day I looked at the Valuation Rolls and found John Scott listed as a "Contractor" whose lease covered 230 acres at Oldtown, Milton (of Culduthel?) and Upper Slackbuie and an unnamed Farm House.  All the land in that part of Inverness was owned by the Baillie family of Dochgarroch.  Anyway, I had to do something while I was there again today so I took a look at the microfiche for the 1881 census.  I found John at Culduthel Cottage.  More importantly the next entry was the schoolhouse.  That to me is sufficient proof that the cottage I went to the other day is the one John Scott stayed in.  Looking further at the census I found that the dwellings at Oldtown were occupied by farm servants, shepherds and the like. 

Imber

[Danchaslyn]

IMBER, that is all so positive!  (Excepting of course the Archives being closed on a Friday, who would have thought?!).

The Baillie lands certainly extended far and wide!  Currently I've always meant to go to one of the Dochgarroch House's Open Garden Days, have you been?

What a great result, IMBER, well done! Am sure dhalaughin will be very happy.

Cheers
Danchaslyn

[dhalaughlin]

Hello Imber & Danchaslyn,

I am so sorry I have been out of touch with the site for a while. I had no idea the 2 of you were doing such diligent research on my behalf. You have absolutely confirmed for me my conviction that genuine altruism exists! Thank you thank you thank you!

This is just my initial knee jerk response to both of you. I am going to thoroughly read your comments again and review my own research materials. I will post more information again very soon. It's been a while since I considered and studied all this. As I recall there were 2 possible candidates based on the 1881 & 1891 census. He may even have lived in 2 differnet homes over that period. Do you know anything about the cottage where Cunningham Wines is located? I am pretty sure it is either that one or the one you have visited and spoken about in your text near the old schoolhouse and sawmill which may be gone. This is sketchy to me just now and I may confuse you so let me study again and I will revert coherently.

You are really great people. I so much wish I could be there to help you and enjoy the discovery along with you. Impressive the way development wipes out history so quickly.

Thanks also to Imber for the alert message. Without that I may have neglected to look at Invernesshire when I checked in today after many weeks away.

All the best,
David