THE HOUSES OF GLENKINDIE

At the top on the west side is LEOCHRIE (this is now a ruin and was lived in for a great part by the Glennie family), also at the top, but on the east side is :

LARGUE (lived in for some time by the Dawson family) and at although empty and in a somewhat dilapidated state, is in rather better condition having had its roof repaired, although there is little glass in the windows  Apparently it has or is used currently by the owners of the glen for shooting parties, to partake of lunch when the weather is inclement.

Largue

About a quarter of a mile down from Leochrie along a grass track is TOLLAFRAIKE. This is larger than the others and appears to have two dwellings and a steading. It was lived in by the Reid family from at least the early 1700s until the 1890s.  After this it passed to an offshoot of the Reids - the Stephen family.

We then pass Largue on our left hand side in the distance and climb up a muddy track to WEST RINMORE.  This is a ruin and was lived in by the Reids from the late 1600/early1700s until the 1890s and then by the Ness family, finally being the home of the Black family until c WWI.  On speaking to people in the glen, no-one still living can remember it inhabited.

Still climbing the track and by now it becomes a gravelled road, we reach EAST RINMORE, now known as Rinmore Farm, it is the first one, descending the glen, to be inhabited.  The farm contains a steading and a chaumer, although the chaumer is itself in need of care and attention.

The next dwelling was RINMORE CROFT, but this is now just a few granite stones in the south end of the field in front of Rinmore Farm. This was a small dwelling with only 3 rooms with windows, as stated in the 1871 Census. I believe that as the each  generation of Reids married and started to procreate, the previous generation moved down here.

The Kindie Burn runs alongside all the way, splashing, gurgling and bubbling as it makes its way down through the glen over stones and shingle to join the River Don at Inverkindie. I have taken a few samples of the Kindie water and it appears very clear with a very slight amber tinge.

 

We then come to two inhabited dwellings, GLENCUIE and CHAPELTON.

Chapelton (front) Glencuie (behind)

On looking to the right as we descend back to the A97 we can see ARDLER FARM - also still inhabited.  The Grant family moved here some time around 1865 from Blackmill, Logie Coldstone with their 10 children.  George Grant (1809-1850), his wife Mary Fyfe (1830-?0) children Jane Gauld Grant - my great grand mother(1851-1888), John (1852), William (1854), Mary Anne (1859), Isabella (1861), Margaret (1863), Alexander (1866), Georgina (1868 and twins James and Robert (1871). Their eldest daughter Jane Gauld Grant marries Gordon Alexander Reid from East Rinmore in 1870 in Glenbuchat. (I assume that they marry at the Old Kirk).

ARDLER SCHOOLHOUSE can be seen nearer to the road and the Kindie Burn, one has to cross the burn to reach the school. This is also still inhabited, although alas, not by children.  All the children in the glen were educated here. In the records of the Scottish Society for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge, there is mention of visits made to the local schools in 1824 and at Ardler School the attendances recorded were 30 scholars in May and 36 in winter - one has to assume that the children weree kept off school during the spring, summer and autumn months to help on the farms.  Pupils were taught reading, writing, arithmetic and scripture and none 'were destitute of religious education'. A Jane Reid (1789-1871) 'who in the interests of education mortified a sum of money as a prize fund for the pupils of Ardler School'  This is inscribed on her gravestone in Towie churchyard - she is very possibly a relative.

The Kindie Burn outside Largue

A small croft lies also to the right, (possibly one of the ARDLERS from the 19thc censuses) - uninhabited. Also on traipsing around the field near to the old Arder School, one can find the remains of another dwelling, same size and shape as the others, probably another of the four Ardlers.

In the far distance on the right, reached by a separate trackway are TORNAHATNACH - recently inhabited and  RINAVOAN - still inhabited. 

Still descending one can see PITCANDLICH still inhabited on the left.

By now we are near the bottom and on the left hand side is a Mill House.  This is the old meal mill. There is still a disused wooden mill wheel to the right and the whole building is generally in very good order. On talking to John Coutts, a Glenkindie inhabitant of some 80 years, whose grandfather was a mason and built many of the houses around Glenkindie, I am informed  that the mill was lived in by one Herbert Ellis a joiner and miller, who ground the oatmeal here until not too long ago.  John Coutts himself lives in Inverkindie (mouth of the Kindie) along the A97, in what was once the post office, the postmistress at one time being a Miss Ness from West Rinmore.

On the right at the bottom, just before reaching the A97 is GLENKINDIE HOUSE - The home of the laird of Glenkindie. Sir Patrick Strachan was heritor of Glenkindie from around 1721 until 1738, when his creditors sold the estate to Alexander Leith of Freefield .  The Leith family held the estate until, I believe the 1970s, when it was sold to Frogmore (Scotland) Limited.   This house has 38 rooms and is a 16th and 17th century U-plan house which was 'Georgianised' in 1741.  The main block was largely rebuilt in asymmetrical form  by Sydney Mitchell in 1900. It has splendid 17th and 18th century walled gardens with topiary work.  During WWII 45 girls were billeted here with Mrs Leith and her husband Jock  They were, I assume, part of the Land Army helping the local farmers.

   

Ordnance Survey map of Glenkindie 1927

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Listed below are the properties of the Glenkindie estate and the names of the tenants in the year 1893, in the order they are handwritten. Some properties have more than one tenant. The highlighted properties are those situated in the glen and given in more detail above. The leases were usually granted for a period of around 19 years.

 

property tenant
Newbigging                                                               George L Brebber                                                                      
Glenkindie ??? (writing not clear) John Scott
Lochrie Alexander Dow
Pitchandlich Alexander Beattie
Farmtoun Alexander Cran
Morlich Geo Logan
New Morlich James Henderson
Park.......? Alexander Gordon
Newbigging Arthur Smith
Paddockholes George Stewart
Largue Charles Dawson
????? William Anderson
Rinmore Peter Reid
Burnend William Riddell
Old Ardler Mrs Mathieson
South Glenconrie John Alexander
Chapelton Alexander Lovie
Haugh of Morlich William Forbes
Pitcandlich Alexander Dawson
Inverkindie Georgiana Ness
Tollafraike Alexander Reid
Craigengour John Thomson
Craigengower Mrs Downie
Pitcandlich George Dawson
Dalgrossack ? Dawson
Tornahatnach Mrs Coutts
Chapelhill James Ingram
Coultown? Alexander Anderson
Belnaboth Peter Thomson 
Gorrie of Morlich Jane McHardy
West Rinmore Gordon Reid
Pitcandlich William Glennie
Parkside John Cook
Clasheseloan Robert McConnachie
Little Burns George Kelman
??? James and Davie ??
Howmures James Stewart
Corrie of Morlich Mrs Walker
Rinmore (Croft)? Alexander McRobbie
Rinavoan James Ellis
Glencowie James Dow
Corrie of Morlich William McRobie
Woolmill Alexander Ness
Mill of Glenkindie William Ross

 

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