Tour Scotland photographs and videos from my tours of Scotland. Photography and videography, both old and new, from beautiful Scotland, Scottish castles, seascapes, rivers, islands, landscapes, standing stones, lochs and glens.
Old photograph of the Neilson Institute in Paisley by Glasgow, Scotland. The John Neilson Educational Institution at Oakshawhead, Paisley, opened to pupils in April 1852. John Neilson was a Paisley grocer who died in 1839, aged 61, and was buried in Paisley Abbey. John Neilson's will directed a large portion of his wealth to be used to build a school and to establish a fund to finance the education of boys who would not otherwise be able to afford an education. His nephew, Archibald Gardner, was one of the executors and he dedicated himself to the task of establishing the school.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Pat Crerand who was born on 19 February 1939 to Irish immigrants in the Gorbals area of Glasgow, Scotland. His father, Michael Crerand, was from Newtownstewart, County Tyrone, Ireland, and his mother, Sarah Boyle, was from Gweedore, County Donegal, where Crerand spent much of his childhood. His father was killed on 12 March 1941 in a German air raid on John Brown's Shipyard in Clydebank, where he was working the fire watch on the night of his death; Crerand was two years old. Pat became a Scottish former footballer. After six years at Celtic he moved to Manchester United in England, where he was a member of teams that won the English League title twice, the FA Cup and European Cup. He also gained 16 international caps for Scotland.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
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.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of Reverend Henry Williamson in Dundee, Scotland. Henry was the founder and honorary president of the Dundee Mill and Factory workers operatives Union. He was born in Surrey, England, in 1839 he had a brother John born 1841 and sisters Ann, born in 1846 and Jane, born in 1849. His parents were Charles Williamson and Harriet Edgeley again from Surrey. Henry became A unitarian minister in Dundee in 1866, he was one of the longest serving ministers there and the church is called the Williamson memorial chapel after him.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
Old photograph of the golf course in Alness near the Cromarty Firth, Scotland. This Scottish golf course has been around since 1904 and has undergone some significant changes in the last 100 years. The most significant was the 1997 extension from nine to 18 holes.
All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.
