Auchindrain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Auchindrain
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 Auchindrain Township Open Air Museum |
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 Auchindrain
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| OS grid reference | NN 03099 03161 |
| Council area | |
| Country | Scotland |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Inveraray |
| Postcode district | PA32 |
| EU Parliament | Scotland |
Auchindrain (which means 'thorn field' in Scottish Gaelic) is located on the A83 road. It is about 6 miles (10 km) south of Inveraray in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. This special place is the only 'township' that still looks mostly the same as it did hundreds of years ago.
A 'township' was a small farming village common across the Scottish Highlands. Most of these villages changed or disappeared during the Highland Clearances in the late 1700s and 1800s. Auchindrain survived these changes. Today, it is a museum where you can explore 22 old buildings. Twelve of these buildings are mostly complete. The other ten are being restored by volunteers.
The museum covers about 22 acres (9 hectares) of land. You can also see other old structures here. These include stone walls, areas for storing hay, and small vegetable gardens called 'kailyards'. There are also old paths, roads, and a kiln for drying corn. You can even see signs of old farming methods called 'run rig'.
Auchindrain is open to visitors as the Auchindrain Township Open Air Museum from April to September each year.
Contents
Discovering Auchindrain's Past
Auchindrain has been mentioned in old documents since the early 1500s. This shows it was already a well-known settlement back then. We don't know exactly when the township first started. However, its name and location suggest it might have been formed when another nearby village grew too big.
For over 250 years, from the early 1500s to the 1770s, Auchindrain was just one of many thousands of townships in Scotland. We know very little about this time. We mostly know who owned the land and some names of the people who lived there from legal papers.
Why Auchindrain is Special
In 1776, the Duke of Argyll became the owner of Auchindrain again. The Duke and his land manager, called a 'factor', were interested in making farming better. In 1779, Auchindrain was listed with all the other places on the Duke's land.
In 1789, a plan was made to rebuild Auchindrain. The idea was to change it into separate small farms called 'crofts'. Many other townships were changed this way. But for some reason, this plan was never carried out at Auchindrain. This might be why it survived in its original form.
A Royal Visit
In 1875, a very important visitor came to Auchindrain. Queen Victoria was staying at Inveraray Castle nearby. She visited Auchindrain and another village, calling them "primitive villages." This means she saw them as very old-fashioned and untouched by modern changes.
Who Looks After Auchindrain?
Auchindrain is owned and managed by a Scottish charity called The Auchindrain Trust. The last family lived in the township until the mid-1960s. After they moved out, the Trustees built a Visitor Centre about 35 years ago.
Until 2010, the museum was kept in good condition. Nature was mostly stopped from growing over the buildings. Paths were kept clear, but not many people visited. A previous manager, Joanne Howdle, helped get the museum added to a special list. This list is for "Recognised Collections of national significance." This means the museum's collection is very important to Scotland's history.
Important Recognition
The entire Auchindrain site has special protections. It is a 'Conservation Area', which means it is protected for its historical importance. All its buildings are also 'Category A Listed'. This is the highest level of protection for historic buildings in Scotland. Its collection of buildings is also a "Recognised Collection." This is rare for a collection not held by a big national museum.
