formerly published as the cromar history group newsletter ... · alexander’s diary revisited –...

Issues 1 to 7 have been compiled and republished as Anither Keek At Tarland’s Lang Syne. Details of how to receive copies of all Cromar History Group publications can be found at the end of this list of contents.

ISSUE ONE (1994) Keek Page number

Update on what has been happening 7 Evening Meetings Series 7 CHG Visit to Montgarrie Meal Mill 7 Core Group Report 8 Request for information 8 Can you design a logo? 8 Field-walking Programme - Progress Report 9 Future Activities 9 Don't just sit there reading this newsletter - YOU can be a historian too! 9 Other local groups which may be of interest 10

ISSUE TWO (1995) Current History Group activities 11 History Group visits 12 Forthcoming events of interest to amateur historians 13 Writing on the wall at Tillyduke Farm 13 Peter Milne - the 'Tarland Minstrel' 14 Landscapes from the Ice Age to the present 17 And a poem to finish! 17

ISSUE THREE (1996) Tomnaverie project 19 The Cromar History Group and its background 20 The Roads of Cromar 21 News items from 1866 issues of the Aberdeen Free Press 23 Core Group field trips during 1996 24 Recollections of schools and schooling in Glengairn in the early 1800s 26 Can you help? 28 Forthcoming talks in Tarland, Aboyne and Aberdeen 29

Fo rm erly pu blish ed a s th e C ro m a r H isto ry G ro u p N ew sletter

Complete list of contents of Issues One to Twenty

CHG Echoes Contents of 22 December 2014

ISSUE FOUR (1997) For Home and Country 32 Glengairn Revisited (June '97) 34 Tomnaverie Stone Circle Update 37 News Items from a 1894 issue of the Weekly Free Press and Aberdeen Herald 38 A Local Saying 40 The Disappearing Cairns 41 The Cromar History Group and its Background 43 Excursion Reports 1997 44 Forthcoming Talks in Tarland 45 More Dates for your Diary - Lectures at Marischal College 46

ISSUE FIVE (1998) The Red Cross Organisation 48 Help! 50 Tarland’s By-gone Days 50 The Defence of Scotland Project 51 Forthcoming Talks in Tarland 52 The Gow Stane 53 Tomnaverie Stone Circle Update 54 A Visit to the Peel at Lumphanan 55 Excursion Reports 1998 56 More Dates for Your Diary - Lectures at Marischal College 57 Forthcoming Talks in Aboyne 58 The East Town Displenism 58 Rhyme Competition 59 The Bronze Age Settlement in Drummy Woods 60

ISSUE SIX (1999) Earlier Inhabitants of Drummy Nigel Healey 64 A Tarland Memory Jim Farquhar 65 Logie Ruthven Moated Homestead Ken Cooper 65 The Cromar War Memorial Book Joyce Marchant 66 Summer Outing to Mulloch Michael Rattray 67 A Letter from Helen Keller Helen Keller 68 At House of Cromar Helen Keller 70 From Knockie to New South Wales Dorothy Bremner 71 Archaeologists Have a Dig at Each Other in Orkney Hugh Cochran 73 What's in a Name? 74 A Brief History of the Church in Tarland Joyce Marchant 75 Rhyme Competition Jim Farquhar 76 Rhyming Competition Entry Robbie Adam 76


Tarlan's Howes Robbie Adam 77 Scotland: A Natural and Human History 77 Outing to the Mulloch Group and Cairn Hugh Cochran 78 Tomnaverie Stone Circle – A Progress Report Ken Cooper 79 Tarlan' WRI Drive Tae Stanehive Miss Margaret Innes 80 Newsletters 1 to 5 81 When War Broke Out Dorothy Reid 82 What Really Happened to Macbeth? Alexander L Miller 84 Email From an ex-Tarland Loon Alex Black 86

ISSUE SEVEN (2000) No Stone Unturned – Tomnaverie 2000 Nigel Healey 88 What’s in a name - Response Sheila Ross 89 A Traveller’s Friend Rita Barnes 90 The Cromar War Memorial Book: Part Two – The Nurses Joyce Marchant 93 Lighting Up The Village Peter Craig 97 Excursion to Upper Donside Sheila Ross 98 George Alexander Russell (1907 – 2000) From Dorothy Reid 100 The Glentanar Hoard Hugh Cochran 102 The Drummy Woods Cairn Nigel Healey 105 Evening Talks Series 106 Selected Extracts From The First Statistical Account Joyce Marchant 107 A Rural Body From WRI Records 110 Photograph of the Unveiling of the Peter Milne Memorial From Dorothy Reid 110 John George of Cromar From S McRoberts 111 Jim Farquhar (1911 – 2000) Peter Craig 112 The Gow Stane Jim Farquhar 113 The Great Tarland Mail Bag Robbery of 1866 Peter Craig 114

ISSUE EIGHT (2001) The Village School Joyce Marchant 2 Howe O’ Cromar Observer Corps From Don Turner 5 The Castle of Coull Alistair Lilburn 7 Scottish Women’s Rural Institute, Tarland Branch 1922-2001 Joyce Marchant 9 A History of the Manse in Photos Morna Stewart 10 A Rough Sketch of Farming in the Howe of Cromar Ken Cooper 14 A Vanished Local Industry Peter Craig 17 The Old Military Road from Glaschoille Brae to Corgarff Sheila Ross 22 Information Board 24 An 1884 Map of Tarland Peter Craig 24 Caff Davie of the Ordie Elizabeth Gillanders 26 Photogallery From Lorna McKechnie 27 Is Tarland Getting Wetter? from Mike Rattray 28 The Open Road Rob Adam 29


