Hill Of Minnes
Gold Mine(S) (Period Unassigned)
Site Name Hill Of Minnes
Classification Gold Mine(S) (Period Unassigned)
Alternative Name(s) Menzies, Golden-bank
Canmore ID 20408
Site Number NJ92SW 5
NGR NJ 94 23
NGR Description NJ c. 94 23
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/20408
- Council Aberdeenshire
- Parish Foveran
- Former Region Grampian
- Former District Gordon
- Former County Aberdeenshire
NJ92SW 5 c. 94 23.
Gold was found 'at Menzies, in the Golden-bank there, in the parish of Foveran', during the reign of James V, and a silver-mine was recorded there in 1683.
R W Cochran-Patrick 1878.
There is no local local knowledge of this mine, but Minnes in Hill of Minnes at NJ 9473 2375 could be a corruption of Menzies.
Visited by OS (RD) 20 March 1964.
In the old Scotch tongue, the singular 'minne' was used in the case of a 'mine for metals or ores, as gold, silver, lead, iron, etc.'. Hence, the equation of this hill with an episode (or episodes) of mining, seems reasonably secure. 'Menzies' has no such connotation; and being the plural of 'menzie', refers to a body or a company of men.
For evidence of quarrying on the hill, see NJ92SW 52, NJ92SW 55, NJ92SW 122.
Visited by RCAHMS (ATW, JRS), 28 January 1997.
A J Aitken 1973.
