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Blackmiddens

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Distillery (19th Century), Farmstead (19th Century)

Site Name Blackmiddens

Classification Distillery (19th Century), Farmstead (19th Century)

Canmore ID 106031

Site Number NJ42NW 11

NGR NJ 4257 2600

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/106031

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Bluesky International Limited 2025. Public Sector Viewing Terms

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Digital Images

View of byre from SE.
View of byre from SE.View from the interior of the cart-shed of the lateral end-joist that supported the SE ends of the longitudinal joists of the timber first floor.View from SW of the press alcove that is set into the NE gable of the farmhouse.View from NE of the SW end of the compartment at the SW end of the farmhouse, with the gable of the stable in the background.View from NE of an alcove in the SW end of the compartment at the SW end of the farmhouse.View of an alcove in the SW end of the compartment at the SW end of the farmhouse, showing a displaced timber lintel.Blackmiddens site planDetailed view of gear drive, connecting peg-drum threshing fixed-barn threshing mill with horse engine (outside, through wall to left)View from S across yard of N range of steadingView from SW along length of NE part of byre.View of edge of cobbling in byre.View from inside the wash-house of the blocked window in the NW wall.View from inside the wash-house of the NW gable of the farmhouse.View of the corbel that supported the lateral end-joist that was part of the timber first floor.A view from the NE end of the stable looking SW across the interior.View from SW along the SE side of the cart-shed and stable.View from SW of the lower (SE) part of the NE gable of the farmhouse.View from S of the junction of the E corner of the long narrow building standing on the N side of the farmstead and a later stone dyke. View from NW of interior of barn.View from SW of the SW side of the barn, showing junction of two phases of construction.View from SE of the modern timber partition wall between the barn and the SW end of the byre.View from NW showing the junction of two walls. On the right of the image is the NW side of a doorway in the SE side of the byre. Coming up to meet it from the SE and partly overlap it is the later SW wall of the building that stands on the NE side of the courtyard. Detail of inside of window in the SE (front) side of farmhouse.View from W of the SW side of the barn.General view of the farmstead from the W.View from NW of one of the enclosure walls that have been capped with cement.Detailed view of gear and flat-belt-pulley drive of horse-powered fixed barn threshing millView from S of S end of range containing threshing barn, showing slate roof, coped gable and cart entranceDetailed view of wooden peg drum of horse-powered fixed-barn threshing mill, also showing part of gear drive (left)Close-up view of a blocked doorway containing a small window in the SE face of the byre. View from E of the junction of the byre and the barn.View showing old sink and iron cauldron in the interior of the wash-house.A view of the inside E corner of the stable.View from NW of the threshing machine in the barn.View from SE of a blocked doorway containing a window in the SE wall of the farmhouse, close to the SW end.View from SW of the fireplace in the NE wall of the compartment at the SW end of the farmhouse.View of sheep-dip from the S.View from ESE of the southerly of two open-ended buildings situated immediately S of the courtyard steading. Blackmiddens site plan. 400dpi copy of Illustrator file GV007350View from NW of one of the enclosure walls that have been capped with cement.View of horse-powered fixed-barn threshing millView from S of ruinous range of dwellings associated with steadingDetail of overgrown cavity at centre of horse-engine platform, which provided power to drive the adjacent fixed-barn threshing millGeneral view of steading from N, showing main range containing horse-powered fixed-barn threshing mill, with turfed horse-engine platform visible at far end (right)View from E of S end of steading, showing roughly squared rubble walls, slate roofs and coped skews. The threshing mill is beyond the door (right)View from inside the byre of the vertical seam in the inner face of the wall that marks one edge of a reconstructed corner at the junction of the byre and the barn.View of wash-house from the SE.General view of the farmhouse from the SE.View from SW along the length of the long narrow building standing on the N side of the farmstead.General view of farmstead from the S.View from SE along the wall-head of the SW side of the barn.View from NW of the interior of the barn.View from E of the southerly of two open-ended buildings situated immediately S of the courtyard steading. View of quarry from SW.In the pasture to the SW of the steading there is evidence of former land-use. This view looks ENE along the line of a stone wall that has been removed leaving only a shallow groove in the surface of the turf. The disturbed area on the line of the feature is an excavation trench dug by machine for the Cabrach Trust investigation of the site in April 2019.Plan of Blackmiddens steadingPlan of Blackmiddens steading. 400dpi copy of Illustrator file GV007351View from WNW of one of the enclosure walls that have been capped with cement.View NE along length of byre.View of the roof structure seen from SW end of byre.Detail of roof structure of the byre.View from NE of the entrance in the NE end-wall of the stable.View of cart-shed and stable from the SE.View of the SE side of the stable from the S.View from NW of the modern timber partition wall that separates the NW end of the barn from the SW end of the byre.View looking SE from the interior of the farmhouse.View from E of blocked doorway in the NE side of the barn, at its junction with the byre.View from inside the cart-shed looking E out through the entrance.Detail of one of two large fireplaces within range of ruinous dwellings associated with the steadingView NE along length of byre.View from outside the wash-house of the blocked window in the NW wall.External view of one of the shuttered openings at first floor level in the SW side-wall of the cart-shed.A view from the NE end of the stable looking S across the interior.View from NW of the threshing machine in the barn.View from SE of the modern timber partition wall that separates the NW end of the barn from the SW end of the byre.View from SW of the attic window in the NE gable of the farmhouse.View from NE of the NE gable of the long narrow building standing on the N side of the farmstead.View from S of the S corner of the cart-shed and stable.View from NE of the NE gable of the stable.View from NW of the modern timber partition wall that separates the NW end of the barn from the SW end of the byre.View from interior of the farmhouse of a window and alcove/niche in the SE wall.In the pasture to the SW of the steading there is evidence of former land-use. This view looks WSW along the line of a stone wall that has been removed leaving only a shallow groove in the surface of the turf. The disturbed area on the line of the feature is an excavation trench dug by machine for the Cabrach Trust investigation of the site in April 2019.View of internal NE corner of farmhouse.Quarry viewed from south-west.General view from W of threshing barn at NW side of steading, with horse-engine platform in foregroundView of byre from the SE.View from E of a blocked window located close to the SW end of the SE side of the byre.View detailing structure of the roof of the byre.General view of the roof structure of the byre.View from SE looking through the doorway of the wash-house.A view from inside the stable of the blocked first floor window in the NW side.View of the cart-shed entrance from the SE.View from NE of the threshing machine in the barn.View of sheep-dip from the E.View from SW of the NE gable of the long narrow building standing on the N side of the farmstead.View of horse-engine gear-pit from SW.View from NNE of the NE end of stable.General view of steading from the E.Detailed view of wooden peg drum of horse-powered fixed-barn threshing mill

