Quick Search
|
Search Results
You searched for: More Like: 'Country house awash with charm'
23 items
items as
Newpark
1521 A photograph of the gateway and avenue of Newpark. Located between Sheddocksley and Kingswells, this property was once known as Cuttlehill.
In Historical Walks and Names (1927) local historian G. M. Fraser writes:
"You descend Brimmond Hill at the south-west corner, and passing between the properties of Fairley and Cloghill, you presently pass the farm of Gillahill (properly Gallowhill), on your left, and strike the western end of the "Lang Stracht," near the property of Newpark. This is a comparatively recent name for Cuttlehill, the property that once formed part of Sheddocksley, and was bought in 1777 by Robert Dyce of Aberdeen, father of the well-known physician, Dr. William Dyce, of Cuttlehill, whose town house for many years was No. 48 Marischal Street. In this country residence of Cuttlehill, the old entrance gate and avenue of which are still in existence, was born on 19th September, 1806, William Dyce, afterwards William Dyce, R.A., a gifted artist, who took a leading part in decorating the House of Lords, and better still, who, having been sent by the government to report on the Art schools of the Continent in the middle of the last century, was the means of re-organising the art education system of Great Britain. It is singular that this accomplished man, although he is commemorated on a monumental brass in Streatham Parish Church, where he latterly stayed, is as yet unremembered by any mark on his father's house in Aberdeen, where he passed the early part of his life."
Newpark and the gated and avenue, though likely thoroughly modified, can still be seen today.
Other sources suggest that William Dyce, the above mentioned artist, was born at 48 Marischal Street. His birthplace remains something of a mystery. There is no indication of the location in the old parish register record of his baptism at St. Nicholas Kirk. Treasure 33: The Pedigree of the Cruickshanks of Stracathro
2321 Among the Local Studies collection of family trees is a chart from 1847 entitled Pedigree of the Cruickshanks of Stracathro. The title initially referred to the Cruickshanks of Langley Park but this has been scored out and replaced with Stracathro. A pedigree is a form of genealogical table. Collections of pedigrees were first made in the 15th century and, according to The Oxford Companion, were "a matter of aristocratic pride and of practical necessity for legal purposes". The term pedigree comes from the French 'pied de grue', meaning crane's foot, due to the resemblance of the genealogical lines to the thin legs and feet of the bird.
The pedigree of the Cruickshanks was compiled by E. G. G. Cruickshank, who features in the 10th generation detailed on the table.
The pedigree begins with the earliest ancestor at the top of the document with lines dropping down to succeeding generations. Each generation is given a Roman numeral and individuals within each generation are assigned Arabic numbers. The pedigree begins with "John Cruickshank first in Strathspey m. Mary Cumming of Elgin" and extends down to an incomplete 12th generation. The individuals in the 11th generation were mostly born in the 1870s.
The information listed on a family tree is dependent on the sources available and the purpose for which it was created. The information given on the Cruickshank's pedigree varies but typically includes an individual's date of birth, marriage details and date of death. Additional information is also supplied as is the case with the 7th generation of Cruickshanks - Margaret Helen is described as the daughter of Rev. Gerard of Aberdeen, author of a book whose title is unreadable, and sister to a Colonel Gerald. Details of army service are supplied for some individuals and many of the Cruickshanks were involved in the administration of India or served in the army there.
The tiny handwriting, use of abbreviations and sparse punctuation makes the document challenging to read so familiarity with the subject matter and names of places is useful. A later interpreter of the document has made a number of annotations in pencil. For example, one of the later additions points to an individual and reads "Is this W. Robertson of Auchinroath? Yes!"
In addition to a listing of descendants the pedigree is annotated with a number of original notes and a description of a coat of arms. The latin motto of Cavendo tutus translates as 'Safe through caution'. One note, quoting "an old paper", describes from where the family came prior to being in Strathspey. A note on the other side of the chart states that "distinguished Officer and Author the late Colonel Stewart of Garth" links the family to the Royal Family of Stewart and suggests the name of Cruickshank derives from "some deformity in the first cadet of the house."
Attached to the document is a letter dated 23 October 1927 from a Jim Bulloch to City Librarian G. M. Fraser. Bulloch explains that he got the pedigree from a Mr. Mackintosh of Elgin, thinks it is quite rare and that the library might like it for its collection. It has stayed in the Local Studies collection to this day.