ISSUE NINE (2002) Margaret Anderson.. & Her Road-side Museum Lady Aberdeen 2 Help Please! - 1 7 Tracking Down Tarland’s Timepieces Dorothy Reid 8 Going Up In The World From Peter Lamont 12 Ian Bremner 13 Tarland At The Crossroads Stan Howe 14 Interest Duly Whetted! Peter Craig 15 Pushing Back The Boundaries To 1750 Peter Craig 17 Glengairn Public School 1876 – 1949 E&W Gillanders & J M. 18 Class Photo From Logie Coldstone School From Dorothy Reid 20 Conversational Snippets From N McConachie 21 ‘A Chiel Ca’d Faur’s Ma’ Elizabeth Gillanders 22 Loch Kinord And Its Islands Sheila Ross 23 Burning The Water For Salmon From A Allardyce 28 Help Please! – 2 Joyce Marchant 28 ‘Aberdeen Man Was In On Earth-home Find’ From Don Turner 29 Items Extracted From ‘What’s In A Name?’ From Ian Bremner 29 Photograph Of Caff Davie From Bill Gillanders 30 Forthcoming Talks 30 Gateways To History 30 Tomnaverie And…… Other Monuments After Richard Bradley 31 Help Please! – 3 S McRoberts & N Healey 33 The Chapel Of St Lesmo, Glen Tanar J Marchant & M Coutts 34 Is Tarland Getting Wetter? 36 A Cromar Worthy - Alexander Laing Stan Howe 37 Royal Observer Corps Photograph Ness, Mildred, & Margaret 38 The Diatomite Workings At Ordie W Gillanders & P Craig 39 Come And Join Us 39 Tarland’s Enigmatic Carved Stone Ball Peter Craig 40 The Cromar Steen Brian Black 42

ISSUE TEN (2004) Work – a brief history of employment in Tarland J Healey & J Marchant 3 Alexander’s Diary - emigration to Canada in 1845 From Jim Craigmile 10 Wish You Were Here – a collection of local postcards From Gavin Crawford; pages 19, 32, 41, 48 and 51 Ancient Cist on the Tam, Knocksoul, Tillypronie From Michael Rattray 20 What’s in a Name? – again! 20 The Barony of Auchtercoull – a historical account Sheila Ross 21 Thomas Ord – famous circus equestrian artist Sheila Ross 24


St Moluag – a historical account of Tarland’s saint Transcribed by Peter Craig 25 Tarland – yet often in ma thochts – a poem Robert Fyfe 27 Those Were The Days! – photograph From A Calder & D Turner 28 Dinnet – an incomplete painting – a historical overview Sheila Sansbury 29 What a Hullabaloo! – the opening of the MacRobert Hall Dorothy Reid 33 Visit to Kincardine o’ Neil Church –thought on its construction H Cochrane & A Urquhart 39 The Sugar Stane Dyke – a curious local rhyme and its origins 40 Robert Ewan – research inspired by some old glass bottles Joyce Marchant 41 The Steam Mull – a poem about a steam threshing mill visit Elizabeth Gillanders 42 Eirde Houses in Strathdon – from 1936 Lonach programme From Gordon Ross 44 Tarland Souvenirs – photos and notes From Rachael Forbes 45 Drummy Ridge Archaeological Trail – a draft excursion guide Peter Craig 45 Yet More Old Maps – maps of Cromar in the 1820s From Tarland School 49 Dates For Your Diary – local historical talks and events 52

ISSUE ELEVEN (2005) Editor’s Piece 3 The Tomachar Stone Comes In From The Cold M, D, & M Rattray 4 The Water Clock At Loch-head Dorothy Reid 9 Dour – a childhood visit to North Gellan Sheena Blackhall 11 Gilderoy MacGregor - from the Royal Deeside website 16 Why don’t you….. 16 Tribute To Bill Gillanders Of Dinnet Sandra McRoberts 17 And why don’t you….. 17 A Chiel Ca’d Faur’s Ma Elizabeth Gillanders 18 Tribute To Alistair Lilburn Of Coull Peter Craig 19 Another old map! 19 Peter Milne – The Tarland Minstrel Transcribed by Peter Craig 20 Which smiddy? – another local photo of past times 22 John Gordon Sinclair – the carver of Peter Milne’s memorial Jack Sinclair 23 Tarland school reunion 1987 – a photo 24 Extract From Serendipity – a journey to Sri Lanka Sheena Blackhall 25 Photogallery – two photographs from our archives 28 Wearisome Ends Of The Earth - one gunner’s war service Joyce Marchant 29 An Outing To Glenlivet – an account of a summer excursion Rita Barnes 33 Lines On Tarland – a poem written in 1934 Nell Mellis 35 Robert Morrison – sculptor of the Tarland memorial Douglas Kynoch 37 Halls Of Residence – by-names for some local mansions Sheila Ross 40 Tarland school photo dated 1923-24 – who remembers who? 40 Abyne Games An Ither Memries – reminiscences Belle Green 41 From our archives - one of our favourite photographs 42 Tragedy At Loch Davan - a sad tale from 1938 Dorothy Reid 43


