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Tomintoul
Tomintoul maps
Historic maps of Tomintoul and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Tomintoul maps
Tomintoul photos
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Tomintoul area books
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Memories of Tomintoul
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Banffshire memories
The Railway Station at Boat of Garten
The Speyside Steam Railway is a Heritage Railway which runs from Aviemore to Boat of Garten. I visited in May 2010 with my wife Elizabeth and sister-in-law Margaret on an organised railway touring holiday of Scotland. I was particularly impressed by the attention to detail given to the way in which the station platforms had been "dressed" at Boat of Garten. There was a "sit up and beg" gent's bicycle, a trolley loaded with milk churns and old fashioned enamel advertising signs for things like Fry's Chocolate and Virol with its pre-war advertising slogan "Schoolchildren need it!". I couldn't resist taking several photographs of the beautiful station as it is such a nostalgic reminder of railways as they used to be - even the platform seats looked traditionally hard and uncomfortable! The railway staff had even planted up tubs of colourful pansies to brighten the platform. You won't find railway porters doing that in the 21st century - actually you won't find railway porters at all... Read 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.
Grandparents/Great Grandparents Grave Revisited.
I recently made a trip to visit my ancestor's grave in the cemetery at Mortlach Parish Church. The tomb stone records the deaths of my Great Grandmother Margaret Stuart who died in 1897 aged 50 years and my Great Grandfather James Alexander Beaton who died in 1909 aged 72 years.Also their daughter Jessie Ann Beaton who died 15th January 1917 (interred in Allanvale Cemetery Aberdeen).Finally my Grandmother Elsie Mary Allen who died on September 1st 1964 aged 76 and my Grandfather Gordon Beaton who died on the 18th March 1969 in his 90th year.
Does anyone have any further memories of the Beaton family in Dufftown who may be related?
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 in about 1945.
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 crofts may have been on land which was part of the Arndilly Estate. The remains of at least one of these two crofts can be seen, albeit surrounded by forest. The modern-day address would probably be:
Balnellan, Craigellachie, Aberlour, Moray, Scotland.
Childhood
I have lots of fond memories visiting my nana's shop (Mrs Don), it sold everything. I still love the smell of paraffin.
Daily Chats
I remember, when I was a Van salesman with Sunblest in Aberdeen - my round was Royal Deeside. My morning started at 02.30hrs in Northfield in Aberdeen, loaded I would head for Deeside. I enjoyed my round but more so when I reached Bridge of Gairn, for my first cup of the day. We had long chats over our tea, did Mrs Don and I. Somehow or another, we always got round to speaking about the family that lived in a castle not far away. Mrs Don, would tell me stories of Prince Charles and Princess Anne when they were small children. Word has it they and their mother, would visit her Post Office and General Strore to purchase sweets regularly, on the way home. One of the so called visits to her shop, Mrs Don said to the Queen that the children could have the sweets for nothing, their mother replied "they have their own money, they will pay their way". If only that were the case today. Happy... Read more
