Almorness, Orchardton and Gelston Castle Estates.

During the summer of 1824, a very detailed survey of all the lands forming the estates of Almorness, Orchardton and Gelston Castle, was undertaken. This survey was as a consequence of the death of the owner, Mr Douglas, and the absence of a male heir required that the estate be divided between his three daughters.

Local tradition has it that each daughter was so determined to exact as much money as possible from the others that even individual trees were counted and valued. This valuation is indeed so detailed that this may well have been the requirement placed on the valuators!

Ultimately, the estates were divided so that Mrs Mary Douglas or Robinson, and her husband William Rose Robinson procured the Almorness portion, Mrs Sarah Douglas or Maxwell and her husband Lieut. Col.  Christopher Maxwell the Orchardton portion, and Mrs Matilda Douglas or Maitland and her husband William Maitland the Gelston Castle portion.

The table reproduced below was the General Abstract of the Valuation.  Selecting an individual farm will take you to the detailed break-down for each property.
Contents
Rent
Purchase
Acres
Roods
Chains
Pounds
Shillings
Pence
Pounds
Shillings
Pence
Nethertown of Almorness
593
3
37
276
12
7
8841
17
6
Holme of Almorness
104
0
28
62
12
6
1947
15
0
Park of Almorness
112
1
29
70
13
5
2137
17
6
Woodhead
3
3
22
6
2
1
143
2
6
School Parks of Almorness
6
0
39
4
0
9
121
2
6
Palnackie
25
3
32
36
7
4
1091
0
0
Merchant's Park Feus etc.
7
0
23
11
15
9
299
19
1
North Glen of Almorness
108
0
27
100
11
10
3031
6
5
Caigton and Flock
571
3
15
408
19
11
12492
17
6
South Glen of Almorness
196
2
5
117
14
11
4323
18
8
Clone
32
0
28
31
11
11
947
17
6
Auchencairn
2
2
34
22
4
0
456
0
0
Old Orchardton
171
0
25
164
17
3
5504
17
6
Bush
4
1
5
5
0
3
161
7
6
Loch Hill
14
0
12
12
18
4
387
10
0
West Loch Hill
3
3
12
9
4
8
198
5
0
Isle
55
2
34
40
7
5
1340
15
2
Dougan Hill
146
2
33
155
6
9
4675
10
0
Chapel Croft
304
1
18
328
16
9
10650
8
2
Orchardton Mains
188
0
8
252
2
4
12701
3
6
Thomas Deuchar's Land
18
1
36
21
1
2
654
8
0
Brydson's Park
5
2
5
6
5
10
433
15
0
Thorneglass
43
3
37
13
2
0
400
14
6
Screel
759
0
34
211
10
0
7429
2
7
Chapleyard
7
1
38
16
15
7
453
7
4
Whitehill
340
3
28
65
16
4
1999
12
0
Gelston
59
3
31
31
7
9
961
12
6
Potterland
329
0
30
107
6
1
3294
2
1
Heugh yard
20
1
23
13
17
8
356
10
0
Blackbellie
256
3
57
133
15
7
4121
7
6
Glenyerrick & Gaigrie
283
1
29
83
5
4
2848
0
0
Doach
15
2
26
10
15
10
173
15
0
Castlegower
350
2
32
270
1
9
8324
16
0
Boreland
349
3
36
314
18
8
9332
0
4
Castle Parks & part Boreland
201
2
15
326
5
8
19530
12
3
Miltown Parks & Feus
66
3
23
105
0
8
3617
18
9
Halmyres
303
0
9
402
3
7
11318
9
1
Mid Kelton
369
1
9
426
14
5
12981
12
6
Acres
6444
2
13
4678
4
10
161706
6
5
 

Ewart Library: 017 FE Box1 (163).

 

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Copyright original material and this selection � 1998-2003 James Bell. Much material however is out of copyright.
Last modified: December 13, 2002