Archaeology Notes

Event ID 655176

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/655176

ND37SE 7.00 3796 7339

(ND 3796 7339) John o' Groats House (NR) (site of)

OS 1:10,000 map, (1976).

NS37SE 7.01 ND 3792 7336 Proposed Engine House

The site of the house associated with the legend of John o' Groat's building an octagonal house so that each of his eight relatives could enter by his own door. It contained an octagonal table.

The first John Grot on record was granted a charter of a ferry and land in Duncansby in 1496. Of thirty-three succeeding Grots to whom similar charters were granted, nineteen were named John, but Mitchell was of the opinion that the John of the legend was the son of Finlay, who, in 1549, held 'the ferry-house and ferry and 20 feet round the ferry-house'. The last deed is dated 1715 and also mentions the ferry-house, ferry and ferry-boats, implying that the Grots controlled the ferry from 1496 to at least 1715 (Mitchell and Drummond 1875). In the 1720's mention is made of 'the town of Duncansbay only remarkable for John a' Grott's House... Here is the dwelling house of Grott of Wares...' (Macfarlane 1906-8).

At that time ferries were still sailing to Barwick in South Ronaldsay, presumably for 'Ferry Haven (ND 3799 7347 which, in 1873 is 'said to have been the place of embarkation to Stroma and the Orkneys during the earlier times' (Ordnance Survey Name Book [ONB] 1873).

In 1760 "Johnny Grott's House" was in ruins (Pococke 1887) and by 1793 it was 'totally gone but the place where it stood retains the name. The remains of the oak table have been seen by many now living who have inscribed their names on it' (OSA 1793).

'A small triangular grassy mound abaout 30 feet in breadth, rising with a slight elevation from a strip of green pasture ground which runs parallel to the sea-shore' was all that remained in 1873 (ONB 1873), while by 1957 a flagstaff had been erected on the mound (Robertson 1957).

Statistical Account (OSA) 1793; Name Book 1873; A Mitchell and J Drummond 1875; R Pococke 1887; W Macfarlane 1906-8; F W Robertson 1957.

The statement that a flagstaff now indicates the site of John o' Groat's house was confirmed at the Tourist Office, otherwise, no further information.

Visited by OS (J B), 21 July 1982.