Pollock & Ellanfern (Ellenfern?)

[Thomas Cameron]

Here's a new question for those with access to old maps:

I'm looking to pin-point two obscure placenames, Pollock and Ellanfern/Ellenfern. They were both (pre- Caledonian Canal) "near the west side of Loy (River Loy), near the foot" of the river or glen. It also mentions that these were both upon the farm of Strone. It may be possible that these places disappeared when the canal came through.

Both references are from the Erracht-Muirshearlich duel, and these places (presumably very close to one another) were the original designated duel site for this incident in 1772.

[ChrisDoak]

Hi Tom,
Happy New Year to you and your family,and thank you for the card with its backdrop of Loch Arkaig.The film "Rob Roy" was on the tv on Saturday,and with Glen Nevis and the Ciaig Falls featured prominently,makes me look forward to going back up to Lochaber this year.The landscape is not so idyllic up there just now,however,as there was tragically two fatalities in an avalanche on Ben Nevis,a couple of days before the New Year.

Regarding the proposed location of the duel between Allan Cameron of Erracht and Alexander Cameron of Muirshirloch,I have never seen these two place names recorded on a map.Certainly they would seem to have been at the junction of the Rivers Loy and Lochy,but on maps of Strone I have seen,dating from the 1770s,this area is cultivated in corn,and called "Rodan".The fatal duel was moved to the Muirshirloch Farm,as Ellan-fern/Pollock proved to be "too rough and stony".

I suspect that the site now lies on the piece of Strone lying cut off between the Canal and the River Lochy.

Regards,
Chris.

[Thomas Cameron]

Hi Chris,

It's good hearing from you. Thanks for the confirmation that these placenames appear to be dead, or at least undocumented. I'll have to give approximations in the next version of the Geographic Compendium.

I 'm also guessing that the canal probably swallowed up these places or at least cut it off. On a side note, have you been to Strone Farm and looked down at the cemetery? It has to be one of my favorite views in all of Lochaber.