General Notes

Founder of Balliol College, Oxford

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DUNNIDEER FAMILY: The Dunnideer homestead was built by Jocelyn de Baliol, uncle of King John Baliol c. 1260 and probably was given to Tyrees as payment for military services before 1292, certainly before 1296. But tradition says the original use of the 300' hill ("dunn") was by Gregory the Great, primarily as a stronghold to protect the Valley of Insch; and that it became his favorite residence; he died there in 892. Literature mentions "Donudoure" as one of the places King Arthur held court. Today the 550A Dunnideer Main (farm) is located 30 miles from Aberdeen, near the town of Insch and on Chevic Burn (appears in some writings as the Ouri River). Atop the dunn still are to be found the vitrionized vestiges of an old Pictic fort and abby with some attesting stone pillars ("fortalices") in place around its base. The Baliol castle retains only a part of its foundation and its 6' thick outer limit walls containing an entrance door with a sentry lookout -- all preserved under the National Trust of Scotland. There is also the ruin of another (probable Tyree) homestead, northwest of the Castle. Three ash trees stand in front of this (customarily planted to keep away witches). The modern dwelling that bears the name was built c.1796, well after the Tyree's lost Dunnideer in 1724 as a penalty for their Jacobite committments. The property was first passed into the hands of the Leiths of Overhall and later, by purchase, came into the possession of the Gordons of Wardhouse and Kildrummy. As a working and profitable farm (primarily for sheep), it has been easily marketable through the years.