Bennachie Colony - 1850

Bennachie Colony - 1850

Intangible Heritage

During the early nineteenth century crofters driven out from their original homes settled on common land at Bennachie in Aberdeenshire. They established a community which became known as the Bennachie colony. The inhabitants of the colony undertook work such as quarrying, building dry stone walls, and small-scale farming. In the mid-nineteenth century more than 50 people lived at Bennachie. However, they were technically regarded as squatters. During the late nineteenth century local landlords made efforts to clear the community. The person to live in the colony was George Esson, who died in 1939. Researchers from the University of St Andrews’ Open Virtual Worlds team and Smart History worked with the local conservation group the Bailies of Bennachie to represent the appearance of the colony at its height in the mid-nineteenth century. The project also recorded stories about the community. A trail app is available to guide visitors around Bennachie, linking the modern landscape with representations of its historic appearance .Using historical research, digital reconstructions, archaeology, stories song and theater, the app reveals the lives of these incredible people for current and future generations to appreciate. The project was supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

reconstructions,movablecollections

2017

image/png

Reconstruction

176

In Copyright (InC)

current,57.284722,-2.522222;

https://www.openvirtualworlds.org/bennachie-colony-1850/

https://player.vimeo.com/video/264290864

Smart History

TEXT

http://canmore.org.uk/site/182269

A digital landscape was created using survey data and height map. Models were created in 3D modelling programs and imported into UNREAL (a cross-platform game engine for creating virtual worlds). The models were then scaled orientated and assembled. The landscapes were populated with flora and fauna. Where applicable, models of characters and animals were imported and animated.

The project drew on several years of work by the Bailies of Bennachie including community archaeology (supported by the University of Aberdeen).Volunteers and archaeologists continue to uncover evidence of past human activity, from the Pictish era on Mither Tap to 19th-century Bennachie Colony houses, with a focus on community involvement and scientific dating.

Jeff Oliver (University of Aberdeen), Colin Shepherd (University of Aberdeen), Jo Vergunst (University of Aberdeen)

Sarah Kennedy, Iain Oliver, Catherine Anne Cassidy, Alan Miller

1850