Quarterland
Encyclopedia
A Quarterland or Ceathramh (Scottish Gaelic) was a Scottish
land measurement. It was used mainly in the west and north.
It was supposed to be equivalent to eight fourpennylands
, roughly equivalent to a quarter of a markland
. However in Islay
, a quarterland was equivalent to a quarter of an ounceland
. Half of a quarterland would be an ochdamh(ie.one-eighth), and in Islay
a quarter of a quarterland a leothras(ie.one-sixteenth).
The name appears in many Scottish placenames, notably Kirriemuir.
Ceathramh was also used in Gàidhlig
for a bushel and a firlot
(or four pecks), as was Feòirling, the term used for a farthlingland.
retained a similar system into historic times: in the traditional land divisions of treens (c.f. the Scottish Gaelic word trian, a third part) which are in turn subdivided into smaller units called quarterlandshttp://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/parishes/treen.htm.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
land measurement. It was used mainly in the west and north.
It was supposed to be equivalent to eight fourpennylands
Groatland
A groatland, also known as a fourpenceland, fourpennyland or “Còta bàn” was a Scottish land measurement. It was so called, because the annual rent paid on it was a Scottish “groat” .- See also :...
, roughly equivalent to a quarter of a markland
Markland
Markland is the name given to a part of shoreline in Labrador, Canada, named by Leif Eriksson when he landed in North America. The word Markland is from the Old Norse language for "forestland" or "borderland". It is described as being north of Vinland and south of Helluland...
. However in Islay
Islay
-Prehistory:The earliest settlers on Islay were nomadic hunter-gatherers who arrived during the Mesolithic period after the retreat of the Pleistocene ice caps. In 1993 a flint arrowhead was found in a field near Bridgend dating from 10,800 BC, the earliest evidence of a human presence found so far...
, a quarterland was equivalent to a quarter of an ounceland
Ounceland
An ounceland is a traditional Scottish land measurement. It was found in the West Highlands, and Hebrides. In Eastern Scotland, other measuring systems were used instead. It was equivalent to 20 pennylands or one eighth of a markland. Like those measurements, it is based on the rent paid, rather...
. Half of a quarterland would be an ochdamh(ie.one-eighth), and in Islay
Islay
-Prehistory:The earliest settlers on Islay were nomadic hunter-gatherers who arrived during the Mesolithic period after the retreat of the Pleistocene ice caps. In 1993 a flint arrowhead was found in a field near Bridgend dating from 10,800 BC, the earliest evidence of a human presence found so far...
a quarter of a quarterland a leothras(ie.one-sixteenth).
The name appears in many Scottish placenames, notably Kirriemuir.
- Kerrowaird – Ceathramh àrd (High Quarterland)
- Kerrowgair – Ceathramh geàrr (Rough Quarterland)
- Kerry (CowalCowalthumb|Cowal shown within ArgyllCowal is a peninsula in Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands.-Description:The northern part of Cowal is mostly the mountainous Argyll Forest Park. Cowal is separated from the Kintyre peninsula to the west by Loch Fyne, and from Inverclyde and North Ayrshire to...
) - An Ceathramh Còmh’lach (The Cowal Quarterland) - Kerrycroy - An Ceathramh cruaidh (The Hard Quarterland)
- KirriemuirKirriemuirKirriemuir, sometimes called Kirrie, is a burgh in Angus, Scotland.-History:The history of Kirriemuir extends to the early historical period and it appears to have been a centre of some ecclesiastical importance...
– An Ceathramh Mòr/Ceathramh Mhoire (either "The Big Quarterland" or "Mary’s Quarterland")
Ceathramh was also used in Gàidhlig
Scottish Gaelic language
Scottish Gaelic is a Celtic language native to Scotland. A member of the Goidelic branch of the Celtic languages, Scottish Gaelic, like Modern Irish and Manx, developed out of Middle Irish, and thus descends ultimately from Primitive Irish....
for a bushel and a firlot
Firlot
In Scotland, the firlot was a dry measure used until the introduction of Imperial units by the Weights and Measures Act 1824.By an Act of the Scottish Parliament of 1617, the commissioners' firlot of Linlithgow was made the standard for the whole of Scotland, but, in fact, two units were defined...