Philanthropy In Tarland – the Tarland Poor House Joyce Marchant 44 Local businesses advertising their services – but when? From CHG archives 46 Migvie Eirde House – an account of the excavation in 1862 From Michael Rattray 47 John Calder of Mill of Gellan – an 1885 newspaper cutting From June Riddell 49 Postscript To Trafalgar – researches into Tarland connections Dorothy Reid 50 Horses on strike? – ploughing match photograph 51 How Archaeologists Can Disagree –different interpretations Hugh Cochran 52 Dates For Your Diary – local history talks over the winter 55 ‘We Twa’ golden wedding photograph From Albert Calder 55 Extract From Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland, 1880s Tarland From Stan Howe 56 Alexander’s Diary Revisited – a reinterpretation of route Stan Howe 57 It Could Hae Been Waur – a tale of scandal in Tarland! Jim Bremner 58 Contact Details and Past Publications 60

ISSUE TWELVE (2006) Editor’s Piece 3 Aspects of the Early Years of Tarland School - Part 1 Nigel Healey 4 An Appreciation of the life of Gerda ‘Pytt’ Geddes Frank Woods 7 George Bain 1866-1925 - Andrew Legge 1871-1940 Joyce Marchant 9 Their Memory Lingers On Dorothy Reid 12 On the New Temperance Hall at Tarland - 1892 rhyme James Smith 16 Burnside Road Photo - from Sandy Farquharson’s album 17 Archbishop Robert Machray - a local ‘lad o’ pairts’ Transcribed by Peter Craig 18 All in a Registrar’s Working Day From Rita Barnes 23 A Thrashin’ at Bridgend - photo by Alexander Morren 23 Outing to Rhynie, September 2006 Sheila Ross 24 The Tarland Laws - a traditional local rhyme 26 Aspects of the Early Years of Tarland School – Attendance Nigel Healey 27 Barony of Cromar - information from the internet 29 Ludovick Barrack and Family – a photograph From Lorna Alexander 30 Changes in the Area Around St Lesmo’s Church 1869-1976 Hazel MacFarlane 31 In Memory of Logie Coldstone’s Heroes James H Thomson 37 Lowland Scotland in the Last Century From Blackwood’s Mag. 37 Isa Hurry From Sandy Mellis 38 Rock Carvings – Research Near Culblean Roger Daly 40 Castles in the Air Sheila Ross 44 Another Cottage Scene - from Sandy Farquharson’s album 48 Four Snapshots with a Story to Tell From Sandy Farquharson 49 Hugh Gunn - from Wick Heritage Museum 51 Bee Boles From Simon Power 52 Evening Talks Series 53 Burn o’ Vat Postcard From Jim Craigmile 54 Contact Details and Past Publications 54


November 2007 Issue Thirteen

Contents

Page Editor’s Piece 3 In Search of Peter

Seeking Peter Milne’s grave - by Paul Anderson 4

Useful Web-links Links to RCHAMS and Aberdeenshire Archaeology sites 6

Alec & Annie Sievwright A tribute to a remarkable Tarland brother and sister - by Sheila Ross 7

A Night to Remember! Photos and a special menu from the Sievwright Collection 13

The Golden Wedding of Lord & Lady Aberdeen, 1927

Celebrated by tree-planting at the House of Cromar - by Dorothy Reid 16 1926 Postcard of Tarland War Memorial

From Jim Craigmile 18

Upperton: The Life and Death of a ‘Fermtoun’ Detailed researches by John Nisbet and Joe Wallace 19

Reminiscences of Kathleen Gordon From correspondence 28 ,

The Life and Work of James Turner The story of an evangelical preacher from Peterhead - by James Davidson 29 ,

Tell Me The Old, Old Story Moody and Sankey’s NE visit in 1874 - by Joyce Marchant 33

Casting Your Vote in Tarland pre-1832

Extracted from an old book 35

A Collection of Archive Items All relating to Tarland Free Church - from the CHG archives 36

To Our Second Skinner A contemporary tribute to fiddler Alexander Innes – from the CHG archives 38

Jokes Cracked by Lord Aberdeen

From a book of that name published by Valentines of Dundee in 1929 38 When the Crematorium Was a Hotbed of Rumour

The tale of a 1944 Aberdeen scandal - by Norman MacKenzie 39

The Ancient and Honourable Order of Wrights A memento of the Coldstone Lodge – from Jim Craigmile 40


James and Frances Forbes A personal recollection of a well-known Tarland couple - by Dorothy Reid 41

It’s a Small World Linking Tarland and Kalimpong - from Stan Howe 44

Dining With the Earl of Mar in 1550 His eating habits uncovered through research by Sheila Sedgwick 45

Australian Resident in Search of Tarland Ancestors Help required with family history - by Sandra McRoberts 47

A Lord Aberdeen Joke The first of two taken from the book mentioned on page 38 49

A Description of Tarland and Migvie in 1846

Extracts from a Topographic Dictionary of Scotland - from Stan Howe 51

From Alexander Morren’s Album of Tarland Views Two scanned images - from Joyce Marchant 52

The Rev. Dr. George Davidson

A local 19th century minister, scientist and mechanic - from CHG archives 53

Another Lord Aberdeen Joke The second of two taken from the book mentioned on page 38 53

Tarlan’ Market

One of several Doric poems written in 1913 by ‘I. Will’ - from Jim Craigmile 54

Carved Stone Ball from Strathweltie Extract from The Proceedings of the Scottish Antiquarian Society, 1874 55

Last Word on the Water Clock at Loch-head An Evening Express article - from CHG archives 56

Local Rainfall Chart 1982 - 2007 Data from three local rain gauges 57

Tarland School Photo

For identification please - from Joyce Marchant 57

Complete List of Contents of Issues One to Twelve Now you can see all that you may have missed in past CHG Newsletters / Echoes 58

Tarland’s Bygone Days Not forgetting our most successful publication 53

Peter and Ian Mitchell A taster of one of the Bygone Days interviews 53

Miss these – miss out! Details of this winter’s local evening lectures Inside back cover

