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MHG14954 - Township boundary wall - Rynettin

Summary

The boundary wall between old and new pastureland at Rynettin.

Type and Period (2)

Protected Status

Full Description

A survey of the archaeological and historic features was undertaken within Abernethy Forest Reserve for the RSPB in 1995.

This drystane wall, representing the boundary between old and new pastureland at Rynettin is apparent on the 1858 Seafield Estate map, the 1863 OS map and the current 1:10,000 map. The present boundary runs close to the earlier stone wall, although the latter is aligned 20° NE and so the two are not parallel. The wall is of rubble boulders, up to lm high in places but down to 0.6m high at the east end where the stonework is much overgrown with turf and heather.

Remains of stone dyke, around former settlement of Rynettin. Corresponds to boundary shown on Brown's 1858 estate map.
The dyke is cut by a track which runs from Rynettin towards Forest Lodge in one direction, and the River Nethy in the other. (NJ 0121 1487).
One section descends downhill from the track in a south-easterly direction for about 180m and then stops. The line is continued for about another 400m by a marked variation in the vegetation, between the pine forest on one side and birch trees on the other.
The other section of the dyke travels along the hillside on the other side of the track in a south westerly direction. It heads south west for about 180m before it is obliterated by a modern building. It continues on the other side of this building, heading SSW for about 60m before a gap appears,about 2m wide. After this gap it turns south west again for about 90 metres, then another gap appears, about 1.2 m across. After a further 10m it turns and heads downhill in a south-easterly direction (NJ 0102 1456).
After a further 34m there is another gap, about 1.8m across. The dyke then continues downhill for another 50m before another gap appears, about 3.7m across. This gap may be relatively recent, possibly connected with the forestry plantation it opens on to.
After this it descends the hill towards Allt Clais Nan caorach without further interruption. Near the stream it turns again in a southerly direction for a short distance before stopping short of the stream. A second short length of dyke can be seen running parallel to it at this point (NJ 0116 1430).
On the 1858 map the dyke is shown as following beside the stream at this point, in an easterly direction. However no trace of it could be seen. It did not reappear until the other side of the track at (NJ 0147 1424), where an overgrown section heads east for about 90m before disappearing in a thicket of juniper. A small section of it appears on the other side of the thicket heading roughly north east for about 25m. This corresponds with the 1858 map.
The whole circuit no doubt at one time enclosed the arable area, or a field, belonging to Rynettin. <1>

Sources/Archives (1)

Map

Location

Grid reference	Centred NJ 0133 1455 (622m by 630m) (2 map features)
Map sheet	NJ01SW
Civil Parish	ABERNETHY AND KINCARDINE
Geographical Area	BADENOCH AND STRATHSPEY

Finds (0)

Related Monuments/Buildings (1)

Related Investigations/Events (1)

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