The Gazetteer for Scotland website states that in 1775 Patrick Cruickshank, listed at No. 11 of the 7th generation, bought the estate of Stracathro in Angus. The property was subsequently inherited by his brother Alexander Cruickshank (1764 - 1846). Alexander hired the Aberdeen architect Archibald Simpson to build Stracathro House between 1824 and 1827. The Palladian Scottish country house still exists today.
University College London's Legacies of British Slave-ownership website indicates that Patrick and Alexander, and two other Cruickshank brothers, owned plantations on the Caribbean island of St Vincent that used slave labour. See Alexander Cruickshank's entry in the database here: 'Alexander Cruikshank of Stracathro', Legacies of British Slave-ownership database, http://wwwdepts-live.ucl.ac.uk/lbs/person/view/8590 [accessed 9th June 2020]. In 1833 when Britain abolished the ownership of slaves the government granted £20 million in compensation to former slave-owners. Alexander Cruickshank made three claims for compensation, two of which were successful.
In 1874, Stracathro House and estate were sold to Sir James Bannerman, Lord Provost of Glasgow, and father of Prime Minister Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. The country house was later used as a World War II hospital and owned by Tay Health Board before being sold to private owners in 2003. The House of Schivas
2393 The House of Schivas was built around 1585 and was the work of Thomas Leper. The lands were originally held by the Scheves family and successive families made many alterations to this architecturally complex L-plan tower house. Located just east of Methlick, it is a catagory B listed building. Springhill House
2600 A photograph of Springhill House taken from The Freedom Lands and Marches of Aberdeen 1319-1929 (1929). This book was compiled by Donald B. Gunn (1891-1946), town clerk depute at the time, and James Cruickshank (1869-1956), the local historian.
This house stood on the piece of land in the Mastrick/Sheddocksley area between Springhill Road and Deveron Road that is now a public park.
The book states that the lands were feued in 1764. These lands were once the home of Provost and architect James Matthews. Whitemyres House
2601 A photograph of Whitemyres House taken from The Freedom Lands and Marches of Aberdeen 1319-1929 compiled by Donald B. Gunn (1929). These lands were feued in 1786.
The house stands to the north of the road known as the Lang Stracht and was built in the late 18th century. It was once semi-derelict but has since been restored. The neighbouring Whitemyres Farm was purchased by the Cockers Roses company in 1960. Craigiebuckler House
2602 A photograph of Craigiebuckler House taken from The Freedom Lands and Marches of Aberdeen 1319-1929 compiled by Donald B. Gunn (1929). The lands surrounding this house were sold by the town council in 1817.
The house was built in the 1820s by Provost James Blaikie. The James Hutton Institute, then the The Macaulay Institute for Soil Research, later built their Aberdeen campus on the estate, incorporating the house. Burnieboozle House
2603 A photograph of Burnieboozle House taken from The Freedom Lands and Marches of Aberdeen 1319-1929 compiled by Donald B. Gunn (1929).
This was a country house located to the north west of Craigiebuckler House, at the end of what is now Burnieboozle Crescent. The house could be accessed by a road going south from Burnieboozle Farm on Hazledene Road.
Judging by Ordnance Survey mapping, the building looks to have been demolished as the area was developed for housing in the late 1950s. The house's location is now a children's play area in the centre of a modern housing development.
There is an excellent plan by surveyor James J. Beattie of the lands and house of Burnieboozle in 1848 available on the National Library of Scotland website here. It features a detailed illustration of the house's exterior, showing an extended conservatory and gabled entrance, a floorplan of its two floors and a map of the estate's land. LUCRATIVE BUSINESS IN DANZIG
2878 With the substantial number of Scottish immigrants in Poland a reputation followed. "A Scots pedlar's pack" became a phrase used in Poland. The expression referred to the goods which the Scots had traded. Some of these goods were malt, flax, fruit, handkerchiefs, linen, woollen products, coal, fish and cloth.
As the Scottish minority made a visible contribution to the trade in Danzig, they earned another expression used among the Poles -"Szkot" (which means Scot in Polish). It was an epithet which referred to a business traveller.
The Scottish population in Poland increasingly grew in the 16th century due the career opportunities offered by the country. Areas of Poland consequently show the presence of these Scots. In 1576, Stefan Batory - the king of Poland at the time, designated a sector of Danzig to house Scots. "Nowe Szkoty" (New Scots) is an area in modern day Gdansk which has around 10 Polish villages with street names referencing the Scots who previously lived there.
The image on the left is of Cragievar Castle. This castle was owned by William Forbes. The funding for the property came from the riches he had made in Poland. Countesswells House
2906 A photograph of Countesswells House taken from The Freedom Lands and Marches of Aberdeen 1319-1929 compiled by Donald B. Gunn (1929).
