Blair Collection > Place names in Strathbogie, with notes historical, antiquarian and descriptive

214 Place N aims in Strathbogie.
is pardonable seeing that nothing is known about
it historically. A cairn on the north shoulder
of the Little Balloch marks the spot where the
monk fell, and the well of Auchindroyne is the
place to which Gordon was carried after the fight,
and where he died. In a niche in the north wall
of the kirk lies the effigy of Gordon of Ruthven,
represented in armour, with his sword by his side;
but the face and other parts of the figure are
much damaged by exposure, and probably rough
treatment.
Daugh and Auchanachie belonged to Gordon
of Riven, and were held by his descendants till
a comparatively late period, merging into the
Gordon estates, the former in the beginning of
the present century and the latter about the
middle of last century. It is sometimes stated
that Auchanachie belonged to the Ogilvies of
Boyne, but this is incorrect. Walter Ogilvie be-
came possessed of the ' lands of Auchannoquhy
lying within the Forest of the Boyne in the
county of Banff,' — a description which does not
apply to Auchanachie in Cairnie.
Auchanachie has, occasionally, been inter-
preted ' the field of the field,' but I do not see
,that it could possibly have this meaning. As we
have the name it appears unintelligible, but
Craghannachy, in Carrick (Reg. Mag. Sig. 2899),
suggests that part of the word has been lost.
Perhaps the lost letters are supplied in ' Buth-