The first record of a dwelling house at Altonsyde is dated 1880. Land was granted to John Robertson, a wood merchant, who was granted “lot 9 of the plan of Tradespark Lands of Nairn and parts of lot 25 and 26”.
We bought the Altonsyde from the Camerons of Inverness.
The area, where the 4 other houses which share the drive are located, was an orchard before the properties were built.
The previous owners also told us that Altonsyde was a school at one point in time but we have yet to find records confirming this.
The house does have a cellar, which doesn’t have an opening to indicate it was a coal cellar (often the case in Victorian houses). The cellar does have a little school desk and chair in it!
Historical Items found at Altonsyde
On researching the history of the house we discovered that two archaeological finds of interest were discovered at Altonsyde ‘stay find -digging’. “A Mr P. S. Howieson of Altonsyde Nairn, found a stone axe whilst digging a foundation (1968) and the following year found a 17th century shield some 15m N of the axe find.”
(See Gallery of photos below).
“Both were sent for dating to the NMAS (National Museum of Antiquities) in 1973, but Mr Howieson hopes to have them both returned to him in due course.” (1985 NMAS and RSM amalgamated to form National Museums Scotland).
I contacted the NMS in 2020 to see if they had images of the axe and shield.
The NMS got back to me with the following information and photos. “The stone axe head was easy enough to find on our database. It is X.2009.99 -stone axe head, coarse grey, roughly ground, possibly Altonsyde, Nairn and dates from the Neolithic (c.3800-2500 BC).”
“The shield caused us a bit more trouble. We had no shield in our collection coming from Altonsyde but I eventually found H.LN 65 – breast plate with a rounded medial ridge on either side of which there is a rivet for attaching a strap, found by the plough at Altyonside, Nairn, 1973. I am assuming this has to be the second object. Unfortunately it is in terrible condition (see attached photo) but this is not surprising if it came out of the ground.”
There is a high probability that the breast plate is an artifact from the Battle of Culloden fought in 1746. “On 15th April 1746, the Royal Army camped at Nairn, where it celebrated the Duke of Cumberland’s birthday.”
Gallery of interesting finds at Altonsyde, Nairn
The cellar which we would assume, in a Victorian house, to be a coal cellar, yet has no opening or chute. Therefore we are uncertain as to the purpose of this cellar. The ceiling is about 2meters in depth and there are no stairs or easy access.
The breastplate and stone axe which were found in the grounds of Altonsyde, presumably by a previous owner
The cellar
Breast plate
Stone Axe
Where does the name come from?
Altonsyde ~ a Victorian House
The first record of a dwelling house at Altonsyde is dated 1880. Land was granted to John Robertson, a wood merchant, who was granted “lot 9 of the plan of Tradespark Lands of Nairn and parts of lot 25 and 26”.
Tradespark is the area of Nairn where Altonsyde is located(County of Nairn, Parish of Nairn): “Applied to a number of croft houses ranging between one and two stories high partially slated and in good repair the property of the burgh of Nairn”.
Alton Burn is the burn which gives the house it’s name, Altonsyde (County of Narin, Parish of Nairn): “A small stream having its source in the Loch of the Clans and flowing Westward through the Tradespark to the Moray Firth into which it empties its waters a short distance to the east of the point where the Municipal boundary of the burgh of Nairn leaves the Firth on the east side of the town”
History of Tradespark Area of Nairn
The area of Nairn where Altonsyde is located is known locally as Tradespark. Until I found out the history behind the name it seemed quite a strange name for such a beautiful area.
Trades park, or Tradespark was moorland and was used as a meeting point for local traders. These local traders dealt and bartered with the goods which had arrived by sea at Nairn Harbour. Goods which could comprise of items like grain and timber.
Additionally, drovers kept their Highland Cattle here, in this common grazing area, as they drove the cattle further south to markets, in Crieff and Falkirk (Stenhousemuir).
This area is now an amazing woodland which was planted with majestic Scots Pine by the Achareidh estate in the early 1900s. It is now an oasis in this area of Nairn.
What to learn more about the history of Nairn
Here are some amazing resources about the history of Nairn. Including an amazing book which I found online dating from 1897.
