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Site of a manse, also known as Invernochtie Manse. The manses surrounding the Cathedral were all named for different areas in the diocese of Aberdeen. The different areas provided the prebend, or payment, for the canons who worked in St Machar's Cathedral. The location of the manses of the canons of the cathedral gave the name to this part of Old Aberdeen, the Canonry or Chanonry. This manse stood on the west side of the Chanonry, close to Cluny's Port and opposite the manse of St. Katherine. It was situated between Turriff manse on the north, the Loch of Old Aberdeen to the west and Cluny's Wynd (St. Machar Drive) to the south. Many manses surrounding the Chanonry were built in the later medieval period. There was some evidence that this manse was built or founded in the mid-14th century when William Calabre was prebend of Invernochty and was granted his residence near the Chanonry (Reg. Episc. Aberdeen, ii, 238); it was possible that it was built as late as 1431. Sometime in the 15th century there were complaints that the manses were run-down and the boundary walls needed to be repaired. The canons who resided in the manses were instructed to fix the walls or be penalised (Morgan, Old Aberdeen, 36). The household items in the medieval manses were to be handed down by each canon to his successor and may have included simple bed linen, kitchen utensils, necessary furniture for the public room and items needed for the brewing of ale. In 1575, Alexander Hay was listed as having an annual rent of 10s out of this property, as well as other properties/manses in the Chanonry (RMS, iv, 2360). At the time, Hay was the secretary or chamberlain to the young king James I and his annual rents from the properties in the Chanonry was more than likely a reward for his faithful service. It was described as ruinous in 1581 when John Elphinstone, rector, sold it to George Barclay, burgess, and his wife Marjory Cheyne. Sir Alexander Gordon of Cluny, provost of Old Aberdeen, bought the property in the early 17th century. He later acquired the manses and gardens of Turriff and Methlick and combined these three properties to make a substantial enclosed garden in 1623 that extended towards the loch to the west. In addition, he had built a gallery and joined it with the chamber above Cluny's port. The owner of the property in the mid-18th century was Lewis Gordon of Kinmundy. On the Ordnance Survey map of 1867- 9, the property could still be seen to have extensive gardens but by 1898, the manses were demolished and gardens re- formed to become part of Cruickshank Botanical Gardens.
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Historic Environment Records (HER) 
Aberdeen City
HER -
NJ90NW0181 - STRATHDON MANSE, THE CHANONRY, OLD ABERDEEN