Old Photograph Horses And Coaches Loch Katrine Scotland

Old photograph of horses, coaches and tourists on the road by Loch Katrine, Trossachs, Scotland. This Scottish loch has always been a popular destination for tourists and day visitors from Glasgow and other nearby towns. The loch derives its name from the term cateran from the Gaelic ceathairne, meaning cattle thief. Historically this referred to a band of fighting men of a clan; hence the term applied to marauders or cattle-lifters, the most notorious of whom was Rob Roy MacGregor who was born at Glengyle House at the northern end of the Loch. It is the fictional setting of Sir Walter Scott's poem The Lady of the Lake. Blog post of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Old Photographs Colquhoun Arms Hotel Luss Scotland

Old photograph of the Colquhoun Arms Hotel in Luss, by Loch Lomond, Scotland. The lands of the Clan Colquhoun were on the shores of Loch Lomond. During the reign of Alexander II of Scotland, Umphredus de Kilpatrick received from Malduin, Earl of Lennox, the estates of Colquhoun, Auchentorily and Dumbuck. The Clan Colquhoun chief's early stronghold was at Dunglass Castle, which is perched on a rocky promontory by the River Clyde. Dunglass was also close to the royal Dumbarton Castle, of which later chiefs of Clan Colquhoun were appointed governors and keepers. The chief's title was that of the Barony of Luss which came to the Colquhouns when Sir Robert of Colquhoun married the heiress of the Lord of Luss in about 1368. The Clan Colquhoun lands were particularly vulnerable to clan raids due to their strategic nature. In 1603 Alasdair MacGregor, of Clan MacGregor marched into Colquhoun territory with a force of over four hundred men. The chief of Clan Colquhoun had been granted a royal commission to suppress the MacGregors. Colquhoun assembled a force of five hundred foot and three hundred horse and advanced to Glen Fruin to repel the Highland raiders. MacGregor split his force in two and while the main MacGregor force and the Colquhouns engaged in combat the second MacGregor force attacked the Colquhouns from the rear. The Colquhouns were driven into the Moss of Auchingaich where their cavalry was useless and over two hundred Colquhouns were killed. At the end of the eighteenth century the chiefs of the two clans met and shook hands on the very site of the former slaughter.

In 1625 Sir John Colquhoun of Luss was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia. However in 1632 he was accused of absconding with his wife's sister, Lady Catherine Graham, daughter of the Earl of Montrose. He was accused of using sorcery and witchcraft and perhaps wisely he did not return to answer these charges. He became a fugitive and his estates were forfeited. Sir John's eldest son recovered the estates in 1646.

In 1703 Sir Humphrey Colquhoun, fifth Baronet represented Dunbartonshire in the last Scottish Parliament. He strongly opposed the Treaty of Union. He died without male issue and the title passed to his daughter's husband, James Grant of Pluscardine. However when Pluscardine's elder brother died he re-assumed the name of Grant. He was the ancestor of the Earls of Seafield and Barons of Strathspey, on whom the baronetcy devolved. The estate was succeeded to by Sir James Grant Colquhoun who was the fourth son of James Grant and Ann Colquhoun. He built the mansion of Rossdhu which remains the seat of the chiefs of Clan Colquhoun.





All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Old Photographs Balgrayhill Road Springburn Glasgow Scotland

Old photograph of shops, buildings, Trams, and people on Balgrayhill Road in Springburn in Glasgow, Scotland.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Old Photograph Parkhead Cross Glasgow Scotland

Old photograph of shops, buildings, people and Tram on Parkhead Cross, Glasgow, Scotland. Parkhead is a district in the East End of Glasgow. Its name comes from a small weaving hamlet at the meeting place of the Great Eastern Road, now the Gallowgate and Tollcross Road, and Westmuir Street. Duke Street and Springfield Road also meet there, to form a turreted Edwardian five way junction at Parkhead Cross. Glasgow's Eastern Necropolis was laid out in 1847 beside the Gallowgate. The area flourished with the discovery of coal in 1837 and grew into an industrial centre. In 1897 William Beardmore and Company became famous with the production of high grade steel and castings at the local Parkhead Forge, founded about 1837 and extended between 1884 and 1914. After years of decline, the massive plant was closed in 1976.





All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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Old Photograph Yachting Pond Ayr Scotland

Old photograph of boys by the yachting pond in Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland. Ayr Model Yacht Sailing and Power Club was formed on 8th March 1910 at a public meeting held in the YMCA rooms, Hight Street, Ayr. Ayr Town Council had begun building a model yachting pond at Newton Park, and that had prompted the meeting which led to the formation of a yachting club. Blog post of interest to folks with ancestry, genealogy or Scottish Family Roots in Scotland who may wish to visit one day.



All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

View the most recent Tour Scotland photographs.