Glen Nochty – One-Place Study – Torrancroy

Glen Nochty – One-Place Study – Torrancroy

Torrancroy is a farm that has routes going back to the 17th century and perhaps even earlier. It has associations not only with the Allanachs but with many of the prominent Glen Nochty families. Although it was abandoned at various times in the 20th century, it is again a working farm.

View of site

View of the farm in 2023.

Meaning of Name

According to ‘Place Names of West Aberdeenshire’ the name means ‘hard knoll’ from the Gaelic ‘torran cruaidh’.

Archaeological notes from Canmore

There are four sites associated with the Torrancroy site  on Canmore

126531 – Farmstead (Period Unassigned)

126581 – Building (Period Unassigned)

All that is now visible of a building that stood 100m N of Torrancroy farmstead (NJ31NW 47) are some featureless piles of rubble adjacent to a new building plot. The building was depicted as roofed on both the 1st and 2nd editions of the OS 6-inch map (Aberdeenshire, 1869 and 1903 respectively, sheet lx).

Visited by RCAHMS (JRS, ATW), 4 March 1998.

126583 – Building (Period Unassigned)

Nothing is visible in a heavily disturbed area of rough ground between the public road to the S and an improved field to the N of a building that is depicted as roofed on both the 1st and 2nd editions of the OS 6-inch map (Aberdeenshire, 1869 and 1903 respectively, sheet lx).

Visited by RCAHMS (JRS, ATW), 4 March 1998.

137487 – Quarry (Period Unassigned)

The overgrown remains of a roadside quarry lie 140m ESE of Torrancroy farmstead (NJ31NW 47). It measures about 15m from WNW to ESE by 10m transversely and up to 1.8m in depth on the NNE and quarry probably dates from the period between 1869 and 1903. It is not depicted on the 1st edition of the OS 6-inch map (Aberdeenshire, 1869, sheet lx), but its position is indicated on the 2nd edition of the map (1903, sheet lx) by an area of rough ground between the improved field to the N and the public road to the S.

Visited by RCAHMS (JRS, ATW), 4 March 1998.

1747 – Roys Military Map

Roy’s Military map refers to Toroncroy and Nether Torancroy (Newton).

 

1766 –Lease Renewal

When James MacHardy of Torancroy, Glen Nochty renewed his lease in 1766, in addition to the monetary rent he paid annually, he was obliged to provide a number of labour services to Glenbuchat Estate viz. for every oxgate (approximately 17 acres) of his land – six horse days to cart dung, six horse days to harrow. six horse days to carry corn and fodder up to 4 miles, six man days for shearing corn at harvest, six man days to cast and spread peats, six horse days to carry pears, two horse days ‘to defend inchroachments of the wales of Don Bucket and Nochtie’, two horse days for ordinary carriages up to 24 miles distance, two man days to go errands or carry letters up to 24 miles distance. He was also bound ‘to carry and transport yearly from the Mains or Mill of Glenbucket to the harbour of Aberdeen upon his own proper charges and expenses such a proportion of Multures collected at the said Mill’. However, by the mid to late 18th century there was the option of convening these obligations to a monetary payment (a fue) of 5% of his original rent. ‘

1801 – Newspaper Article

An advert in September 1801 lists farms to let, including Torrancroy.

1813 – Newspaper Advert

An advert in December 1813 lists farms to let.

1837 – Newspaper Article

Ledmac

1841 – Census

The 1841 census states the following individuals as resident in Torrancroy

• James McHardy – 70 –  Farmer
• Isabella McHardy – 70
• John McHardy – 35
• Harry McHardy – 25
• John Grassick – 40 – Schoolmaster
• Hellen Grassick – 10
• Jane Grassick – 5

1843 – Map

Torrancroy appears on the first OS map.

1851 – Census

The 1851 census states the following individuals as resident in Torrancroy. The enumerator has divided Torrancroy into three dwellings ; number 22 headed by Samuel McHardy, number 23 headed by James McHardy and number 24 headed by Harry McHardy.

