In The House of The Laird.
My parents were 'in service' to the local 'laird' who was Lord Doune, traditionally the eldest son of the Earl of Moray and owner of lands around Doune. Lord Doune owned the beautiful old mansion on the hill 1.5 miles north of Doune on the Callander road. My mother was the cook and my father the chauffeur and I sort of 'helped' here and there while I spent most of my time having adventures on the vast estate attached to the house.
When we arrived at Doune Lodge in 1948, the house was rented by Mr and Mrs Muir and their three sons and two daughters. The Muir family owned the Deanston cotton mill and all the houses that made up that town. Mr John Muir was the eldest son and heir to Sir John Muir (baronet) of Blairdrummond Castle a few miles south of Doune on the road to Stirling. Sir John died and his son moved out of Doune Lodge and took up residence in the stately pile. The eldest son of the Earl of Moray soon arrived and set up an entirely different kind of house in Doune Lodge. Firstly Lord Doune was a young man (probably around 23) and he had a Morgan +4 sports car. He was also not an arrogant person because he took this servant's son for a spin along the main road at 100 miles per hour, wow! He was always pleasant and kind and never seemed to have a bad word for anyone. I don't know why but our family left Doune Lodge and move to Ochtertyre about 8 miles away and there my parents took up their usual roles in the house occupied by Colonel Dundas (a member of the Stirling family).
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RE: RE: In The House of The Laird.
I did not have much to do with Doune Lodge. However, my mother was English and was a member of the Church of England. In Doune there was a small Church of England church called St Modoc's. The Church of Scotland was the main church in Scotland. The Anglican Church catered (?) to the 'Landed Gentry' and those who were English expatriates. As a young boy I was made to go to church to St Modoc's with my mother. It was a small congregation composed mostly of retired Indian Army Officers and their wives, local landowners and the like. All of these people sat in certain pews and no one else dared sit there! At the very front of the church, Sir John Muir from Doune Lodge and his family took up two pews. Sir John always wore the kilt and he was quite amiable. However, his wife was quite the opposite! That was my only exposure to Doune Lodge. Just of a matter of interest and bit of humour. Many years later, I struck up correspondence with the son of Sir John's driver who was employed for a minute amount to pump the organ in the church. To pass the time, he would slow down his pumping and took great delight in hearing the singing slowing down accordingly. The Minister realized what was happening, after some time, and cut off the pittance that my friend earned and told him to behave himself!
Comment from Fionn Young on Thursday, 23rd September 2010.