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 a special place in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is located about 6 miles south of Inveraray on the A83 road.
What makes Auchindrain unique is that it's the only old Scottish village, called a "township," that still looks much like it did hundreds of years ago. Many other townships in the Scottish Highlands were changed or cleared during the Highland Clearances. This was a time in the late 1700s and 1800s when many people were forced to leave their homes.
Today, Auchindrain is an open-air museum. It has 22 buildings and remains of buildings. Twelve of these are mostly complete. The other 10 are being fixed up by volunteers. The museum grounds cover 22 acres. You can also see old stone walls, gardens, and signs of old farming methods.
The Auchindrain Township Open Air Museum is open to visitors from April to September each year.
History of Auchindrain
Auchindrain, or Achadh an Droighinn in Gaelic, was first mentioned in old records in the early 1500s. It was already a well-known settlement back then. We don't know exactly when it started.
It might have been formed when another nearby township, Braleckan, grew too big. People may have moved from Braleckan to start Auchindrain. This would have happened in the late Middle Ages.
From the 1500s to the 1770s, Auchindrain was just one of many townships in Scotland. Not much is known about this time. We only know the names of some owners and people who lived there. Their names sometimes appeared in legal papers.
In 1776, the Duke of Argyll took over the township again. The Duke and his manager, called a factor, were keen on new farming ideas. In 1779, Auchindrain was listed with all the people living on the Duke's land.
A plan was made in 1789 to rebuild Auchindrain. The idea was to divide it into "crofts." Crofts are small farms with a house. Many other townships were changed this way. But this plan was never carried out in Auchindrain. It might have been too expensive for the Duke.
In 1875, Queen Victoria visited Auchindrain. She was staying at Inveraray Castle. She called Auchindrain and a nearby village "primitive villages." This means they looked very old-fashioned to her.
How Auchindrain is Managed
Auchindrain is run by a special group called The Auchindrain Trust. This group is an independent Scottish Charity. A charity is an organization that helps people or a cause, not for profit.
The last family moved out of Auchindrain in the mid-1960s. About 35 years ago, the Trust built a Visitor Centre. Until 2010, the township was mostly kept safe. Nature was stopped from growing over it, and paths were kept clear. But not many people visited.
Later, a museum manager named Joanne Howdle helped the museum. She got it added to a list of "Recognised Collections of national significance." This means the items and buildings at Auchindrain are very important to Scotland's history. This list is managed by Museums Galleries Scotland.
Special Status
Auchindrain has several important titles that protect it. It is a "Conservation Area." This means it's a place with special historical or natural importance that needs to be preserved.
The entire site is also "Category A Listed." This is the highest level of protection for historic buildings in Scotland. It means the buildings are of national importance.
Also, its collections are "Recognised Collections." Only a few collections not held by big national museums have this status. This shows how valuable Auchindrain is.
Images for kids
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A cottage with a small garden, called a kailyard.
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Some of the restored cottages at Auchindrain.
