Culbin

This project is part of the Forestry Commission’s management

strategy as described under Kirkhill Forest, Aberdeen City.

The following features were recorded during fieldwork:

[NJ06SW 110] NJ 0190 6390 – NJ 01760 6391 Culbin Linear boundary.

[NJ06SW 111] NJ 0169 6388 – NJ 0176 6399 Culbin Four rigs with a wavelength of c11m running NNE–SSW. Located in a low lying damp area of ground, they aid in the identification of the land associated with the deserted settlement of Culbin. This settlement was abandoned at the end of the 16th century due to the impact of sand inundation. The presence of a sandy soil c50mm below a white sandy overburden suggests that

there may have been a gradual reduction in the productivity of the soil at this location, rather than a single catastrophic deep inundation of sand.

[NJ06SW 112] NJ 0162 6376 – NJ 0168 6370 Culbin A very slight ‘irregular’ curvilinear boundary appears to run between sandy outcrops.

[NJ06SW 113] NJ 0320 6366 Erinsfold This enclosure, c44 x 22m, is located on a flat hillock and its perimeter appears to be defined by a low turf wall. A smaller enclosure, 7 x 6m, is located on its SW side and a sub-rectangular area, c6 x 5m, is cut into the bank on its E side. An irregularly shaped structure, c6m long internally and between 1–3m wide, is located in the centre of the enclosure. A much larger enclosure, constructed of sand hillocks linked by banks is located below these features. All are presumably part of preparations for D-day and military field exercises. (See below).

[NJ06SW 113] NJ 0316 6389 – NJ 0336 6388 – NJ 0326 6348 – NJ 0317 6348 – NJ 0311 6372 (defines area) Erinsfold This area is covered by enclosures of various sizes that presumably relate to preparations for the D-day landings. The enclosures were constructed from sand and use the natural sand dunes. Remains include possible embankments, foxholes and artillery positions.

[NJ06SW 114] NJ 0322 6350 Erinsfold An irregularly shaped small enclosure presumably a practice ‘fox-hole’ built as part of preparations for D-day.

[NJ06SW 115] NJ 0129 6298 – NJ 0116 6298 Culbin A very large enclosure which consists of a range of banks and annexes, presumably part of preparations for D-day.

[NJ06SW 116] NJ 0006 6155 Wellhill Small section of curving dyke which has been cut by a later improvement period enclosure dyke.

[NJ06SW 117] NJ 0056 6269 Culbin Small area of five rigs with a wavelength of c8m running at 160°. They define an area of just under an acre and were presumably associated with the settlement of Culbin.

[NJ06SW 118] NJ 0159 6335 Culbin At least one linear boundary and the suggestion of badly damaged rigs exist in a fertile area among the dunes. It was presumably associated with the settlement of Culbin, though an earlier date cannot be ruled out.

[NH95NW 79] NH 9271 5914 – NH 9184 5859 Loch Loy A narrow bank lies to the seaward side of the FC land. The bank which reaches c2m high in places appears to have been constructed from artificially linked natural sandbanks. The bank may have been a sea defence, possibly protecting an agriculturally productive area. Alternatively it may be related to WW2 defensive measures or military exercises.

Archive: Aberdeenshire Council SMR and Forestry Commission, Aberdeenshire

Funder: Moray and Aberdeenshire Forestry Commission