Perthshire | 14th Century
Balmachreuchie lies in Strathardle, Perthshire. Parts of the Cateran Trail, named for the cattle thieves who raided the area for centuries, pass through Strathardle following old drovers’ roads. There are several possible origins for the name Balmachreuchie. Bal likely comes from the Gaelic for ‘settlement’ though this could mean the settlement of peat-stacks, of small springs, of wood on a hill or of the sons of a person named Cruach.
From around 1400 the lands of Balmachreuchie were acquired by the Maxwell family. For generations, the Maxwells were key nobles in the southwest of Scotland, and several Lords Maxwell held the important position of Warden of the West March, responsible for law and defence in the troublesome region.
1865-1867 OS map Forfarshire, Sheet XXIX. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland. (CC-BY NLS)
His son Robert, 5th Lord Maxwell, held many important political and military positions and was one the Regents of the kingdom in 1536-7. In 1620, Robert, 10th Lord Maxwell, was made Earl of Nithsdale by King James VI and confirmed in various lands and baronies, including of Balmachreuchie.
Balmacreuchie © 2007 Richard Webb (CC BY-SA 2.0)
His son Robert, 2nd Earl of Nithsdale, also a firm Royalist, was later restored to the family lands. In 1674, the Barony of Balmachreuchie was disposed by the Maxwells to Andrew Spalding of Ashintully, whose family had long been important in this area of Perthshire. The Jacobite leader the Earl of Mar is said to have visited Ashtintully Castle shortly before the Rising of 1715 to secure David Spalding of Ashintully’s support by making him a Lieutenant Colonel.
Many men of the region joined him, while Andrew Spalding of Glenkilry, brother of David, led the Spalding clansmen to fight at the indecisive Battle of Sheriffmuir for the House of Stuart.
Minor stream in Strathardle © Trevor Littlewood (CC BY-SA 2.0)
In the nineteenth century the barony passed to the Rutherford Aytoun of Ashintully family whose descendants held it into the twentieth century. The lands have since passed through several hands. In 2011, the Barony of Balmachreuchie was acquired by Dr Timothy Spaulding, a descendant of the Spaldings who once held the barony.
The Cateran Trail © 2006 Lis Burke (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Perthshire | 14th Century
Balmachreuchie lies in Strathardle, Perthshire. Parts of the Cateran Trail, named for the cattle thieves who raided the area for centuries, pass through Strathardle following old drovers’ roads. There are several possible origins for the name Balmachreuchie. Bal likely comes from the Gaelic for ‘settlement’ though this could mean the settlement of peat-stacks, of small springs, of wood on a hill or of the sons of a person named Cruach.
From around 1400 the lands of Balmachreuchie were acquired by the Maxwell family. For generations, the Maxwells were key nobles in the southwest of Scotland, and several Lords Maxwell held the important position of Warden of the West March, responsible for law and defence in the troublesome region.
1865-1867 OS map Forfarshire, Sheet XXIX. Reproduced with the permission of the National Library of Scotland. (CC-BY NLS)
His son Robert, 5th Lord Maxwell, held many important political and military positions and was one the Regents of the kingdom in 1536-7. In 1620, Robert, 10th Lord Maxwell, was made Earl of Nithsdale by King James VI and confirmed in various lands and baronies, including of Balmachreuchie.
Balmacreuchie © Richard Webb (CC BY-SA 2.0)
His son Robert, 2nd Earl of Nithsdale, also a firm Royalist, was later restored to the family lands. In 1674, the Barony of Balmachreuchie was disposed by the Maxwells to Andrew Spalding of Ashintully, whose family had long been important in this area of Perthshire. The Jacobite leader the Earl of Mar is said to have visited Ashtintully Castle shortly before the Rising of 1715 to secure David Spalding of Ashintully’s support by making him a Lieutenant Colonel.
Many men of the region joined him, while Andrew Spalding of Glenkilry, brother of David, led the Spalding clansmen to fight at the indecisive Battle of Sheriffmuir for the House of Stuart.
Minor stream in Strathardle © Trevor Littlewood (CC BY-SA 2.0)
In the nineteenth century the barony passed to the Rutherford Aytoun of Ashintully family whose descendants held it into the twentieth century. The lands have since passed through several hands. In 2011, the Barony of Balmachreuchie was acquired by Dr Timothy Spaulding, a descendant of the Spaldings who once held the barony.
The Cateran Trail © 2006 Lis Burke (CC BY-SA 2.0)