Archaeology Notes

Event ID 668566

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Archaeology Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/668566

NJ56NW 8 507 663

Foe (successor and present) town of Cullen, see NJ56NW 40.

(Approx: NJ 5076 6637) The Old Town of Cullen commenced from near the Castle Hill where the walk strikes off from avenue, and extended in one long street to near the Old Mill, the church being near the middle of the town. Beside the church was the school, the Town-House, the Tolbooth, the market cross, and close by was the Manse.

Anon 1880.

The town and burgh of 'Invercullen' are mentioned as far back as 1198-9. The town was burnt down in May 1645, by Montrose's army.

A Jervise 1873.

The yard of the ancient grammar school of Cullen came up to the churchyard wall, and just at hand there is the one remaining small building of the old town of Cullen.

Anon 1927.

No traces of the old town of Cullen can now be seen within the policies of Cullen House (NJ56NW 6.00).

Visited by OS (WDJ) 15 September 1961.

As above. Perimeter of the town delineated on record sheet from May's map of 1762 (Cramond 1882)

W Cramond 1882; Visited by OS (WDJ) 15 September 1961.

Cullen was created a royal burgh 1189 x 1198, and is first documented about 1250.

G S Pryde 1965.

Of the Cullen that was created a royal burgh in the 13th century, but little remains. The old town, which extended from the surviving castle mound (NJ56NW 10) to the late medieval church of St Mary (NJ56NW 5) was, by the early 19th century, in too close proximity to the Seafield laird's house extensions (for which, see NJ56NW 6.00). Like the duke of Gordon at Fochabers in 1776, the solution was to demolish the village and create a new planned settlement (NJ56NW 40) to the E, at some distance from the big house.

I A G Shepherd 1986.