Administrative Areas

  • Council Aberdeenshire
  • Parish Rhynie
  • Former Region Grampian
  • Former District Gordon
  • Former County Aberdeenshire

Archaeology Notes

NJ42NW 11 4257 2600

(Location cited as NJ 4255 2600). This large farmstead with a horse-engine and platform is situated with several other buildings around a central courtyard. To the SW there are ten rick-bases, while in one building (to the NE) there is a large fireplace of cut granite which reportedly came from Lesmior Castle (NJ42NE 2).

NMRS, MS/712/23.

Further Details

Architecture Notes

NJ42NW 11 4257 2600

This is an early 19th century farmsteading with an associated range of now ruinous dwellings. The steading is also in a dilapidated condition, and was constructed from roughly squared rubble, with both hipped and gabled slate roofs. Significant features include the horse-engine platform adjacent to a threshing barn, within which there is a mostly intact fixed-barn horse-powered threshing mill (with wooden peg drum). The dwellings contain impressive fireplaces with large granite lintels.

This was photographically recorded due to a possible afforestation threat.

Visited by RCAHMS (MKO), 16 December 1997.

Further Details

Activities

Publication Account (2009)

Forest Heritage Scotland

The website text produced forBlackmiddens webpages on the Forest Heritage Scotland website (www.forestheritagescotland.com).

Introduction: An 19th century farm

On the outskirts of Clashindarroch Forest, there are the ruins of an old farmstead called Blackmiddens.

In the 19th century Blackmiddens was a farm with over 100 hectares of land. Today, the land is part of another farm and the buildings at Blackmiddens stand derelict, grouped around a central courtyard. Some of them still have their roofs, which are mostly of slate or corrugated iron, though one building has a turf roof. Turf roofs consisted of inverted slabs of turf laid across wooden roof beams. When covered with thatch they provided good insulation, keeping the buildings warm and dry over the winter.

In 1820, one of the buildings was used for making whisky. However, this enterprise? did not last long probably because there was no immediate fresh water supply, essential for whisky making. During the 19th century, there were many innovations in farming, including new techniques and equipment. Inside one of the farm buildings, you can find one such innovation, a horse powered threshing machine, known locally as a “tumbling tam”.

Threshing involved separating the grain on crops from the inedible seed cases, known as “chaff”. Threshing machines began to appear in 1790s and were common place by the mid 19th century. Prior to this, it was a time consuming and labour intensive job.

Blackmiddens was located on the Duke of Richmond’s estate. The1864 Evaluation Rolls record the occupier as William Smith; later the farm is associated with the Sharpe family.

It is unknown when the Sharpe family left but the farm was included in the land bought by the Forestry Commission in 1920.

Further Details

Excavation (8 April 2019 - 11 April 2019)

Peter Bye-Jensen - Cabrach Trust

NJ 42551 25905 and NJ 42546 25894 Excavations of the farm distillery at Blackmiddens were carried out, 8 – 11 April 2019.

Archive: The Cabrach Trust

Funder: The Cabrach Trust, Forestry and Land Scotland

Further Details

Measured Survey (8 April 2019 - 12 April 2019)

HES Special Survey 2019

A survey of Blackmiddens farmstead and distillery was undertaken by HES in April 2019 at the request of the Cabrach Trust, as part of a broader initiative researching distilleries in north-east Scotland. The survey, involving plane-table survey and dGPS mapping, resulted in an overall site plan at a scale of 1:500, a plan of the courtyard steading at 1:100 as well as ground photography. A description of the site, presented as a PDF publication (WP007489), is based on the survey of the remains, evidence from historic maps, and information gleaned from a limited amount of documentary research.

Visited by HES Survey and Recording (JRS, AM, HLS, KLG) 8-12 April 2019

Further Details

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