Aberlour, Banffshire

WITHIN COOEE of CRAIGELLACHIE

Alexander (Sandy) Jackson URQUHART was an apprentice blacksmith at McLean's Garage in the small village of Maggieknockater. He later left his apprenticeship to join the Metropolitan Police in London, in 1929. Maggieknockater was quite close to where his parents' croft/s was/were situated. The crofts were named Shians and Greenhill, and were within walking distance of Balnellan, not far from Craigellachie. The... [more]

My early years in Craigellachie

We lived in a semi-detached house that joined a general stores at the top of the Hundred Steps. My brother was born in Elgin in 1943, and my father worked for the forestry with Polish workers, maybe prisoners of war. He was Gordon Hutchison and my mum was Ursula. I think we left Craigellachie when I was about 4 or 5... [more]

Dufftown, Parish of Mortlach, County of Banffshire, SCT

My grandmother, Margaret Stuart, was born 26th December 1875, at Fife Street, Dufftown. Her father was George Stuart, Blacksmith. Her mother was Isabella Stuart, nee McIntosh. The couple were married at Botriphnie, 20th March 1872.

Maggieknockater : The Bee''s Knees.

'I gave up the idea of farming and took up employment as an apprentice blacksmith in the village close to home. The prettiest village in Speyside - Maggieknockater. I took to smithing like a duck to water. I had the magnificent salary of five old shillings per week which I afterwards supplemented by hoeing the gravel paths around the local church... [more]

DRUMMUIR  STATION

I believe that Drummuir Station, Parish of Botriphnie, County of Banff, Scotland, was the starting point, in 1926, of a  very long, life-changing journey:
My teen-age father, along with an older brother,  headed for Southampton, England. There they boarded the ship SS 'Corinthic' and 'set sail ' for New Zealand, 26th Feb.
Their emigration had begun ...

Botriphnie, Banffshire

Robert (Bob) and Margaret (Maggie) Urquhart, and family, occupied a croft named Drywells, at Bodinfinnoch, Parish of Botriphnie, County of Banffshire.
One of the Urquhart boys later described Drywells as: 'The most miserable croft that anyone could imagine... It was inaccessible; buried deep in the hills; surrounded by heather. The buildings were cramped and built in one long line, with sheet... [more]

Mulben Station 1901-1909

My grandfather, Robert Urquhart, was a Signalman/ Porter, employed by the Highland Railway. He had served at Forres and Elgin before transferring to Mulben, about 1901. Robert (Bob) and wife Margaret (Maggie) already had three children in 1901; however their brood increased by another three bairns during their occupancy of Mulben Station.
The Urquhart family's next move was to a house... [more]

Keith Grammar School

While living at Mulben, in the Parish of Boharm, some members of the Urquhart family attended Keith Grammar School, about the time of the First World War. One of those Urquhart boys was Robert William Urquhart. He went on to eventually become Sir Robert. As a distinguished ex-pupil he is remembered by a plaque near the school gates.