• Samuel McHardy – 49 – Head – Farmer 30 acres – POB Cabrach
• Jane McHardy – 38 – Wife – POB Glenbucket
• James McHardy – 19 – Son – Farm Labourer – POB Strathdon
• Samuel McHardy – 17 – Son – Farm Labourer – POB Strathdon
• John McHardy – 15 – Son – Scholar – POB Strathdon
• Alexander McHardy – 13 – Son – Scholar – POB Strathdon
• Charles McHardy – 10  – Son – Scholar – POB Strathdon
• Heugh McHardy – 7 – Son – Scholar – POB Strathdon
• Duff McHardy – 4 – Son – POB Strathdon
• Jane McHardy – 2 – Daughter – POB Strathdon
• George McHardy – 4 months – Son – POB Strathdon
• James McHardy – 77 – Head – Farmer of 6 acres – POB Strathdon
• Isobel McHardy – 81 – Wife – POB Inveravon
• John McHardy – 46 – Son – Farm Labourer – POB Cabrach
• Alexander McHardy – 31 – Son – Widower – Farm Labourer – POB Cabrach
• Sophia Stewart – 21 – House Servant – POB Strathdon
• Harry McHardy – 36 – Head – Ag Labourer – POB Cabrach
• Isabel McHardy – 24 – Wife – POB Aberdeenshire Echt
• Hellen McHardy – 1 – Daughter – POB Skene
• Isabel McHardy – 8 months – Daughter – POB Strathdon

1861 – Census

The 1861 census states the following individuals as resident in Torrancroy. The enumerator has divided Torrancroy into two dwellings ; number 25 headed by Samuel McHardy, and number 26 headed by Alexander McHardy

• Samuel McHardy – 59 – Head – Farmer 45 acres – POB Cabrach
• Jane McHardy – 48 – Wife – POB Glenbucket
• Alexander McHardy – 23 – Son – Ploughman – POB Strathdon
• Heugh McHardy – 17 – Son – Ploughman – POB Strathdon
• Duff McHardy – 14 – Son – General Farm Labourer – POB Strathdon
• Jane McHardy – 12 – Daughter – Scholar – POB Strathdon
• George McHardy – 10 – Son – Scholar – POB Strathdon
• Mary McHardy – 8 – Daughter – Scholar – POB Strathdon
• Ann McHardy – 5 – Daughter – Scholar – POB Strathdon
• Hellen McHardy – 2 – Daughter- POB Strathdon
• Alexander McHardy – 48 – Head – Crofter – POB Cabrach
• Jane McHardy – 44 – Wife – POB Strathdon

1871 – Census

The 1871 census states the following individuals as resident in Torrancroy. The enumerator has divided Torrancroy into two dwellings ; number 26 headed by Samuel McHardy, and number 27 headed by Hugh McHardy

• Samuel McHardy – 70 – Head – Farmer 53 acres of which 40 arable – POB Cabrach
• Jane McHardy – 59 – Wife – POB Glenbucket
• Duff McHardy – 24 – Son – Farmer’s Son – POB Strathdon (marked as ‘imbecile’)
• Jane McHardy – 22 – Daughter – Farmer’s daughter – POB Strathdon
• Mary McHardy – 18 – Daughter – Farmer’s daughter – POB Strathdon
• Hellen McHardy -12 – Daughter – Scholar – POB Strathdon
• Hugh McHardy – 27 – Head – Cattle dealer – POB Strathdon
• Ann McHardy – 23 – Wife – POB Glenbucket

1881 – Census

The 1881 census states the following individuals as resident in Torrancroy. The enumerator has divided Torrancroy into two dwellings ; number 16 headed by Jane McHardy, and number 17 headed by Isabella McHardy

• Jane McHardy – 68 – Head – Farmer of 45 acres arable – POB Glenbucket
• Jane McHardy – 32 – Daughter – Farmer’s daughter – POB Strathdon
• Ann McHardy – 25 – Daughter – Domestic Servant (out-of-employment) – POB Strathdon
• Helen McHardy -22 – Daughter – Farmer’s daughter – POB Strathdon
• Isabella McHardy – 27 – Head (married) – Farm Servant’s Wife – POB Towie
• James McHardy – 6 – Son – Scholar – POB Strathdon
• John McHardy – 4 – Son – POB Strathdon
• William McHardy – 2 – Son – POB Strathdon
• Alexander McHardy – 7 months – POB Strathdon

1882 – Book mention

From ‘My Life as a Mason’ by James Duff McGregor,

“I came to celebrate the New Year in the Glen on 27 December 1882. James Farquharson the Mason knew I was coming for a holiday, and when I arrived, he told me he had taken a contract for additions to Allargue House, Corgarff. This was the first big contract he had taken and it had to be carried out during the winter months and he had to have the job finished and ready for roofing by 1st June 1883 otherwise he would be fined £2 for each day he required to finish beyond that date – a pretty hard bargain! He wanted me to come and work with him but I told him I was not very keen on the job, especially in winter and that I had a good job in Edinburgh. However, father and mother wished me to accept the job so I gave in. I had no working clothes home with me but Farquharson said he would soon give me clothes until I got my own, so I never got my holiday for we set out for Corgarff next morning – 28 December. James Farquharson, A. Turner, Robbie Kellas with his white horse and myself landed at Cockbridge that morning while A. Smith (Roadnie) and Allanach of Altdachie, late of Torrencroy came to do the carting a few days later. Robbie drove the corners and lintels from the hill.