Contact Details and Past Publications

Details of our past publications and how to order them Back cover

Something to Think About Reflections on the importance of History - from James Davidson 50


November 2008 Issue Fourteen

Contents

Page Editor’s Piece 2

An Eerie Experience in a Tarland Glen A new story - by Norman MacKenzie 3

Some Memories Of Tarland Shows Long Past With a photo-gallery of past shows - by Dorothy Reid 5

Tarland Businesses in the 1950s Information from advertisements in the 1950 Show Catalogue of Entries 9

Aspects of the Early Years of Tarland School Parts 3 and 4 dealing with Curriculum and Domestic Matters - by Nigel Healey 10 Plus a bonus post-script to Part 2

Schules an Sheep Faulds bi the Dee Reminiscences of distant school days - by Alistair Taylor 16

On The Earlier Antiquities Of The District Of Cromar, In Aberdeenshire An 1853 report by John Stuart of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland 17

A Daughter's Tale Researches into the life of her mother in the early part of last century and the particular impact of World War One - by Joyce Marchant 21

The Loons Fa Niver Grew Aul A moving account of the loss of two brothers during World War One - by Belle Green 24

The Survivor Sheena Blackhall’s poem reflecting on the grim realities of returning from World War One without the two brothers above 25

Observations arising from previous articles Ken Glennie’s responses to articles from previous issues of the CHG Echoes 26

The Old Manse Of Tullochmacarrick Another look at Glengairn in days gone by - by Sheila Ross 30

The Knowledge and Use of Scots Amongst Primary Pupils on Upper Deeside Extracts from an academic study - by Sheena Blackhall 34

Sporrans Researches into the history and evolution of sporrans – by Ian Taylor 39

Morven Jamie A well-remembered tale of this legendary cateran and his legacy - by Charlie Anderson 43

The Shore Porters Society 1498 - 2008 A selective history of this fascinating Aberdeen Society inspired by seeing Founded in 1498 on their lorries – by Sheila Ross 45

An Expanding Village An early report on a map-based study of village housing - by Peter Craig 51

The Minister, the Doctor and the Corpse Newspaper cuttings of an acrimonious exchange of views from 1880 - by Peter Craig 52

Forthcoming CHG Talks Inside back cover

Contact Details and Past Publications Details of our past publications and how to order them Back cover


November 2009 Issue Fifteen

Contents

Page Editor’s Piece 2 Tarland Kirk

A summary of many hours of research into these familiar ruins - by Joyce Marchant. 3 Folk who speak in Strathspeys

Speaking out for a valuable, if not always valued, strand of NE heritage - by Paul Anderson 8 Roup at Galton, 1952

A local example of one of the farming community's great institutions - from Jim Craigmile 10 The Royal Shiels Of Deeside

An illustrated journey round some of the Royal Family's favourite Deeside haunts by - Sheila Ross 11 CHG Field Trips And Visits

An account of some memorable CHG excursions during 2009 - by Rita Barnes 16 The Mysterious Mrs Martin

Resolving the mystery raised in the first article of last year's Echoes - by Dorothy Reid 18 A happy family group

A moving photo in the light of subsequent tragic events - recently donated to our archives 19 Donation of Postcard Collection

One sample from James Harrold's recently donated collection of 120 Tarland area postcards 20 A Wedding at Meadowley in 1900

Another photo of a large group of local folk that someone will know - from Jim Craigmile 21 The Reverend William Wallace O!

A humorous poem - and another mystery to solve - researched by Dorothy Reid 22 Hogmanay in Cromar

Belle Green's reminiscences of how she celebrated Hogmanay as a child 24 The Send-Aff: St. Moluag's Kirk, Tarland

A poem inspired by Belle Green's funeral - by Sheena Blackhall 25 Alex Blackhall - from Cabbage King to Barley King

The story of one of Tarland's best-known larger-than-life characters - by Peter Craig 26 John Kellas and the Coldstone Car Hire Service

A familiar sight in Logie Coldstone for several decades - by Graham Bruce 31 Monaltrie Estate in 1755

A description of Deeside life in 1755 - and a warning to amateur researchers - by Peter Craig 32 Logie Coldstone School Photo

Only two missing names from this excellent school photograph - from Mrs Shearer, Banchory 36 The Life of a Tarland Lass

The story of Bessie Page (née Calder) as told by her son - Bob Page 37 The History and Restoration of Poldhu Wells

Look what was found in the woods! The story of a successful local project - by Nigel Healey 42 The Lass o’ the Lecht

A tragic local tale re-told - by Gibbie McIntosh 46 The Good Old Days??

Judge for yourself after reading this 1978 Evening Express article 48 A Tarland fire – and requests for information

Some research nuggets and some questions - from John Morrice 49


A local sawmill at ?Logie Coldstone One of many photos received from Jim Craigmile 50

Next time you whiz along the Gellan straight…… You might be amazed at what lies under the heather here - just look at this map 51

Reminiscences of Cromar and Canada A revealing account of schooling in Logie Coldstone in the mid-1800s – by D R Farquharson 52

Forthcoming CHG Talks Inside back cover Contact Details and Past Publications Details of our past publications and how to order them Back cover

December 2010 Issue Sixteen Contents

Page Editor’s Piece 2

Albert Calder 1938-2010 Our tribute to a much loved and respected member of our Group and of our community 3

Flo in the Post Office!Flo Strachan describes her long career in the Post Office to Jan Healey & Katie Price 4!

Flo’s Tarland Flo describes four decades of change in Tarland to Jan Healey 6

A Tale Of Yesteryear!The cautionary tale of an orra loon at Kincraigie in 1929, by Robert L Fyfe 8!

