Description

The monument comprises milestone 9 of the Aberdeenshire Canal Navigation, or Aberdeen-Inverurie Canal. It consists of a granite column, some 0.47m high and 0.35m in diameter, with a rounded top on which the number '9' is inscribed in a round sloping panel.

This canal ran from Port Elphinstone to Aberdeen harbour, following a course 18.25 miles (29km) in length above the right-hand bank of the River Don. An Act of Parliament sanctioned its construction in 1796 and the canal opened in 1805. It operated until 1854, when it was replaced by the Aberdeen to Inverness line of the Great North of Scotland Railway, which was built along roughly the same alignment, obliterating much of its course.

Milestone 9 has been moved and now stands immediately west of Dyce Parish church.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Statement of Scheduling

The monument is not of national importance as it is a very simple example of a milestone which was a typical feature on roads and canals and are still relatively common today. The milestone will not support any related buried archaeology as it has been moved from its original location. The milestone has lost its contextual meaning as it no longer stands by the canal it once marked. The removal of the milestone from its original, intended location also detracts from the potential value it can add to our understanding of the Aberdeenshire canal.

Source: Historic Environment Scotland

Sources

Bibliography

Historic Environment Scotland http://www.canmore.org.uk reference number CANMORE ID 158947 (accessed on 01/11/2018).

Aberdeen City Council HER https://online.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/smrpub/ reference number NJ81SE0053 (accessed on 01/11/2018).

Graham, A. (1967-8) 'Two Canals in Aberdeenshire', Proceedings of Society of Antiquities of Scotland, Vol. 100, 170-78.

Canmore

https://canmore.org.uk/site/158947/

Source: Historic Environment Scotland