Begg's House
Date 22 June 1993
Event ID 893362
Category Management
Type Site Management
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/893362
Begg's House is an outstanding and rare survival of an early Donside vernacular farmhouse. Although now falling into decay it nevertheless exhibits some very fine interior features which identify it as a superior dwelling in the Glen. The extraordinary wide-arched ingle-type fireplace enclosing a canopied central hearth was the only one located during the 2005 survey of Glenbuchat, but a few identical or very similar structures were discovered in the adjoining parish of Strathdon at the old farmhouse at Skellater House, Bellabeg House (also in the older house), West Tornahaish and Mains of Glencarvie. A 'Glenbuchat ingle of the last century´ is illustrated in the Book of Glenbuchat (fig 39) but it does not immediately appear to be the Badenyon example leading to the assumption that there is (or was) at least one further example in the Glen, possibly that at Dulax which may have been partly enclosed. Fenton & Walker say "These fireplaces were much larger than one would expect in the size of building, being of a scale more suitable for the great hall of a tower house or castle". A striking example of the great hearth, with well cut voussoirs, can be found in a farmhouse dated 1822 in Glenfenzie at the top of Glengairn. The wall recess beside the front door is another feature found in a number of Strathdon houses, its purpose was probably for storing a container of milk or water. Badenyon (spelt Badaneoin on the 1st Ordnance Survey map) is sited at the spot where the old drove road from the north crosses the glen, and is fairly typical, although larger than most, of the small farming settlements in Glenbuchat.
The depopulation of this area is well documented, with ample evidence of ruins at almost every settlement. Badenyon, though, has earlier connections as the site of Badenyon Castle is immediately to the east of Begg's House, itself superseded at the beginning of the twentieth century by the separately listed Jeannie's House. There are two steading ranges at the Badenyon settlement, that immediately to the west of Begg's House is a slate-roofed U-plan steading of slightly later date, listed at category C(S). (Historic Scotland)