The house is thought to date from the 18th century and is located along a drive at the western end of Countesswells Road. Hazlehead House
2907 A photograph of Hazlehead House taken from The Freedom Lands and Marches of Aberdeen 1319-1929 compiled by Donald B. Gunn (1929).
The house was demolished in 1959 by the Town Council to make way for a café restaurant in Hazlehead Park.
The new restaurant was officially opened by Lord Provost George Stephen in June 1960 during a Town Council tour of the city parks. Sheddocksley House
3837 A photograph of Sheddocksley House taken from The Freedom Lands and Marches of Aberdeen 1319-1929 compiled by Donald B. Gunn (1929).
Old maps indicate that this house was likely demolished sometime in the mid-20th century. It was located just to the north east of the square of houses at the top of Lerwick Road in modern day Sheddocksley. A walled garden was located to the east of the old house.
The above book, known as The Blue Book, states that the estate of Sheddocksley, once part of Aberdeen's Freedom Lands, was feued in 1551. Gunn elaborates with the following:
"Sheddocksley was feued to John Irvin and Gilbert Tullideff at a feu duty of £53 6d. 8. Scots. It was bought back by the Town in 1677 and re-feued in 1702. Fifty-seven years later it was again acquired by the Town and alienated a third time shortly afterwards. It has been much sub-divided in these processes, Gillahill, Newpark (Cuttle Hill), Whitemyres and Maidencraig being among the main divisions." (page 13). Forresterhill House
3838 A photograph of Forresterhill (or Foresterhill) House taken from The Freedom Lands and Marches of Aberdeen 1319-1929 compiled by Donald B. Gunn (1929).
This house still stands at the time of writing in 2022. It has been incorporated into the Foresterhill hospital complex and can be found north of the main Aberdeen Royal Infirmary building, east of the tennis courts.
Concerning the Forresterhill estate more generally, which was initially feued in 1551, Gunn writes the following:
"Forresterhill was feued to Gilbert Colison at a feu duty of £20 Scots. This estate was, in comparatively recent times, purchased by the Town, who, in 1925 and 1928, sold parts of the central portion to the Governors of the Royal Sick Children's Hospital and the Royal Infirmary respectively, for hospital purposes. Other parts of this estate are known as Ashgrove, Woodhill, Stockethill, Cornhill and Westburn." (page 13). Kingswells House
3839 A photograph of Kingswells House taken from The Freedom Lands and Marches of Aberdeen 1319-1929 compiled by Donald B. Gunn (1929).
This house, which originally dates back to the 17th century and was extensively restored in the 19th century, still stands today and can found nestled among Kingwell's Prime Four Business Park. In recent times, it has been used as a spiritualist centre.
Kingswells estate was initially feued in 1551. Gunn writes the following about the lands:
"Kingswells was feued to John Arthur at a feu duty of £13 6s. 8d. Scots. It was owned subsequently for a long time by the well-known Jaffrey family, and is at present held by the Trustees of the late Dr. Francis Edmond, who acquired the estate in 1854." (page 13). Treasure 41: Mary Garden Record Collection
210 We hold a number of original vinyl records in our collections, including those of Mary Garden, a local girl who found global fame as an opera singer in the early 20th Century.
Born at 35 Charlotte Street on 20 February 1874, Mary Garden left her native Aberdeen around the age of nine when the family moved to America in search of better opportunities and a new life.
After a period of uncertainty and several moves, a young Mary accepted a role as a childminder in Chicago, with payment taking the form of singing lessons to further her obvious interest. By 1896, Mary had shown sufficient progress that she accompanied her tutor to Paris in a quest to pursue a career in opera.
Mary's first big break came in 1900, when she performed in the new opera, Louise after the main star became unwell. A series of leading roles followed in 1901, including Thaïs, Manon and Madame Chrysanthème. For the next decade, Mary courted both limelight and controversy as she portrayed leading characters on stage, while being romantically linked to various composers and directors off-stage. Adding fuel to these fires of speculation, Claude Debussy chose Garden to create the title role of his new play, Mélisande, overruling the preference of his own librettist.
At the outbreak of the First World War, Mary attempted to enlist in the French army - but with her identity discovered, she instead turned to nursing at a hospital in Versailles. When she returned to America, she continued to raise funds for the French Red Cross. Her efforts during both war and peacetime generated awards from Serbia and France.
