EHG5744 - DBA, buillding and walkover surveys - Rychallich, Nethy Bridge

An archaeological community survey project was undertaken by Explore Abernethy in partnership with Alder Archaeology in 2011 at Rychallich, Tulloch near Nethy Bridge. The settlement was of interest as it was known to have a long occupation from the 16th century right through into 20th, when lastly it was used by Gordonstoun School as a bothy, and afterwards into the 1980s, as a general hill walkers’ shelter. In 1772 Rychallich became locally famous for the murder of one of its occupants, John Grant, by neighbour John Cumming of Easter Tulloch. Research carried out prior to this project involved looking through related documents in the National Archives of Scotland. From this information, largely contemporary witness statements, it has been possible to suggest a possible location for the fatal shooting on the hills behind Rychallich. The main part of the survey carried out on the 15th and 16th of October 2011 was a detailed building recording which provided a record of the main standing structures, a roofed house c. 1890s, an 1840s building, an 1880s building and a Milkhouse. The survey also recorded in plan the footings of two earlier 18th century structures, one of them contemporary with the murder. This fieldwork illuminated the possible functions of rooms, many internal details of structures and how the buildings developed over time. On the last day of the project, the 17th of October, there was a walkover survey of the surrounding landscape. This threw light on many agricultural remains, including various tracks, enclosures, clearance cairns, boundaries and the remains of a reaper. Of most significance however, was the discovery of building footings away from the main centre of the settlement which correspond with buildings shown on a 1773 estate plan. <1>