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Friday 22 February 2013
Wednesday 20 February 2013
Monday 18 February 2013
Pride of the Clyde
Pride of the Clyde was a ferry that use to run between Glasgow city centre and Braehead shopping centre.
Tuesday 12 February 2013
Monday 11 February 2013
Finlaystone House
Finlaystone House is a
mansion and estate that lies close to the village of Langbank on the south side
of the Clyde..
Finlaystone was a property of
the Dennistoun family, and passed to the Cunninghams in the 15th century. It
was the seat of the Earl of Glencairn until 1796, and is now the property of
the Chief of Clan MacMillan. The house is protected as a category A listed
building, and the grounds are included in the Inventory of Gardens and Designed
Landscapes in Scotland, the national listing of significant gardens.
In the late 14th century,
King Robert II confirmed a grant of the lands of Finlaystone to Sir John de
Danyelstoun (Dennistoun). He was succeeded by his son, Sir Robert, who was
keeper of Dumbarton Castle. When he died in 1399 his estates were divided
between his daughters. Elizabeth inherited Newark Castle, while Margaret
inherited Finlaystone. In 1405 Margaret married Sir William Cunningham, whose
family held the estate as the seat of Clan Cunningham until the 19th century.
William's grandson Alexander Lord Kilmaurs (1426–1488) was created Earl of
Glencairn in 1488. The family were supporters of the Scottish Reformation,
hosting the world's first Protestant Reformed communion service by the preacher
John Knox in 1556.
The architect John Douglas
was commissioned to design a new house in 1746, but building works were not
carried out until 1764. The new house incorporated part of the 15th-century
castle. In 1796, the 15th Earl of
Glencairn Lord Kilmaurs, Chief of Clan Cunningham died without issue, and
Finlaystone passed to a cousin, Robert Graham of Gartmore, whose family took
the name Cunningham-Graham. The Cunningham-Grahams sold Finlaystone in 1862 to
Sir David Carrick-Buchanan, who in turn sold it in 1882 to George Jardine
Kidston.
Kidston commissioned the
architect John James Burnet to carry out a Scots Baronial style remodelling of
the house, completed in 1903. The
grounds of the house were extended and planted during the early 20th century.
Kidston's granddaughter Marian married General Sir Gordon MacMillan, Chieftain
of the Clan MacMillan. Their son George Gordon MacMillan is the current chief
and owner of Finlaystone. The estate is operated as a visitor attraction, with
walks and play areas in the 10 acres of gardens.
The house is not particularly
easy on the eye, perhaps too many attempts at remodelling the building.
The woodland walks are
nothing special, and the garden is fairly poor, the roar of the nearby dual
carriage way is never far away.
Friday 8 February 2013
Wednesday 6 February 2013
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