Mary appeared in two silent films - the first released in 1918 - but she found difficulty adapting to the new medium and this separate career never took off. She returned to her first passion and continued to perform in opera until the mid-1930s.
In 1921, Mary was offered the role of director of the Chicago Opera Association, and as she was still performing - undertook both roles with fervour. Under her tenure, the Association took on many new and exciting artists and works.
At the outbreak of war in 1939, Mary chose to remain in Paris, until the German invasion forced her to escape, leaving all of her possessions behind. In June 1940, she returned to Aberdeen but the lure of teaching the next operatic generation proved too strong and she once again travelled to America to coach young stars and give lectures in 1949-1950.
By this time, it appears that Mary's memory had started to suffer - evidenced by the 1951 autobiographical publication Mary Garden's Story which was riddled with factual errors. The book received disastrous reviews and possibly led to her decision to reside permanently in Aberdeen from 1954.
Mary died in 1967 in the House of Daviot, a country hospital near Inverurie, aged 92. Fifty friends attended a small ceremony. A small commemorative plaque is located at 41 Dee Street where the Garden family lived, and a small garden is dedicated to her memory in Craigie Loanings.
Although she remains relatively little known in her native Aberdeen, Mary's legacy is considerable in the United States - particularly in Chicago where her stewardship of the Opera Association is still remembered fondly.
Treasure 95: Todd Family Album, 1858-1865
314 This treasure is a family photograph album of the Todd family covering the years 1858 to 1865. The photographs were taken by James Joseph Todd (1834-1904) and the album was donated to the library by Lorna L. Todd, née Lawrence, (1886-1971).
Lorna was the wife of Reginald Todd (1868-1948), the second child of James Joseph Todd and Ann Hogarth (1845-1882).
During the years covered in the album the Todd family lived at Maryculter House on the banks of the River Dee. The head of the family was Thomas Todd (1803-1868). He came to Aberdeen in 1849 and became one of the principal partners in the firm of Alexander Hadden & Sons, manufacturers in the Green, with his brother in law James F. Hadden.
Thomas was born in London in 1803. His father, Joseph Todd Snr., began his working life as a haberdasher and silk mercer and steadily became one of the wealthiest men in the country.
The Todd family owned Twickenham Park estate and had architect L. W. Lloyd design a large mansion there by the side of the River Thames that was completed in 1828.
The album documents not just the Todd family, and connected families like the Haddens and Hogarths, but also includes other prominent Aberdonians such as Sir Andrew Leith Hay and Hugh Leslie of Powis. They appear to have been photographed during visits to Maryculter House.
View our Treasures exhibition on the interactive screen to find out more about this early example of portrait photography Treasure 117: Estate Sale Catalogues
340 On display is a collection of local estate sale catalogues. During the 20th century many large estates were sold and the pattern of land ownership in Scotland changed. The division of estates at the time of sale lead to an increase in the ownership of smaller areas. Economic depressions and increased taxation were among the reasons behind the break up and sale of estates, particularly the imposition of death duties, also known as inheritance tax.
The catalogues typically include the following information:
1) The location of the estate and area that it covered in acres
2) The details of the sale of the estate
3) A description of all the properties and other assets on the estate
4) Descriptions of sporting activities usually shooting and fishing taking place on the estate which could be rented out
5) A list of individual properties on the estate; the current tenants and the rents that were paid
6) A list of burdens - these were often financial responsibilities shouldered by the owner of an estate that were transferred to the buyer at the time of sale
7) Photographs of properties and sometimes individual rooms within the main country house on the estate
8) Maps of the estate showing the lots if the estate was to be sold in parts
These catalogues provide a fascinating resource for anyone interested in family or local history as they provide detailed information about individual estates and the people that lived and worked on them.
Learn more about these fascinating documents - including the catalogue relating to the mysterious Slains Castle - in the Treasures from our Collections interactive exhibition on the touchscreen. Carnousie New House
349 A plan and elevation of Carnousie New House. Designed by Archibald Simpson for a wealthy sea merchant called Captain Alexander Grant. Building began around the 1830s or early 1840s. It was located near Forglen.
Captain Grant lost his fortune and was forced to sell the property before its completion. The house was neglected and eventually largely demolished around 1930. Legend has it that the stones were used in the construction of Elphinstone Hall.
(Information taken from Archibald Simpson, Architect: His Life and Times 1790-1847 by David Miller. See this work for further description of the building.) Rubislaw House
521 A drawing of Rubislaw (or Rubieslaw) House taken from The Freedom Lands and Marches of Aberdeen 1319-1929 compiled by Donald B. Gunn (1929).
