Old Photograph Aikenhead House Glasgow Scotland

Old photograph of Aikenhead House in Kings Park in Glasgow, Scotland. The last private owner of this Scottish mansion house was Mr Henry Erskine Gordon, born 1849, died 1929, the grandson of John Gordon who had built the house. Mr Gordon died at home on 12th April 1929. The first Gordon of Aikenhead was a principal partner in the extensive West India firm of Somervell, Gordon and Company afterwards Stirling, Gordon and Company. His father, Alexander Gordon, by his wife, Isabel Fleming, daughter of John Fleming, a prosperous maltman, acquired a considerable section of land on the banks of St. Enoch's Burn, then a trout stream, running through St. Enoch's Square, and emptying itself into the Clyde, near the bridge. Here he built a handsome and substantial house on the north side of the old Westergate, in which he and his family resided for many years. About the time the American colonies rebelled, Mr. Gordon's neighbouring laird, Andrew Buchanan, son of Maltman George, who died in 1737, laid out in the Lang Croft several steadings for feuing, running north from Mr. Gordon's house, now known as Buchanan Street. On one of these feus James Johnston, a Glasgow merchant, built an elegant house, a short way north of the present Arcade. The failure of so many of the Virginia merchants during the progress of the war put a complete stop to building operations for a time, and Mr. Johnston's house stood alone among the vacant feus for many years, its garden occupying the site of Prince's Court. This house and garden were bought by John Gordon, and occupied by him as his town house until his death. He also purchased the estate of Aikenhead from Robert Scot, of the Thistle Bank, on which he built a spacious country house in 1806. Many of the older Glasgow merchants remember Mr. Gordon well. At the time when political feeling ran high, he and his partner, Charles Stirling, were esteemed the leaders of the Tory party in Glasgow. Mr. Gordon has been described as a stately, well made gentleman, of somewhat lofty bearing, enhanced by his style of dress; for notwithstanding the varied changes of fashion and custom, he kept to the last by the knee breeches, ruffles, and powdered hair. He was greatly respected by his brother traders and by the public, as an upright and honourable merchant, a good citizen, and a benevolent and hospitable gentleman. He was appointed chairman of the Chamber of Commerce in 1804 and 1805. He was twice married, first to a daughter of John Alston, merchant and banker, Glasgow. Their only child married Mungo Campbell, of John Campbell and Company. On the death of his first wife, Mr. Gordon married a daughter of Gilbert Hamilton, Lord Provost in 1792-93, and first secretary of the Chamber of Commerce. John Gordon of Aikenhead, their only son, occupied the estate and died in 1828.



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