Apothecaries’ Hall and other memories!A child’s eye-view of her father's pharmacy by Sheila Ross 9

Pharmacy through the Years!Sheila Ross summarises the findings of her background research into the above article 13!

Detail from a postcard of Poldhu Wells 15

A Visit To Dalmochie Lumberjack Camp!An account of one of this summer's History Group trips by Rita Barnes 16!

Ballater Bridge during construction – and after!Some archive gleanings prompted by discussions during the above trip 17

The Annals Of The Free Church, Tarland!How the parish of Tarland responded after the Disruption of 1843, by Joyce Marchant 18!

The Reverend William Wallace O! The author of the poem in last year's issue is revealed 21

A Collection of Archive Items!Items relating to the Tarland Free Church first published in issue 13 of Echoes 22!

A Tale Of Two Grandfathers!Dorothy Reid remembers her two very different grandfathers - and learns something new 24!

More Tarland School Photos Two photos from the early 1930s donated by Alan Lamont 26


An Unusual Archive Acquisition!Selected entries from a local grave-digger's notebook passed on to us by Jim Craigmile 28

Mary Barbara Russell (née Stout) 1912 - 2010!An appreciation of one of their former teachers by Joyce Marchant and Dorothy Reid 29!

Harvest-time near Balglass 32

The Legend of the One-Eyed, Red-Haired Man!A classic local tale from the Elphinstone Kist retold in Doric by Les Wheeler 33!

Local Lime Kilns!A request for any information on these that our readers may possess 35

Pride o' the Glen An archive photo of an amateur dramatic performance in the MacRobert Hall 35

Reminiscences of Cromar and Canada, Chapter Fifteen!A detailed account of manners and customs in Cromar in the mid 1800s as recalled by Donald Robert Farquharson who emigrated from Logie Coldstone in 1866 36!

Tarlan' WRI American Tea!Another scandal that rocked the Tarland WRI in the 1920s, by Maggie Innes 43!

Reminiscences Of Mrs Jean Borthwick!The Tarland of around 1912 as seen through the eyes of a minister's wife 44

Another Tarland Postcard!A superb and unusual view of the Square in the 1950s 47

Tarland's Welcome Home Sale!A rousing poem by A J Watson appealing for cash for homecoming WWII soldiers 48!

A Postcard of Morven from Tomnaverie 48

Cattle-lifting and Illicit Distilling An item from the 1936 Lonach Highland Games programme via Gordon Ross 49

Keiselguhr Cottage, Ordie and Victoria Garage, Ballater!Ken Glennie answers a place name riddle and makes some unlikely connections 50!

More from Jim Craigmile’s Collection!An old colour postcard of Poldhu Wells and a photo of his mother feeding her hens 52

Dynamite under the moss!A 1970s newspaper artcle featuring Ordie by Sheila Hamilton 53!

The Battle of Culblean, 1335!The background to this significant victory for the Bruce dynasty by Rob Gibson 55!

Ordie Postcard An Ordie scene from long ago 58

A Reminder of our Earlier Publications Even the early History Group publications are now history! 59

Hats, Bonnets and Moustaches!A wonderful old photo of around seventy men gathered in front of the Aberdeen Arms 60

Forthcoming CHG Talks Inside back cover


December 2011 Issue Seventeen Contents

Page A Daring Young Man In A Flying Machine

The story of Willie Calder, Tarland's own Spitfire pilot, as told by Dorothy Reid ...................... 3 The Changing Scenes Of Life

Joyce Marchant researches the lives of two of her great-grandparents in 19th C Aberdeen .... 6!Cattanach Of Bellastraid

One of John Grant Michie's Deeside Tales (1872) about a murder at Milton of Logie ........... 10!Life in The Crofts of Drummy

Taken from conversations with Peter Lamont as recorded by Jan Healey ............................ 12!When was Gaelic last spoken regularly in Cromar?

Some answers gleaned from a 1983 paper by Adam Watson and R D Clements ................. 15 Sustainable Living – in Glengairn in the 19th Century

Extracts from The Dee From The Far Cairngorms by Ian Murray .......................................... 16!An Excursion To Glenesk

A geological journey through distance and time by Michael Rattray ...................................... 19!Those Were The Days

A Tarland company's staff photo and the story behind it ........................................................ 21 Lighting lamps and other jobs

A conversation with Rob Adam recorded by Jan Healey ....................................................... 22!Great Crowns of Stone

Details of a 'must have' definitive book about Recumbent Stone Circles by Adam Welfare .. 24!Coull Church

Some notes on the history of Coull and its church from a talk by Jane Geddes .................... 25!George Gordon, the Tarland Blacksmith

The poignant story behind a family photo as told by Graham Bruce ...................................... 30!The Sugar Steen Dyke

A reprint of a short item in Echoes 10 relating to the unusual wall in Graham's photo .......... 31!The Slochs o’ Carvie

Working out the origins of this and other similar local landscape features ............................. 32!Galton Hairst in the 1890s

A photo submitted by Gordon Anderson of Edinburgh ........................................................... 36 Malcolm Canmore in Cromar

A wonderfully told tale from The Legends o' the Braes o' Mar by John Grant (1876) ............ 37!Archaeological Notes for Migvie Castle

Some information about the Castle mentioned in the above article as it is today .................. 40!Bad Days in the Wild West

A portrait of Tarland in the 1970s as observed by Sheila Hamilton of the P & J .................... 41 Doddie Milne's Day O' The Green

A humorous poem by Jimmy Bremner about his mother-in-law's washing habits ................. 44 Tarland School Choir in 1950 …… and 2000

Are you in either of the photos? .............................................................................................. 46 More From Gordon Anderson

A Logie Coldstone photo and some questions from Gordon .................................................. 47 Forthcoming Talks

There are lots of interesting talks in the months ahead - in Tarland, Aboyne and Alford ...... 47 !