A caption accompanying the image states "A modern house, No. 50 Queen's Road, is erected on the site of this house. A small section of the walls of the old house is incorporated in the new house." (page 41).
On the estate of Rubislaw more generally, which was one of those feued from the Freedom Lands in 1551, Gunn writes the following:
"Rubislaw was feued to Alexander Rutherford at a feu duty of £20 Scots, and about 1687 passed into the hands of the noted Skene family, with whom it remained until 1886. Now largely merged into the West end of the City, it is divided amongst many owners, the main division being Kepplestone." (page 13). Grand reform meeting held at Aberdeen, 18th May 1832
530 A colourised lithographed sketch of the Grand Reform Meeting that took place on Broad Hill, Aberdeen on Friday 18th May 1832.
Popular and parliamentary support for electoral reform had been growing across the United Kingdom in this period. At the time, only a small number of wealthy landowners had the right to vote, the franchise was geographically inconsistent, and the representation by members of parliament was out-dated.
This Aberdeen meeting, like many that took place around the country at the time, was organised following the House of Lords blocking the Third Reform Bill of Prime Minister Charles Grey (1764-1845), 2nd Earl Grey, and the subsequent resignation of Grey and his Whig ministers.
Newspaper accounts of the meeting indicate that attendees had just learnt that the Duke of Wellington (1769-1852), a Tory opponent to reform, had been unable to form a government following the resignation of the Whigs and an invitation from King William IV, and that the monarch had recalled Earl Grey.
Organised by prominent local supporters of electoral reform, the Reform Committee, the meeting agreed seven resolutions for presentation to parliament including the following: consternation at the bill not being passed, support of Earl Grey and colleagues, agreement to withholding national supplies (funding) from the government until the bill is passed, and that Joseph Hume (1777-1855), then MP for Middlesex, present the petition instead of the member for the Aberdeen boroughs, Horatio Ross (1801-1886), who was accused of backsliding on reform.
The report in the following day's Aberdeen Chronicle newspaper suggest the meeting was attended by 30,000 to 40,000 people. The Tory-leaning Aberdeen Journal, in its issue of Wednesday 23rd May 1832, page 2, gives an estimate of 15,000 to 20,000.
Contingents of various trades began to muster at Union Street West at about 1.30pm. A large procession proceeded east along the street and were joined by the Reform Committee from the Royal Hotel, 63 Union Street, located just after the junction with Market Street.
The full procession, with the Committee at its head and joined by deputations from the country, travelled to the Links via Castle Street, King Street, Frederick Street and Constitution Street. Several bands accompanied the procession and there were a large number of banners with reform slogans.
On the motion of Reverend William Jack (1768-1854), principal of King's College, Sir Michael Bruce of Stenhouse and Scotstown (1798-1862) was called to chair the meeting. John Angus (1799-1878), an advocate and later Town Clerk of Aberdeen, was the secretary.
Speakers included General Andrew Leith Hay of Rannes (1785-1862), Alexander Bannerman (1788-1864), Sir John Forbes of Craigievar (1785-1846), Alexander Blackie, banker, Thomas Burnett, younger of Leys (1778-1849), John M. Gerrard of Midstrath, Alexander Kilgore, surgeon, James Forbes of Echt, Alexander Stronach of Drumallan, James Nicol, advocate, William Allardyce, wine merchant, Harry Leith Lumsden of Auchindour, William Moir of Park and Alexander Forbes of Ainslie.
Both the account in the Aberdeen Chronicle and the speeches on the day remark on the disruptive potential of the crowd, under circumstances of reform not being progressed. Though the speakers urged those in attendance to continue in a peaceful manner.
Some speakers compared the fight for electoral reform to that for religious freedom in Scotland. There is explicit and repeated support given for William VI, but the Duke of Wellington is considered an inappropriate progressor of reform. The return of Earl Grey is promoted.
Faced with the prospect of William VI ennobling new Whig members of the House of Lords, Tory opponents of the Third Reform Bill abstained from votes and it passed through the upper house. The Representation of the People Act 1832 was given royal assent on 7th June 1832, and its Scottish equivalent around the same time, and came into law.
The Act was a substantial reform of Britain's antiquated electoral system, redistributing seats and changing the conditions of the franchise, but still left most people without the vote. Subsequent popular and parliamentary politics would led to further legislation and the fuller suffrage of modern times.
Document dimensions: 26 x 40 cm. |