We started for the hill the following morning to quarry and dress stones. It was a very fine winter and we never lost an hour until the end of April when we had three days of sleet and rain. The present winter has been some like it but not so much wind. Well, we got finished with the building at Allargue three weeks before the specified time and James Farquharson got £2 per day for each day before 1st June. That gave him £36 which helped him considerably as he had little profit on the contract. I used to ask him what he would have done had it been a stormy winter? He said he was too keen on getting the job and risked too much but he would never do so again.”

1891 – Census

The 1891 census states the following individuals as resident in Torrancroy. The enumerator has divided Torrancroy into two dwellings ; number 17 headed by James Allanach, and number 18 headed by Jane Coutts.

• James Allanach – 44 – Head – Farmer – POB Strathdon
• Jane Allanach – 54 – Wife – Farmer’s Wife – POB Strathdon
• Alexander Allanach – 16 – Son – Farmer’s Son – POB Strathdon
• Agnes Allanach – 5 – Niece – POB Lumphanan
• Jane Watt – 24 – Servant – General Servant (Domestic) – POB Strathdon
• Jane Coutts – Head – 39 – Pauper – POB Strathdon (marked as ‘Imbecile’)

1901 – Census

The 1901 census states the following individuals as resident in Torrancroy. The enumerator has divided Torrancroy into two dwellings ; number 31 headed by Jane Coutts, and number 32 headed by Alexander Allanach.

• Jane Coutts – Head – 48 – Pauper – POB Strathdon (marked as ‘Imbecile’)
• Alexander Allanach – 26 – Head – Overseer – POB Strathdon
• Helen Allanach – 26 – Wife – POB Glenbucket
• George Allanach – 1 – Son – POB Glenbucket

1911 – Census

The 1911 census states the following individuals as resident in Torrancroy

• William Baird – 68 – Head – Farmer – POB Leochel Cushnie
• Ann Baird – 64 – Wife – POB Marnoch, Banff
• Jane W Baird – 23 – Daughter – POB Leochel Cushnie
• Harry Anderson – 31 – Servant – Horseman on Farm – POB Tarland
• Alick Taylor – 27 – Son-in-law – Railway Signalman – Great North of Scotland Railway – POB Strathdon
• Hellen Ann Taylor – 25 – Daughter – POB Leochel Cushnie
• William Taylor – 3 – Grandson – POB Buckie, Banff
• James A Taylor – 8 months – Grandson – POB Dyce

1921 – Census

The 1921 census states the following individuals as resident in Torrancroy

• John Don – 45 – Head  – Farmer – POB Strathdon
• Elizabeth Don – 36 – Wife – POB Strathdon
• Helen Don – 4 – Daughter – POB Strathdon
• Elizabeth Don – 3 – Daughter – POB Strathdon
• Isabella Don – 1 – Daughter – POB Strathdon
• Baby (f) – 0 –  Daughter – POB Strathdon
• Annie S McGregor – 12 – Granddaughter – POB Strathdon
• Scot S McGregor – 10 – Grandson – POB Strathdon
• Charles S McGregor – 4 – POB Strathdon

1926 – Electoral Roll

The Register confirms the following residents with a right to vote :

• Elizabeth Don
• John Don

1944 – WW2 Casualty

Private Scott S McGregor (2876365) of the 2nd Bn Gordon Highlanders passes 13th December 1944, aged 33 years old. He is buried at Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Burma (B4. Q. 13). The exact details are unknown but 2nd Battalion The Gordon Highlanders was captured after the Japanese took Singapore in February 1942 and subsequently worked on the Burma or Death Railway.

1945 – Newspaper Article

A mere six weeks after Japan was defeated in the Second World War, a senior officer of the Gordon Highlanders 2nd Battalion gave a devastating interview to the Evening Express about his experiences as a POW on the infamous Burma railway. This would have been Scott McGregor’s Battalion and gives harrowing details of what happened to the troops which surrendered.

Blairgowrie man Jack Stitt was a Gordon Highlander who refused to let the Death Railway defeat him

1946 – Civilian Residence Register

The Register confirms the following residents :

• Elizabeth Don
• John Don
• Charles McGregor

 

1966 – Electoral Roll

There are no recorded voters for Torrancroy on the 1966 register.

1970 – Electoral Roll

A detailed account of life in the 1970s and early 1980s at Torrancroy is given here, and includes photos from the time.