December 2012 Issue Eighteen Contents

Page !

The Waulkmill Stone Circle Excavation Nigel Healey brings us up to date on the surprising findings of this remarkable excavation 3!

An Orphan Boy Joyce Marchant researches the childhood of one of her grandfathers 7!

Dorothy Reid (1928 – 2012) A tribute to a greatly missed and valued member of our local community 10!

The ‘Cleansing’ Of Cromar And Its Aftermath Jim Forbes reveals a horrifying but largely forgotten episode in our local history 12!

Willie The detailed tragic story in Doric of one local WW1 volunteer by Sheena Blackhall 16

William Robert Broomfield (1826 - 1828) Some new details about the life of this local hymn tune composer by Joyce Marchant 21

The MacRobert Story Marion Miller's digest of her soon-to-be-completed book about an extraordinary family 22!

A Postman's Record Extract from the Deeside Field - no little red van for this postie 27!

Scottish Mink Initiative Rita Barnes hangs up her waders and describes the background to this project 28!

A Loon Fae The Toon John Anderson recalls his childhood holidays at Loch-head with remarkable clarity 29!

A classic old photo of the Square Showing coal being brought to the village by steam wagon 33

CHG Outing to Crawton, Summer 2012 Deirdre Rattray's account of a very enjoyable outing to this special place. 34!

Improving Conditions in Tarland A revealing extract from the New Statistical Account 36!

A Talented Tarland Loon Did you know of this Tarland connection? Alan Lamont sets the record straight 37!

The Witch and Wizard of Tarland Anne Robson sorts fact from fiction in her researches into local lore 38!

The Crofts of Drummy Jan Healey teases out the complicated history of this all-but-vanished local community 41!

Another early photo of the Square A postcard from the collection donated by James Harrold 50

The Auld Road To Drummie …and uncovers another Nellie Mellis poem 51!

Trees - The Unsung Heroes of the Battle of Trafalgar Sheila Ross follows up an intriguing reference on a wayside information plaque 52!

Cromar History Group Outing to Auchtavan A report on another successful outing by Anne Robson 55!

A Happy Carrier Two light-hearted tales about a worthie from the Mearns who liked his dram 56!

Guile and the Gauger Whisky making in the Logie Coldstone area from Early Memories of Cromar and Canada 57

Making Whisky Was Very Hard Work! How to make whisky in the traditional way - from Catholic Glengairn in the 19th Century 58


A New Look At Some Old Stones Peter Craig looks at some stones worked by folk who lived here a long time ago 60!

Farm Bothies – If Only Those Walls Could Talk! Sandra McRoberts indulges her fascination with old local bothies and their history 63!

Crans Of Tarland Greg Cran from Canada is looking for more information for his family tree 67!

Three Saints Associated With Logie Coldstone and Tarland The first of two articles by Hugh Cochran about saints with local connections 69!

Some Local Landscape Puzzles Peter Craig indulges his fascination for making up stories about rocks and landscapes 71!

Get Your Thinking Caps On Another school photo with faces to be identified 73!


December 2013 Issue Nineteen

Contents

Page

Editor’s)Piece) 4!Cromar)History)Group)

All about us. 5

A)Tarland)Childhood) !Jean Still recalls growing up in Tarland in the late 30s and 40s. 6

The)Cromar)Chronicle,)1959–1967) !Jim Forbes uncovers some gems from his father's weekly column in the Inverurie Advertiser. 10

The)Cromar)Chronicle,)8th)May,)1959) !A complete column by Jim's father from May 1959. 14

ReFcreating)A)Piece)Of)Tarland’s)Cultural)History) !Jan Healey reveals the story behind the recent production of The Doctor's Honeymoon. 15

Robert)Burns,)Exciseman)And)Poet) !Sheila Ross does some research and learns more about the man behind the myths. 18

The)Stone)Circle)At)Blackhills/Hillhead) !Nigel Healey tells us about this September's surprising excavation. 23

The)Rural)Round) !A postbus trip in 1976 in the company of Charlie Ross and Pearl Murray of the Press & Journal. 26

This)Is)My)Country)F)O,)so)tidy)in)Tarland) !Another 1970s Press and Journal feature about Tarland; this time by Cuthbert Graham. 30

A)Classic)Family)Photo)Of the Gibbon Family of Barglass 29

A)Trip)To)Scalan,)Our)Lady)Chapel)And)Drumin)Castle) !Les Ellis describes a very interesting CHG outing to Glenlivet and explores its Catholic past. 32

Alford)Local)History)Group)Talks) 35)A)Grandmother’s)Legacy) !

Some oral tradition from Sheena Blackhall with songs her granny sang out in the parks. 36

Tarland)Born)And)Bred?) !Nigel Healey reflects on what it is to be an 'incomer' - and how common they were in the past. 37

Captured)In)The)Blink)Of)A)Shutter) !It may be just a postcard, but Peter Craig explores the amazing detail captured in it. 38

He)Would)Not)Stay)Away)From)Tarland) !One of the many court cases that gave Tarland the reputation of being a rough place. 40


A)Fairmer’s)Loon)Fae)The)Toon) !John Anderson continues his recollections of his boyhood summer holidays, this time at Davan. 40

Forthcoming)CHG)Talks) 45!Memories)Of)Tarland) !

