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Remains of a depopulated settlement. The heavily robbed footings of at least ten longhouses are situated on improved ground on the valley floor south-southwest of the steading of Allanaquoich. One building, which has not been reduced to its footings lies within a grassy bank. The remains of a lime kiln show as a circular mound 0.7 m in height, at the centre of which are the fragmentary remains of a bowl. A series of terraced platforms and a mill site were located to the north of the existing farmhouse, probably relating to the buildings portrayed on the OS 1st edition map (1869). Structures have been cut into the slope to create a level platform with a low earthen bank forming the front. Other structures lie on built up platforms revetted on the south by a stone bank. One has a cobbled interior. A corner of a mortared stone structure lies in the woodland. A number of sherds of 19th and 20th century pottery and glass were observed on the surface of these structures. The mill pond and dam lie uphill from the farmhouse, in woodland, and a lade leads down to the machine area immediately to the east of the existing farm buildings. Settlement at Allanaquoich dates from at least the 15th century. Exchequer Rolls from 1484 lists the farms of Wester and Easter Allanaquoich. Allanaquoich was a separate estate until sold to Lord Braco in 1736. The two townships continued until the late 18th century when they were cleared to facilitate agricultural improvements. Mid 18th century maps show the township to the southwest of the present improvement period farmhouse which, with the steading, dates from the early 19th century and was in use until the 1980s. The farmhouse was renovated in 1999. In August 1998 a standing building survey was undertaken by Kirkdale archaeology. An assessment of the joinery finishes and the layout of the building indicates that it was probably constructed between 1810-1830, and three phases of development was identified. A 1998 survey of the area around the farmhouse recorded a series of building platforms to the north and west of the farmhouse and steading. These appeared to correspond to the buildings on the OS 1st edition map. The most westerly had been damaged by the digging of a drain to the north which had also exposed part of its cobbled surface. Three small trenches were excavated by NTS in 2001 to investigate the building and assess damage to the north. The work recorded a building of circa 9.5 m by 5 m with a cobbled interior (indicating use for stock), constructed on a natural terrace built up to create a flat platform. Map evidence shows that it had been in use in 1866 but demolished by 1901. Walkover survey was carried out by Cameron Archaeology in June/July 2015 to assess damage on the Mar Lodge estate resulting from flooding in the wake of storm Bertha.
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Historic Environment Records (HER)