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Hill Of Tillymorgan, Quarries
Quarry(S) (Period Unassigned), Structure(S) (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Hill Of Tillymorgan, Quarries
Classification Quarry(S) (Period Unassigned), Structure(S) (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Glens Of Foudland
Canmore ID 112592
Site Number NJ63SE 34
NGR NJ 65200 34800
NGR Description Centred on NJ 6520 3480
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/112592
- Council Aberdeenshire
- Parish Culsalmond
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District Gordon
- Former County Aberdeenshire
NJ63SE 34 centred on 6520 3480
Extend onto map sheets and NJ63SW.
Quarries (disused) [NAT]
(at NJ 646 345, 649 346, 652 349, 651 347, 654 347, 656 347, 652 345, 657 346 and 652 350)
OS 1:10,00 maps, 1983.
Hill of Tillymorgan, disused slate quarries.
Air photographs: AAS/00/03/G10/10-13, AAS/00/03/CT and AAS/00/05/CT.
NMRS, MS/712/100.
(Classification amended to Quarries; Structures). There are a number of disused slate quarries on the summit and slopes of Hill of Tillymorgan. The full extent of the workings is depicted on the modern 1:10,000 scale maps, NJ63SW, SE, & NE (1983), and most of them also appear on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Aberdeenshire, 1873, sheet xxxv). Quarrying continued into the latter part of the 19th century, especially on the W side of the hill, and the 2nd edition of the map (1901, sheet xxxv.NE) shows several late-19th century workings and tracks.
The quarries were not recorded in detail during the RCAHMS survey of Strath Don, but a number of small stone structures were identified. These are sunk into the spoil tips and were probably constructed as shelters by the quarrymen. One particularly fine example is situated high up on the W flank of the hill. Roughly oval on plan, it measures 2.9m from E to W by 1.6m internally and 1.35m in depth. The entrance on the E leads down a flight of steps into the interior, where a possible fireplace can be seen on the N, and two ambries on the NW and SW. The walls of the structure are of dry-stone, utilising thin slabs of slate, and the upper courses are slightly corbelled. There is no evidence how the structure was roofed. Similar shelters have been noted at the slate quarries on the Hill of Foudland (NJ63SW 35).
Visited by RCAHMS (JRS), 14 June 1996.
