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Gartly
Gartly maps
Historic maps of Gartly and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Gartly maps
Gartly photos
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Gartly area books
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Memories of Gartly
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Aberdeenshire memories
Central School, Bridgend
I went to the Central School (by the A97 where the Priests Water burn joins the River Bogie) at Bridgend. Left in mid-1954 when my parents moved from Dunscroft Cottage at Dunscroft Farm, down to Somerset in England. Boy - what a change - scenery, climate and language! The Dominie was Mr Strachan and the teacher a Miss Grant. Mr Strachan lived in a house by the river bridge - from the bridge we used to throw stones at his ducks and usually got strapped as a result - when he could catch us as we ran round the classroom - usually ended up with a few weals on the back of the legs! Vividly remember a flood in, I think 1953 - the water flooded the field between our cottage and the Priest's Water burn and came right up to our doorstep. A 10ft high waterfall which was about halfway between Dunscroft and Bridgend simply vanished in the torrent Took my wife & 3 kids back to show them Dunscroft... Read more
Memories of Brigend School
My brother (Brian Featch) and I attended the above school until we emigrated to Australia in 1958. Would love to hear from anyone who remembers us. I have visited the area over the last 10 years and can't say I like what is happening to our school. I keep in touch with my cousin Hazel, Jean and Dorothy Stuart (who lived in Kirkhill) and spend lots of my time with their mother my Auntie Janet when I return to Huntly. Hopefully I will be able to catch up with Jean Mutch when I go back in October this year as I usually visit her mother and have been told that I have to make myself available to meet Jean - how much we have to catch up on! I love living in Perth, Australia - principally for the climate but also the opportunities for those who would like to advance, however the strings always pull me back. Anyone else who would be availble during late October/early November and who would like... Read more
CLATT - REID FAMILY
Hi, my 2, 3 & 4xgreat-grandparents come from the area around Clatt. The Reid family farmed Tofthills farm for many years, but this came to an end in 1879, when both John Reid and his wife, Elizabeth Davidson, died, and Elizabeth's sister, Margaret, and her husband, William Bisset took over running the farm and bringing up John & Elizabeth's daughters, Elizabeth and Christina. My great-grandfather, James Anderson came to work on the farm, and eventually married Christina. Their son James Reid Anderson was my grandfather. I hope to visit this area next summer, as many relatives came from Clatt, and also Insch & Rhynie. If anyone has any memories of these people or are descended from them, I'd love to hear from you. My email address is jan.saunders1@virgin.net. Cheers, Jan Saunders (nee Anderson).
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
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 iron roofing. The lack of water, which had to be carted from a pump situated some quarter of a mile from the house, the encroaching peat and heather which had to be dug to supply fire for heat and cooking, the poor land which, we found, would not grow grass or decent oats, was all quite unbelievable... The family had increased and we boys huddled together scarcely more comfortable than the animals.'
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 ...
Mind Reader
My wife and I, were to go to the Alford Carnival where upon on going through the Turn style; still clutching the change given to me on paying for our tickets, there was a man which was stood some twenty feet away from the Turn Style. He was one of the showmen, and appeared to be dressed as some fortune teller. He was stood by a small card table, where upon he had a pack of ordinary playing cards. Having seen me coming his way and on noticing me, he gestured to me to come towards him. Having got me to his table he was to ask me if he could show me a trick? Seeing that I had clenched my hand he proceeded to pull my fingers open to reveal the change within my hand. Without as much as a word, took hold of a fifty pence piece and manipulated his fingers in a way so that the coin moved along his fingers until when, he dropped the coin... Read more