Very different holiday memories; Charles Sim remembers visiting Cuttieshillock in the 1930s. 46

Somethin’)Frae)Sunty) !Mildred Coutts wrote this Doric piece thirty years ago, but it's final thought still resonates today. 48

More)Local)Pictish)Stones)And)Saints)With)Local)Associations) !Hugh Cochran concludes his review of local Early Christian sites. 49

Deeside)Heritage)Society)Talks) 51)The)“Curiosity)Shops”)Of)Aboyne) !

A most surprising description from 1888 of three local antique collections and their owners. 52

A)Tarland)Family)And)A)Kirk)Elder)Remembered) !Ian Farquarson explores his Tarland family connections and puzzles over one unexpected finding. 55

Publications)From)The)Cromar)History)Group) 59)Contact)Details) 60!


October 2014 Issue Twenty

Contents

Page

Forthcoming+Talks+ Inside+front+cover!Some details of talks in the area this winter that might be of interest.

Cromar+History+Group+Update+ 3!A summary of this year's History Group activities.

Editor’s+Piece+ 4!An editorial introduction to, and commentary on, this year's selection of articles.

Hairry+Hears+Fae+Hame+ 5!One of Charles Murray's poems written in Doric during the fervour of World War One.

Fool’s+Gold+ 8!One of Sheena Middleton's poems written during a recent visit to WW1 battlefields in Belgium.

The+Cromar+War+Memorial+Book+ 10!Every page of Alexander Morren's 1919 Cromar War Memorial Book reproduced in full.

The+Cromar+War+Memorial+Book+1+ 40!A reprint of Joyce Marchant's 1999 article exploring some of the background to Morren's book.

The+Red+Cross+Organisation+ 41!Joyce's researches the role of the local Red Cross branch in looking after wounded soldiers.

The+Cromar+War+Memorial+Book+2+ 44!Joyce's 2nd article inspired by Morren's book, this time examining the work of local VAD nurses.

The+Lighter+Side+Of+War+N+1+ 47+The first of four photos/cartoons; the others are on pages 50, 85 and 102.

Your+Country+Needs+You!+ 48!Nigel Healey describes the workings of the local WW1 Military Exemption Tribunals.

Alexander+C+Sim+ 51!Charles Sim tells the story of his father's World War One service.

Wilson+Bruce+ 53!Charles turns his attention to the war service of his Uncle Wilson, a Gordon Highlander piper.

Born+in+1914+ 54!Jan Healey relates some of her family history that relates to the Great War.

Alexander+McRobert+of+Douneside+in+the+Great+War+ 57!Marion Miller shares some of her researches into the life of Sir Alexander McRobert.

The+Horse+In+World+War+One+ 60!Sheila Ross pursues her personal interest in this topic and discovers an interesting book.


Captain+The+Warhorse+ 65!Sheila investigates the story behind one local horse that returned from the Great War.

Written+Memories+Of+The+Last+Months++Of+The+1914+1918+World+War+ 66!Rita Barnes discovers some of her mother's mementos of the time of the Great War.

Willie+ 67!Sheena Blackhall's powerful story in Doric about one of her father's cousins who died at Arras.

The+Survivor+ 72!Sheena's poem about Willie's brother who survived, but was scarred for life by the conflict.

A+Vanished+Local+Industry+ 73!A reprint of Peter Craig's review of online information about the diatomite workings at Ordie.

The+Diatomite+Workings+At+Ordie+ 78!A reprint of Bill Gillanders' report on further documentation about local diatomite deposits.

Somethin'+Frae+Sunty+N+2+ 78+A photo from Mildred Coutts of Babbie who featured in her article in Echoes 19.

The++Wearisome+Ends+O’+The+Earth+ 79!A reprint of Joyce Marchant's quest to learn more about her fathers war service.

A+Daughter's+Tale+ 83!Joyce turns her attention to her mother's career as a VAD nurse and reflects on her life.

Their+Memory+Lingers+On+ 86!A reprint of Dorothy Reid's researches into 200 years of military service by local soldiers.

1926+Postcard+of+Tarland+War+Memorial+ 89!A striking photograph of our war memorial seven years after it was erected.

Robert+Morrison+N+King+of+the+Granite+Carvers+ 90+A reprint of Douglas Kynoch's Leopard article about the Tarland memorial's granite carver.

Hugh+Gunn+ 93!A reprint of a description of a museum display dedicated to this former Tarland headteacher.

Alec+and+Annie+Sievwright+ 94!A reprint of part of Sheila Ross's account of the inspiring lives of these two Tarland folk.

Some+Observations+On+Previous+Articles+ 98!A reprint of part of Ken Glennie's account of his family history as it relates to World War One.

Some+Personal+Reflections+ 101!Your editor reflects on his responses to the many emotions stirred up by this year's commemorations.

At+the+Graves+(1914N1918)+ 102+A final poem from Sheena written during a visit to a battlefield cemetery.

Publications+From+The+Cromar+History+Group+ Back+Cover+Information on how to access more than 1000 pages of local history published by CHG.

Contact+Details+ Back+Cover!How to get in touch with the Cromar History Group.

!


December 2015 Issue 21

Contents

Page

ThisWinter’sCHGHistoryTalksProgramme 2CromarHistoryGroupUpdate 3

A summary of this year's History Group activities.

Editor’sPiece 4An editorial introduction to this year's articles with some thoughts about the future.

‘InCotAndCastle’ 5Jim Forbes tells the story of Dr Andrew Robertson, a prominent 19th century local citizen.

