Duffus, Moray - 'Armydykes'?

Roxy · Post by **Roxy** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 4:41 am

A relative was born in 'Armydykes' or something very similar in the parish of Duffus in 1803. I have already been to the Moray Heritage Centre with no results - can anyone help ascertain where it is?

Roxy

Currie · Post by **Currie** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:43 am

Hello Roxy,

I‘ve seen an image posted elsewhere and it sure does look like Armydykes or ArmyDykes. I haven’t been able to find anything useful.

A Dyke or Dike is a barrier, a wall of some description keeping something out, a defence against something even if it’s only water. Army fits perfectly with that. Some sort of Army earthworks as part of the defence of something. Is there likely to have been anything like that in the immediate area? An old battlefield maybe, or something to do with the threat from Napoleon?

Perhaps it’s just a description of a particular landmark where some dwellings were located rather than the name of a place? Was there something being constructed there with temporary housing for workers or something like that?

Just guessing,
Alan

Post by **Tracey** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 8:46 am

Hi Roxy

Is this 1803 birth for Elizabeth Murray ? The place clearly says Armydykes and i too get some interesting hits when the name is "googled"

.
Genuki doesnt come up with anything close either in Moray but there are people on here who are a wiz with old maps so you may have some luck there.

Moray_Lass · Post by **Moray_Lass** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 10:20 am

I have been racking my brains over this and can't think of anything that comes close, the only earth works that might be considered army is the Pictish fort in Burghead, it was mis-identified as Roman at one point, and at Kinnedar and Branderburgh (Lossiemouth) which there isn't anything noticable nowadays but might be in 1803.

Have you tried looking at it phonetically? I had one place in Boharm that I couldn't find, until someone on another lists realised that Lagdow on the OPR was Lachdu on the map - it all made sense when I said them out loud.

WilmaM · Post by **WilmaM** » Thu Apr 02, 2009 11:06 am

I've looked at all the old maps sites that I can think of and the only name I can find remotely like Army Dykes is
ARGIE.

I found it on a John Tomson 1830 map of Duffus
http://www.nls.uk/maps/atlas/thomson/566.html

zoom in on the most northerly part of the land and you'll find it South East of Duffus and West of Duffus Castle.

I can't find it on any other map.

I'm actually heading up that way this weekend [to Lhanbryde] so if I see or hear anything remotely resembling it I'll take notes!

Post by **paddyscar** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 5:46 am

Hi Roxy:

I'm reaching here ... A search on http://www.uk.Yahoo.com using the terms army dykes and moray or army dykes and duffus brings up mentions of army dykes relating to Culloden (1746) Since you are looking for 1803, would it be possible that the dykes would have still been around? Would it have been a point of reference rather than an actual place name?

Also, have you tried looking using alternate spellings such as dyks or dikes?

I've been known to go off in the wrong direction and this could be one of them ...

Frances

nelmit · Post by **nelmit** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 9:41 am

There is a place called Dyke but it's a wee bit away from Duffus to the west of Forres.

Regards,
Annette

Moray_Lass · Post by **Moray_Lass** » Fri Apr 03, 2009 10:00 am

What are the other placenames on the same page as your relative's birth? They'll all be in Duffus parish but maybe you'll find something that could be the alternative spelling to Armydyke. And have you thought about scrolling through all the entries for Duffus in the 1841 census on Freecen?

WilmaM · Post by **WilmaM** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 12:07 pm

I had a look around while I was up in the Duffus area last week and asked a few locals too.

Every museum or whatever we were in, if there was an old map hanging up we had a good look for Armydykes but drew a blank.

Most of 'my' locals weren't much help as they are all imports from along the Moray Firth! but we did come across a very helpful young lady at Spynie Palace.

She is very up on her own family history and the history of the area but hadn't heard of Armydykes or anything like it.

However while we were in the Palace she did a bit of digging and phoning for us, still blanks, but as it was Good Friday the Elgin Library was closed.

She sugested 2 options to try Roxy:
1. Phone the Elgin Library 01343 562600
2. Duffus Parish Records will all be in the care of the Hopeman church:
Hopeman, Duffus & Spynie Parish
Church of Scotland
Farquhar Street
Hopeman
Moray
IV30 5SL

a 'google' found a contact email: blawrie@zetnet.co.uk

Moray_Lass · Post by **Moray_Lass** » Tue Apr 14, 2009 1:44 pm

All the Library's Local History collection is at the Moray Heritage Centre, that would be a better place to contact.

http://libindx.moray.gov.uk/mainmenu.asp

heritage@moray.gov.uk

01343 569011