THE HOUSES OF GLENKINDIE

At the top on the west side is LOCHRIE (this is now a ruin as can be seen by the photo) and was lived in for a great part by the Glennie family. The whole family emigrated to the United States in the 1880s.  In 1893 the property is rented to Alexander Dow.

This would once have been a fairly sizable farm judging by the size of the steadings which are in the usual 'U' formation, with the addition of what appears to be another small building inside. But the house itself appears, from the ruins, to be one of the smallest in the glen.

Also at the top, but on the east side is LARGUE (lived in for some time by the Dawson family) and 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. There does not appear to be a steading at this farm, I cannot find any ruins of such.

About a quarter of a mile down from Lochrie along a grass track is TOLLAFRAIKE. (Derived from Gaelic, 'fraoch' means heather, can't find 'toll' at present). This is larger than the others. In a photograph taken in the 1880s (in the possession of John Glennie - my 3rd cousin) there is only one dwelling house, but at some time a bothy, or chaumer, was added to the north side, a little smaller than the original building and still in existence (see pic right). 

In addition there is the usual  steading in a 'U' formation.  It was lived in by the Reid family from at least the early 1700s until the 1890s.  After their departure around 1895,  the lease was taken by the Stephen family, who farmed it for a further three generations until the farm was finally abandoned around 1980. See the Tollafraike chapter for fuller details.

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 1700 century until 1895, when my great grandfather Gordon Reid moved his family to Shannoch Farm on the Breda Estate near Alford.

After Gordon left, the lease was taken by his nephew Robert Reid, 2nd son of his oldest brother Peter.  Robert farmed here until 1909, although the house was inhabited by William Ness and his family, William was employed as a horseman at Rinmore, Robert continued to live at East Rinmore.  

 On speaking to people in the glen, no-one still living can remember it inhabited.
See chapter on West Rinmore 

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 property, descending the glen, to be inhabited.  The farm contains a steading with chaumer, although the steading is itself in need of care and attention. The Reid family farmed here from as far back as I can trace at present (at least 1800) until Peter Reid died in 1917. Unfortunately when the present tenants retire, the lease will not be renewed. So East Rinmore too will join many of the other dwellings, in decay.

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 (peat I assume).

We then come to two inhabited dwellings, GLENCUIE and CHAPELTON.  Chapelton is situated opposite the entrance to Ardler Schoolhouse.

Glencuie behind with Chapelton in front

On looking high up to the right as we descend back to the A97, ARDLER FARM can be seen, also still inhabited.  

The Grant family moved here some time around 1865 from Blackmill, Logie Coldstone.  George Grant, his wife Mary Fyfe and their children Jane Gauld Grant - my great grand mother, John, William, Mary Anne, Isabella, Margaret, Alexander, Georgina and twins James and Robert. Their eldest daughter Jane Gauld Grant married Gordon Alexander Reid from Rinmore at the Manse of the Free Church of Glenbuchat, in 1870.

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. I believe the school closed around 1930s/1940s.

A small uninhabited croft lies also to the right, I do not know the name

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, again I do not know its name.

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

Still descending one can see PITCANDLICH still inhabited on the left

The meal mill

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 recently.  

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.

Glenkindie House

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. 

The house has 38 rooms and is a 16th and 17th century U-plan house, '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 Womens' Land Army helping the local farmers.

Ordinance Survey map of Glenkindie 1927

Listed below are the properties of the Glenkindie estate and the names of the tenants in the year 1893, in the order that they are handwritten It is not easy to read the writing, so therefore there are a few question marks.  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.

PROPERTIES OF THE GLENKINDIE ESTATE  -  APRIL 1893

NEWBIGGING

GEORGE F BREBBER

GLENKINDIE ? ?

JOHN SCOTT

DELROSSACK

JAMES MORGAN

LOCHRIE

ALEXANDER DOW

PITCANDLICH

ALEXANDER BEATTIE

FARMTON

ALEXANDER CRAN

MORLICH

GEORGE LOGAN

NEW MORLICH

JAMES HENDERSON

PARK ??

ALEXANDER GORDON

NEWBIGGING

ARTHUR SMITH

PADDOCKHOLES

GEORGE STEWART

LARGUE

CHARLES DAWSON

MILLHUIE

WILLIAM ANDERSON

RINMORE

PETER REID

BURNEND

WILLIAM RIDDELL

OLD ARDLER

MRS MATHIESON

SOUTH GLENCONRE

JOHN ALEXANDER

CHAPELTON

ALEXANDER LOWRIE

HAUGH OF MORLICH

WILLIAM FORBES

PITCANDLICH

ALEXANDER DAWSON

INVERKINDIE

GEORGIANA NESS

TOLLAFRAIKE

ALEXANDER REID

MILL OF GLENKINDIE

WILLIAM ROSS

CRAIGENOUR

JOHN THOMSON

CRAIGENOWER

MRS DOWNIE

PITCANDLICH

GEORGE DAWSON

DALGRASSACK

?  ?  DAWSON

TORNAHATNACH

MRS COUTTS

CHAPELHILL probably Chapelton

JAMES INGRAM

COULBURN

ALEXANDER ANDERSON

BELNABOTH

PETER THOMSON

CORRIE OF MORLICH

JANE McHARDY

WEST RINMORE

GORDON REID

PITCANDLICH

WILLIAM GLENNIE

PARKSIDE

JOHN COOK

CLASHENLOAN

ROBERT McCONNACHIE

LITTLE BURNS

GEORGE KELMAN

HOWMURES

JAMES STEWART

CORRIE OF MORLICH

MRS WALKER

RINMORE  probably Rinmore Croft

ALEXANDER McROBBIE

RINAVOAN

JAMES ELLIS

GLENCUIE

JAMES DOW

CORRIE OF MORLICH

WILLIAM McROBIE

WOOLMILL

ALEXANDER NESS

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