(or four pecks), as was Feòirling, the term used for a farthlingland.
Isle of Man
The Isle of ManIsle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
retained a similar system into historic times: in the traditional land divisions of treens (c.f. the Scottish Gaelic word trian, a third part) which are in turn subdivided into smaller units called quarterlandshttp://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/parishes/treen.htm.
See also
- Obsolete Scottish units of measurementObsolete Scottish units of measurementScotland had a distinct system of measures and weights until at least the late 18th century, based on the ell as a unit of length, the stone as a unit of mass and the boll and the firlot as units of dry measure...
- In the East HighlandsScottish HighlandsThe Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
:- RoodRood (Scots)A Scottish rood was a land measurement of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was in greatest use in the South East of Scotland, and along the border, whereas in the north various other systems were used, based on the land's productivity, rather than actual area...
- Scottish acreAcre (Scots)A Scottish acre was a land measurement used in the country. It was standardised in 1661. English acres were imposed in 1824 by an Act of Parliament, and the metric system is also used in Scotland.Equivalent to -* Scottish measures** 4 roods* Metric system...
= 4 roods - OxgangOxgangAn oxgang or bovate is an old land measurement formerly used in Scotland and England. It averaged around 20 English acres, but was based on land fertility and cultivation, and so could be as low as 15.Skene in Celtic Scotland says:...
(Damh-imir) = the area an ox could plow in a year (around 20 acres) - PloughgatePloughgateA ploughgate was a Scottish land measurement, used in the south and the east of the country. It was supposed to be the area that eight oxen were said to be able to plough in one year. Because of the variable land quality in Scotland, this could be a number of different actual land areas...
(?) = 8 oxgangs - DaughDavochThe Davoch, Davach or Daugh is an ancient Scottish land measurement. All of these terms are cognate with modern Scottish Gaelic Dabhach. The word Dabh or Damh means an ox , but Dabhach can also refer to a "tub", so may indicate productivity...
(Dabhach) = 4 ploughgates
- Rood
- In the West HighlandsScottish HighlandsThe Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
:- MarklandMarkland (Scots)A markland or merkland is an old Scottish unit of land measurement.There was some local variation in the equivalences, for example, in some places eight ouncelands were equal to one markland, but in others, such as Islay, a markland was twelve ouncelands...
(Marg-fhearann) = 8 Ouncelands (varied) - OuncelandOuncelandAn ounceland is a traditional Scottish land measurement. It was found in the West Highlands, and Hebrides. In Eastern Scotland, other measuring systems were used instead. It was equivalent to 20 pennylands or one eighth of a markland. Like those measurements, it is based on the rent paid, rather...
(Tir-unga) =20 Pennylands - PennylandPennylandA pennyland is an old Scottish land measurement. It was found in the West Highlands, and also Galloway, and believed to be of Norse origin. It is frequently found in minor placenames.Skene in Celtic Scotland says:The Rev...
(Peighinn) = basic unit; sub-divided into half pennyHalf pennyHalfpenny, half penny, or ha'penny may refer to:Coins:* Half penny * Halfpenny * Halfpenny * Halfpenny * Halfpenny...
-land and farthing-land - (Other terms in use; Quarterland (Ceathramh): variable value; GroatlandGroatlandA groatland, also known as a fourpenceland, fourpennyland or “Còta bàn” was a Scottish land measurement. It was so called, because the annual rent paid on it was a Scottish “groat” .- See also :...
(Còta bàn)
- Markland
- In the East Highlands
- TownlandTownlandA townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
- Township (Scotland)Township (Scotland)In Scotland a crofting township is a group of agricultural smallholdings holding in common a substantial tract of unimproved upland grazing...