Banff
Banff photos
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Banff maps
Historic maps of Banff and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Banff maps
Banff area books
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Memories of Banff
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Banffshire 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.
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
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
Urquharts at Grange, Banffshire, Scotland
Robert (Bob) and Margaret (Maggie) Urquhart left the Parish of Boharm for the Parish of Grange, about 1916. They possibly had more than one address in the Parish, according to what I have learned. The couple's last child Catherine (Kathleen) was born at Garrowood, Grange, 25 June, 1917. This unfortunate child died 31 January, 1918. She was buried in Grange churchyard. I have been told that the Urquharts occupied Sheils Croft, near Knock, during their time in the Parish of Grange. What I do not know is whether this address could be the same as Garrowood, or not? As for the Urquhart children's schooling, I had assumed that some of them would have attended Grange School, given that four of them were born betwen 1903 and 1911. However there is no record of any Urquhart-surnamed pupil on the School Register.
Rob Urquhart.
New Zealand.
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.
Searching
I knew my grandfather and grandmother came from the area and we past through onto the town where they lived last - Strichen which was not too far away from New Pitsligo. I treasured the stillness and history of the area. Happy memories. Still searching for family from here Watt and Willox.
Dubhglas, Australia
KIAK
Fireworks night as a five yearold 1944, outside Smith the bakers.
