Where is East Helmsdale?

Over the last few weeks the project researchers have focused their attention on the area known as East Helmsdale - but where is it!

 Timespan audience attending East Helsmdale presentation

A map by John Kirk dated 1773 refers to the whole area to the north of the river as Easter Helmsdale and comprises old rig and furrow cultivation and a few small clusters of houses.  This map also refers to a place called 'Boggallan' (known today as the Bogholes) in the area between the village and Navidale.  A later map dated c.1819 refers to East Helmsdale as being between the village and Navidale and the other part as the 'Moor of East Helmsdale' (known today as Old Helmsdale).  It also refers to 'Widdows Cottages' which is the earliest date for the existance of the Almshouse (known today as The Barracks).

 Photo of The Barracks c1930s coutesy of Esther MacDonald, Protgower

By 1820 the area of East Helmsdale was the land at either end of the village, excluding the village itself.  The first Ordnance Survey map dated c1873 shows the location of houses in both these areas, some of which are annotated as 'ruin', as well as the houses on Strath Road.  This map also shows the location of an 'Almshouse' (known today as The Barracks).  

The later developments of East Helmsdale incude the building of the following streets, i.e. Simpson Crescent, Rockview Place, Farr Crescent, The Glebe (a reference to the chuch lands in the area) and Golf Road (locally known as the Pens).

A member of today's audience Edward Mackay shed some light on the Pens.  He informed the group that the original location of the sheep pens was on the land now occupied by part of Golf Road and where his house is located.  He said that he used to play on the Pens Parkie.  This is where the annual sheep sales would have taken place in the 19th century.  He said that the location of the pens for the sheep sales was moved to the other side of the river next to the Helsmdale Graveyard and near the railway station.  This allowed the sold sheep to be easily taken to the station for transportation south.

 Margot Macgregor selling sheep at the Helmsdale sheep sales