Dining Room On Visit To Castle Fraser Near Kemnay Aberdeenshire Scotland

Tour Scotland travel video, with Scottish music, of the dining room on visit to Castle Fraser near Kemnay in Aberdeenshire. Castle Fraser was built as the home of the Frasers of Muchalls, later Frasers of Castle Fraser. The castle was modernised in a classical style in the late 18th century. The castle was passed down through the Lords Fraser, the Frasers of Inverallochy and then the Mackenzie family who took the name Mackenzie Fraser. In 1897 the last male Fraser of the direct line, Frederick Mackenzie Fraser, died childless. In 1921 his widow, Theodora, sold the castle due to the lack of a suitable heir and mounting financial difficulties. The buyer was Weetman Pearson, 1st Viscount Cowdray. The Pearson family restored the castle as a shooting lodge. The surname Fraser was first found in Tweedale, Peebles-shire, where Sir Simon Frasee held part of the lands of Keith. There is a record of Symon Fraser giving the church of Keith to the Abbey of Kelso in 1160. Early records include Gilbert Fraser, who witnessed a charter by Walter Olifard in 1210. A later Sir Simon known as " the Scottish Patriot " was a supporter of Sir William Wallace in the struggle for independence. Spelling variations of this family name include: Frazer, Fraser, Frasher, Frisell, Frasee, Frazie, Frazier, Friselle, Fresser, Friser, Fryssar, Fressell, Fresal, Fresale, Frichell, Fraysser, Fresall, Fresle, Fresill, Fressair, Fraisser and many more. The root of the ancient Dalriadan Scottish name MacKenzie is the personal name Coinneach. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Coinnich or Mac Choinnich, both of which mean son of Coinneach. Notable amongst the Clan from early times was John Mackenzie, died 1561, or " John of Killin ", traditionally reckoned 9th of Kintail, a Highland chief; Kenneth Mackenzie, died 1568, 10th of Kintail and nicknamed Coinneach na Cuirc, or " Kenneth of the Whittle ", a Highland chief; Colin Mackenzie of Kintail, died 1594, nicknamed " Cam " " crooked ", because one eyed, a Highland chief; Kenneth Mackenzie, the first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, died 1611, a Highland Clan chief. All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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