Wardhouse, Home Farm

NJ53SE 9 570 303

See also NJ53SE 8.

Well preserved medieval/post-medieval fermtoun covering c.16 acres of what is now permanent pasture. Parallel blocks of rigs, mainly N-S radiate out from a central area of house sites with attached pens and enclosures, 120m by 60m. Rigs c.100m long, 8.8m wide.

P Yeoman 1987.

Topographical survey of fermtoun: At least five buildings were recorded, along with associated sub-rectangular enclosures. The buildings averaged 8m in length, and were separated from the rigs on the W side by a large bank 5m in width. An exposed length showed the bank to be of stone rubble construction. An E-W hollow-way through the settlement ran towards a N exit in the bank. The visible earthworks represent the final phase of lengthy agricultural settlement; some of these features overlay traces of earlier rig. Geophysical survey has indicated that the visible prehistoric settlement 150m-200m to the S (NJ 53SE 8) underlies the E part of the fermtoun. Two hut circles, each c. 15m in diameter, associated with possible pits, middens and land divisions were identified (strong magnetic anomalies). Elsewhere features related to those observed in the topographical survey were plotted.

P Yeoman 1988.

Completion of topographical survey. A low stony bank, now perforated by four or more openings, encloses an area c100m square. Four rectangular buildings were recorded on the W side of the site, each associated with attached enclosures. The buildings measured an average of 15m in length (not 8m as previously reported) by 4m to 8m in width. Evidence was produced for houses with stone foundations having been repeatedly rebuilt on the same site. Two small, circular corn-driers were located. Blocks of long, sinuously-curving rigs radiate out from the fermtoun, varying in wavelength from 4m to 8m, with an average height of 0.2m. Narrower, poorly-defined rigs were visible to the SW of the fermtoun, and within the enclosed area, sealed in part by farm buildings.

Three circular house sites, each c15m in diameter, have now been recorded within the enclosed area. Two of these survive as earthworks, the other having been identified by geophysics. The relationship

between these, the fermtoun and an area of prehistoric huts and fields (NJ53SE 8) 150m to the SE remains unclear.

The site does not feature on an estate plan of the 1780s or on Roy's map of 1747-55. On the latter the site is only a few hundred metres E of the landscaped grounds of the now-vanished Gordon Hall. The fermtoun may already have been long gone, or else was swept away during the construction of the Hall. Sponsor: Grampian Regional Council.

P Yeoman 1990e.

[Reclassified rig; small carins; farmstead possible]