KeepingYourEyesOpen 11Andrew Wilson spots an unusual relic in St Moluag's churchyard.

FromIndegoToTarlandLodge 13Some episodes in the history of Tarland Lodge, by Simon Welfare

Twopostcardsfromourarchives 17An 1890s view of Tarland from Tomnaverie and Tarland School in its pristine glory.

DrovingDaysOfThePast 18Sheila Ross explores the history of droving, once so important in the economy of Cromar.

RidingtheRoyalHighlander 28The days of stagecoaches on Deeside are brought to life by Ann Raeburn.

TheLifeandTimesofJamesRoger1809-1896 32Joyce Marchant documents the life of one of her great grandfathers from Rhynie.

ExtractsfromtheDiaryofKennethMatheson 36Some glimpses into the life and interests of a gamekeeper at Balronald in the early 1900s.

Taran’sWheel 41Drawing your attention to Jim Forbes's novel breathing life into the history of Cromar.

TarlandTranslation 42Tongue-in-cheek Doric translations of offshore engineering jargon by Brian Black.

CHGExcursions2015 43Peter Craig's notes for historical excursions exploring parts of Glen Gairn and Glen Nochty.

BreakingNews!TheOldKirkBelfry 49Some images of an iconic Tarland feature that we may not look up to much longer.

TheOneThatGotAway 50A reprint of an article by Ian R Mitchell about Duffdefiance, visited by the Group this year.

MeetOurAncestors 53Jan Healey & Joyce Marchant take a close look at the styles of gravestones in the Kirkyard.

WhatthePaperssaidaboutCromar 59Nigel Healey has been plundering the British Newspaper Archive for local old stories.

ATimeOfChange 61A minister at Kincardine o' Neil remembers rural life in his parish as it was before 1800.

TheGracelessLoon 62A poem by Marion Angus about a youth once scorned by a beautiful Tarland lass.

TheBalronaldThrasho’72 63Brian Black’s poem recalling a memorable visit to Balronald by Robbie Gibb’s thrashin’ mill.

NexttimeyouwhizzalongtheGellanstraight 66More evidence supporting Tarland’s claim to be Deeside’s oldest continuous settlement.

Publications From The Cromar History Group Over the past nineteen years, the Cromar History Group has published well over three hundred items relating to the history and heritage of the area of Upper Deeside known as Cromar. Some of these articles are original, having been written by our own members or by others who support the Group. Other items have been copied from personal collections of newspaper cuttings, photographs, typescripts and manuscripts. Still others have been copied with permission from other publications and from internet sources. Together, they make up a remarkable archive that gives a unique insight into how people have lived, worked, fought and played in this area for the last six thousand years or more.

One of our very earliest publications was entitled Tarland’s Bygone Days and contains stories and reminiscences recorded from senior members of the community during the mid-1990s.

Our Newsletter first appeared in 1994 as an annual brief account of the Group’s activities. It rapidly grew into a much more extensive collection of articles and images which prompted the change of title in 2004 to the more appropriate Echoes From Cromar’s Past. The first seven issues of the Cromar History Group’s Newsletter were recompiled and made available as a single publication under the title Anither Keek At Tarland’s Lang Syne.

Confused? The table below gives the bare details of all our publications and can be used with the downloadable index (see http://www.cromarhistorygroup.org.uk/) to track down specific publications which can then be printed to order or accessed as a PDF file. The prices quoted are correct as at December 2013. Postage costs are not included in the ‘Printed to order’ price.

Publication Date Size Printed to

order PDF file

Tarland’s Bygone Days 1998 A5 40 pages Enquire Enquire

Anither Keek At Tarland’s Lang Syne 2003 A4 120 pages £9.50 £2.50

CHG Newsletter Number 8 2001 A4 30 pages £6.50 £2.50

CHG Newsletter Number 9 2002 A4 42 pages £6.50 £2.50

Echoes From Cromar’s Past Issue 10

2004 A4 52 pages £8.00 £2.50


2005 A4 60 pages £8.00 £2.50


2006 A4 54 pages £8.00 £2.50


2007 A4 64 pages £8.00 £2.50


2008 A4 56 pages £8.00 £2.50


2009 A4 62 pages £8.00 £2.50


2010 A4 60 pages £8.00 £2.50


2011 A4 50 pages £8.00 £2.50


2012 A4 76 pages £8.00 £2.50


2013 A4 58 pages £8.00 £2.50


2014 A4 102 pages £8.00 £2.50

Aboyne & Cromar Home Front 1914 -18

2014 A4 140 pages £10.00 Not available

Contact Details

Editor: Peter Craig Cranbrook, The Square, Tarland, AB34 4YL

Telephone: 013398 81334

Email: [email protected]

Publications: Rita Barnes 9 Cromar Court, Tarland, AB34 4UE


Telephone: 013398 81453

Treasurer: Anne Robson Marsco, School Road, Tarland AB34 4UU

Telephone: 013398 80977


All orders for publications should be directed to Rita Barnes in the first instance.

Anyone seeking information that may be contained in the Cromar History Group’s substantial archive of photographs, documents and artefacts should contact Veronica Ross (013398 81651 or [email protected] )…..

…..or use the Contact Us link on our new website at: http://www.cromarhistorygroup.org.uk/ where details of current Cromar History Group activities can always be found.

You are invited to leave comments and suggestions about our publications using the same link. We also welcome the submission of new material for inclusion in future publications.

Cromar History Group 2015

..

Echoes 21 is now available - 66 pages - £8.00 printed or £2.50 as a PDF file

formerly published as the cromar history group newsletter ... · alexander’s diary revisited –...

Documents