| Details |
Boundary (March) stone Alpha marked 'A ABD CR', which marks the boundaries of both the outer and the inner marches. It is named Alpha from the first letter of the Greek alphabet and is located at the north end of the parapet over the mouth of Ferryhill Burn at River Dee, opposite Old Ford Road. This stone is a comparatively recent addition to the series, dating to the early 19th century, from the same time as the Omega stone (NJ90NE0032) was introduced. It has no counterpart earlier than this date. It is a small rectangular granite stone against the side of a concrete bridge, with a tooled chamfered angle bearing the inscription. Aberdeen, in common with many other cities, features a number of march stones. March, in this sense, comes form the middle Scots word for boundary. In this particular case these set of stones numbered 1-65, but with additional Alpha and Omega stones mark 2 boundaries. There is an inner set of march stones (marked ABD, the relevant number, and CR, for City Royalty) which define the outer edge of a ring of crofts which circled the old Royal Burgh of Aberdeen. These croft lands were known variously as the Burgh Roods and the 'terrirtorium croftorum burgi'. The majority of the stones define the Freedom Lands of Aberdeen: these4 lands were composed a several parcels of land acquired by Aberdeen at different points in its history. Principally by a charter of 1319 Robert the Bruce feued to Aberdeen his Royal Forest of Stocket (the term Royal Forest here meaning a hunting ground) for £213 6s 8d Sterling. Whilst in 1379 Aberdeen purchased the lands of Gilcomston and then in 1459 the lands of Cruives (now Woodside). The stones which define the Freedom Lands only (and not also the inner marches) are simply marked with the relevant number and the letters ABD. The freedom lands were effectively lands which Aberdeen had the right to rent out (or tack). In return this provided an annual income for the burgh. Parts of the lands were reserved as moss and moor land in order to provide natural resources for the burgh. From 1551 Aberdeen had the right to feu (or permanently alienate) these lands. This led to the creation of several large estate around Aberdeen, such as those at Kingswells, or Northfield. Most of which are recognisable as suburbs of Aberdeen today. The earliest boundary markers seem to have been natural features, such as burns and large stones. Over time a more sophisticated system arose using large 'earth fast' stones marked with saucers, or the town's mark or a series of holes, known as witter holes. It is also known that cairns were specifically erected in order to delineate the marches. Unfortunately known as these march cairns survive although in a number of cases the earth fast stones do. In 1790 a decision as taken to replace the old system of markers with the numbered and lettered stones, such as we see today. This was completed up to number 48. The remainder were completed by 1790. The marches were inspected by the town magistrates at the Riding of the Marches. There earliest recorded riding in Aberdeen took place in 1525, although it was no doubt an older practice than that. The last recorded one took place on 4 September 1884.
|
Historic Environment Records (HER) 
Aberdeen City
HER -
NJ90NW0399 - NORTH ESPLANADE WEST, ABERDEEN