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Auchterless
Auchterless maps
Historic maps of Auchterless and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Auchterless maps
Auchterless photos
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Auchterless area books
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Memories of Auchterless
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Mains of Templand
My mother, May Mallarkey was housekeeper at the farm around 1935/36. The owners, were the Hay family. A particular memory of that period was the big tree, (at least it looked big to me as I was only three or four years old) which was outside the front of the house. Another memory, was the weekly visit of the van with groceries, bread etc..After we moved to Dunnydeer Farm at Insch, my half-brother, Fred Mallarkey completed his schooling. The day he left Insch school, he went back to Templand.
Aberdeenshire memories
Turriff, Aberdeenshire 1851
My great-great-grandparents show up, at Turriff, in the Scotland Census of 1851 :-
Address: Bridgend of Gask (I wonder where this place/croft was?).
The Head of the Household was James Urquhart ,'Farmer of 4 acres and Day Labourer.' He had been born at Turriff. His wife was Margaret Urquhart (nee Dey). She had been born in the Parish of Bellie, Banffshire. The couple's children, according to the 1851 Census, all born at Turriff, were:
Ann Urquhart ; Malen Urquhart ; Isabella Urquhart ; John Urquhart.
Camping by The Ythan
In my last two years at the High School six of us girls from there camped by the Ythan river at Gight Castle, they were Jeannie Smith, Doreen Ruddiman, Nora Henderson, Isobel Argo, my sister and I, Margaret Argo. We had two tents and took turns of cooking, shopping in Methlick, and drawing water from the Ythan to boil for drinking. We exlored the castle daily when we were not the duty two, and one night we decided to sleep out in the ruins under the stars. We were rudely awakened by a ram stumbling among the loose stones, we were terrified thinking that it was a ghost. We did not repeat the experience. Nora's brother Bill was camping nearby with the Scouts and sometimes came to visit, also my parents made random visits to check that we were alright. Happy, happy memories.
Gravestone
My husband's grandparents Alexander and Jane Gillespie are buried at Barhol Chapel, Aberdeenshire. Alexander died on 20 January 1940. We have a photograph of their gravestone there.
Summers in New Byth
Happy holidays. My aunt Bella stayed in the first house in New Byth and my uncle in the last house. My dad was raised and brought up here and my grannie never left the village. She fostered and adopted a number of children. Every summer holidays my brother and I came with our mum and dad and it was so carefree. My mum died last year, and in her possessions was an old record of my grannie being interviewed by a very polite BBC lady. Because grannie hadn't left the village she spoke with a very strong Byth accent. I have old photos from Byth as well. Aileen
Happy Childhood
I spent most of my childhood in Tarves, my father was James Argo the bank manager. I remember cycling all around the grounds at Haddo House, attending Evensong at the private chapel on a Sunday night. I remember Duthie Webster and the Christmas parties they gave for the children of the village. I remember singing in the choir at Craigdam Church. I remember the Presley brothers, George the butcher, and Charlie the farmer and their sister who taught me to play the piano. I remember the deaf dressmaker in Duthies who used to make our clothes, and the Massie farmers at Nethermill who used to give me lovely teas and to look around their farm. I remember Charlie Webster who married the local nurse, and the old road down to Thornroan and of course our weekly walks to run around in Tolquhon Castle and the plays we made up and acted out there. I was also married from there and had connections till my father retired, so I have many... Read more
The 'Shakey' Bridge
My mother left Yorkshire with me in 1945 when I was four years old. She worked for a Mrs Curzon at Arrochar house in Rothiemay as a cook and general help. I think the owners were titled people. I remember collecting daisies and dandelions in the garden. There was also agirl of about nine years old named Marion who lived at the adjacent house. She would take me on the bridge and shake it violently. My mother would have to take a boat on the River Deveron for shopping in Aberdeen. I don't think she rowed across herself! One day during a severe winter she slipped on the bridge and her handbag with all her important papers went over the side and was seen no more. She sustained minor cuts and bruises. I still have the photos which were taken of me aged four in Huntley. Mum had to put my long hair in 'rags' hoping I could show off... Read more
